Community Activation Officer

Golden Plains Shire Council; Bannockburn, Meredith; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Free onsite parking

Learning & development

Novated leases

Flexible leave entitlements

Job summary

Golden Plains Shire Council is seeking a Community Activation Officer to lead local engagement and capacity building for communities impacted by the January 2026 fires. The role focuses on coordinating recovery activities, partnering with agencies, and delivering programs to strengthen community resilience.

The ideal candidate has tertiary qualifications in community development/engagement or emergency management, strong stakeholder skills, and experience in project management and grant funding

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Community Development, Community Engagement or Emergency Management.
• Established stakeholder engagement skills across internal/external partners.
• Understanding of rural community issues including wellbeing and resilience.
• Ability to work across multiple council departments and with external agencies.
• Experience in project management related to external grant funding and KPI delivery.
• Knowledge in planning and delivering community events.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate partnerships with state, regional, and local agencies to deliver recovery services.
• Identify, plan, implement, and evaluate programs for communities affected by the 2026 fire.
• Support development and delivery of community-led recovery events to strengthen resilience.
• Identify funding opportunities and assist in grant applications for bushfire recovery.
• Develop work plans and budgets with timelines and performance indicators.
• Lead/participate in regular meetings on community recovery requirements and reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Emergency management

Project management

Community events

Grant funding

Education

Tertiary qualification in Community Development/Engagement or Emergency Management

Job description

• Bannockburn/Meredith location – perfectly positioned with an easy drive from Geelong, Ballarat, and Melbourne (plus free onsite parking!)
• Temporary full time role until June 2028 (part time applications considered)
• Genuine flexibility including hybrid work arrangements, flexible hours and monthly ADOs

Golden Plains Shire Council provides a workplace where people matter, communities are connected, and the future is bright. We offer a diverse range of career pathways in meaningful roles with a sense of purpose where you can grow and thrive.

To continue to deliver for our community, we are seeking a Community Activation Officer who will focus on local engagement, community capacity building, identification and coordination of community activities aimed at strengthening community resilience for the Golden Plains Shire community recovering from the January 2026 fire events.

This role will provide you the opportunity to:

• Coordinate partnerships with state, regional, and local agencies as required, to deliver a range of community recovery services for the impacted community.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders and community to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate a suite of programs and activities that respond to the needs of the local community impacted by the 2026 fire event.
• Support the development and delivery of community led recovery events and programs that facilitate connection and strengthen community emergency resilience.
• Identify funding opportunities and assist or lead the preparation of funding applications for bushfire recovery and community resilience activities.
• Develop a work plan and budget which will include activities, timelines, and performance indicators for supporting community preparedness, resilience, and recovery.
• Facilitate and participate in regular meetings with internal staff around the requirements, status, and reporting of works in relation to community recovery for AGRN 1242.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Tertiary qualification and/or demonstrated experience in Community Development, Community Engagement or Emergency Management.
• Established stakeholder engagement skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• An understanding of the issues associated with rural communities including social and health and wellbeing, community resilience and/or emergency management.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple Council departments, relevant agencies and members of the community and to manage diverse projects.
• Demonstrated experience in project management in relation to external grant funding ensuring successful delivery of funding KPI’s.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding in the development and delivery of community events.
• An understanding of local government and the role Council plays in developing communities and contributing to community health and wellbeing.

We care We thrive We grow

Our people are passionate, collaborative and deeply committed to both the community and the work they do. This commitment is felt from the moment you step through the doors, in every interaction and in the way we celebrate our collective achievements.

We care about our community and our people, provide flexibility and support so you can thrive and offer a diverse range of opportunities to support your personal and professional growth. We are dedicated to fostering this culture, because we know that our people are the key to the future growth and success of Golden Plains Shire.

With an Enterprise Agreement in place till 2028 we offer all employees:

• Learning and development opportunities aligned to your role and aspirations, along with opportunities to work on a variety of projects and undertake secondments
• Flexible work arrangements to empower you to achieve better life/work balance
• A modern, high-quality working environment with free onsite parking
• An environment where health, safety and wellbeing are prioritised in all that we do
• An active Social Club
• Novated leases available to permanent full and part time staff
• Transfer of service and LSL (where applicable)
• Generous leave entitlements including but not limited:
  • Up to 16 weeks primary & up to 3 weeks secondary parental leave
  • Purchased leave
  • Ceremonial leave
  • Volunteer leave
  • Reproductive leave
  • Gender affirmation leave
  • Higher than NES Family violence leave

For further information about the role and the key selection criteria, please view the Position Description below or, for a confidential discussion, contact Renee Williams, Acting Manager Community Wellbeing on 03 5220 7200.

Applications close on MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 at 11.59PM

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace that allows staff to bring their whole selves to all that they do.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing a safe workplace that embraces and values child safety, diversity and inclusion. We recognise the value and diversity and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures to the heritage of all Australians and our workplace.

We wholeheartedly believe that the decisions we make and the services we deliver benefit from having a workforce representative of the community we support - that the diversity of thought, experience, insights and background will ensure the needs of the broader community are considered in all we do. We encourage applications from people of all ages, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.