First Nations Engagement Officer

Stroke Foundation; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Salary packaging

Flexible working environment

Job summary

A leading healthcare charity is seeking a First Nations Engagement Officer focused on engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This role involves providing strategic and cultural advice to ensure program responsiveness and cultural safety. Candidates should have a background in Aboriginal Health Work or similar fields and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. The role offers competitive remuneration and the opportunity to make a significant impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to support the development of cultural awareness among non-Indigenous staff.
• Experience engaging with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in a respectful way.
• Recognised connection to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Responsibilities

• Support the aims of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
• Build and maintain relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Provide culturally informed advice for engagement and project design.

Skills

Cultural awareness and capability

Community-led project delivery

Interpersonal and communication skills

Relationship-building

Knowledge of health sector

Indigenous engagement

Education

Qualifications in Aboriginal Health Work, Nursing, Allied Health, Community Engagement and/or Project Management

Nursing

Allied Health

Community Engagement

Project Management

Job description

Overview

Stroke Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing the impact of stroke across Australia. We work alongside stroke survivors, carers, health professionals, government, and the broader community to prevent stroke, save lives and enhance recovery.

Overall purpose of the program/ Division:

Stroke Programs, Innovation and Research (SPRI) aims to deliver high-quality, evidence-based and best-practice services, information and research with and for the stroke community, including survivors of stroke, their carers and family members, healthcare professionals and organisations, and researchers.

Stroke Foundation is committed to embedding cultural safety, listening deeply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and walking together in partnership. This role is central to that commitment. Stroke Foundation implemented a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) from October 2022-September 2023 and launched our Innovate RAP in May 2025.

We are committed to reducing cultural load and understand the complexities of community, kinship and cultural responsibilities.

This is an identified position and is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants. Stroke Foundation considers that being Aboriginal and/or a Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement under relevant anti-discrimination laws across all Australian states and territories.

Overall purpose of position:

The First Nations Engagement Officer is part of the Stroke Programs, Innovation and Research Division and reports directly to the National Manager Inclusion and Priority Communities.

This role will provide strategic and cultural advice across Stroke Foundation's programs and projects to ensure they are culturally safe and responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Key responsibilities

• Support the organisation to meet the aims of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and future RAPs.
• Build and maintain respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
• Promote self-determination, two-way learning, and strengths-based approaches to improve health equity and outcomes.
• Provide strategic and cultural advice on policy and support projects striving for fewer strokes, better outcomes, and support and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Provide culturally informed advice to support Stroke Foundation's engagement, project design and service delivery.
• Contribute to building Stroke Foundation's cultural awareness and capacity to work in culturally safe partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and communities.

About You

Qualifications

Qualifications in Aboriginal Health Work, Nursing, Allied Health, Community Engagement and/or Project Management (desirable).

Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to support the development of cultural awareness and capability among non-Indigenous staff and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to co-design, deliver and support community-led projects that align with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities, within agreed timeframes.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong, respectful, and culturally safe relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations, as well as internal stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, negotiation and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Recognised connection to, and membership of, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations, and communities in a culturally respectful way.
• Experience providing advice to projects or programs that aim to address health equity or community priorities.
• Knowledge of the not-for-profit, health, or community services sector (desirable).

What’s on offer?

A flexible, innovative and dynamic organisation with engaged knowledgeable employees and volunteers with the added benefits of competitive remuneration and salary packaging.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of Australia's leading not-for profit organisations that has a positive influence on the lives of thousands of Australians each year. If you are passionate about making an impact, and want to be part of an organisation that is making a real difference in people's lives, please submit your resume and cover letter via the link to our Career Portal.

Applications

Applications close Friday, 30 January 2026. Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and we may close applications prior to this date.

Stroke Foundation is a non-partisan organisation that delivers advocacy activities in line with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) guidelines. https://www.acnc.gov.au/