Cultural Liaison Officer

YMCA Brisbane; Ipswich City; Hybrid; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free YMCA gym membership

Employee Benefits Program

Discounts for Y OSHC and Day Care

Job summary

Futures Academy Ipswich Campus invites applications for a Cultural Liaison Officer. Based in Ipswich, you will build trusted relationships with students and families, delivering culturally informed support to help young people feel connected, respected and supported throughout their education journey.

You will collaborate with staff to address cultural, family or community factors affecting attendance, and participate in planning and continuous improvement to build a culturally capable school

Qualifications

• Hold a Certificate IV or above in Youth Work, Community Services or other relevant qualification.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with young people and their families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, communities and experiences.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to working with young people using the Strengths Approach.

Responsibilities

• Build respectful and trusted relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and carers.
• Support students through transition, re-engagement and periods of disengagement.
• Provide culturally responsive support that strengthens student identity, belonging and connection to education.
• Work with school staff to identify and respond to cultural, family or community factors that may impact attendance and engagement.
• Support culturally responsive transitions into Futures Academy and between education, training, employment and other pathways.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Elders, Traditional Owner groups and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.
• Provide practical cultural guidance to staff and contribute to building cultural capability across the school.
• Identify cultural safety concerns and barriers to engagement and work with school leaders to address them.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, community forums and school activities as required.
• Maintain appropriate records and contribute to planning, reporting and continuous improvement.

Job description

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Futures Academy by Y Schools Queensland, Ipswich Campus(pending NSSAB accreditation) is seeking a passionateCultural Liaison Officeron aPermanent, Full-Timebasis based in Ipswich.

About the role

As the Cultural Liaison Officer at Futures Academy Ipswich Campus, you will build trusted relationships with students and their families, providing culturally informed support and helping young people feel connected, respected and supported throughout their education journey. You will thrive in the knowledge that your guidance can impact young people to recognise their true value in a holistic sense and gain fulfilment from seeing them grow into young, empowered adults.

What will the role involve

• Build respectful and trusted relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and carers.
• Support students through transition, re-engagement and periods of disengagement.
• Provide culturally responsive support that strengthens student identity, belonging and connection to education.
• Work with school staff to identify and respond to cultural, family or community factors that may impact attendance and engagement.
• Support culturally responsive transitions into Futures Academy and between education, training, employment and other pathways.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Elders, Traditional Owner groups and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.
• Provide practical cultural guidance to staff and contribute to building cultural capability across the school.
• Identify cultural safety concerns and barriers to engagement and work with school leaders to address them.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, community forums and school activities as required.
• Maintain appropriate records and contribute to planning, reporting and continuous improvement.
• Hold a Certificate IV or above in Youth Work, Community Services or other relevant qualification
• Hold a Positive Notice Blue Card, or be willing to obtain
• Hold a Valid National Police Check within the last 6 months, or willingness to obtain
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with young people and their families from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, communities and experiences.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and apply appropriate behaviour management strategies that contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a supportive environment
• The ability to work collaboratively with teachers, wellbeing, inclusion, pathways and school leadership teams.
• Commitment to working with young people using the Strengths Approach and ability to demonstrate non-judgmental, empathic framework
• Be able to demonstrate excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• A genuine commitment to creating positive educational experiences and outcomes for young people.

What’s in it for you?

• Join a supportive, inclusive and passionate team in an organisation making a difference.
• We invest in multi-disciplinary teams and work well together to support the students and each other, while working differently and thinking beyond traditional methods.
• Increased non-term time for our teaching team and more student free days in comparison to standard school environments.
• Reduced classroom contact
• hours compared to traditional schools and all meetings held in school hours.
• Non-term time for all school roles!

Here’s what on offer

• Enjoy up to $15,900 per year to be salary packaged tax-free for everyday living expenses and up to $2,650 per year for entertainment benefits, as part of a non-for-profit organisation
• Free YMCA gym membership which includes our fitness classes
• Employee Benefits Program
• Discounts for all Y OSHC Services and Day Care Facilities
• Discounted banking, loan rates and private health insurance

Y Schools Queensland has been recognised as one of The Educator’s 5-Star Employers of Choice for 2026, recognising its commitment to a workplace where educators feel supported, valued and empowered. The award is based on anonymous employee feedback across culture, professional development, benefits, and diversity and inclusion, with only organisations achieving a satisfaction rating of 75% or higher receiving this distinction.

More about the role and Y Schools!

At Y Schools Queensland we have a vision where our young people leave school empowered to be independent, courageous and resilient to achieve lifelong wellbeing.

Our mission is that Y Schools Queensland is where hope meets possibility, where everyone is seen, heard, and belongs. Our agile and responsive approach to education gives students not just knowledge, it empowers students to overcome challenges and embrace life-changing opportunities. At Y Schools Queensland, wellbeing is personal, pathways are unique, and every step leads toward a brighter future!

Central to realising this vision is our Thrive Model, a signature strength of our schools that guides everything we do. Embedded in connection, care and capability, it shapes our approach to wellbeing, learning and belonging.

We are an inclusive workplace and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply. We all belong at the Y!

At the Y, we are committed to empowering all children and young people to feel safe and be safe. As a Child Safe organisation, all of our candidates who don’t have an exemption, must have or obtain a working with children check.

The establishment and operation of Futures Academy by Y Schools Queensland, Ipswich Campus is subject to NSSAB accreditation.

Applicants are advised that it is an offence for a person disqualified or suspended from holding a blue card to commence or continue in regulated, child-related employment