First Peoples Engagement Manager

Colonial Group; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Wellbeing program

Employee assistance program

Career development

Safety-focused culture

Job summary

Forensicare is seeking a First Peoples Engagement Manager to provide strategic leadership, strengthening cultural safety across services and embedding First Peoples perspectives. You will work with communities and internal leaders to drive partnerships and self-determination in forensic mental health care.

You will lead an engaged team, advise on planning and policy, and drive improvement to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and communities across Victoria.

Qualifications

• Experience leading First Peoples engagement, community development, health, justice or social services.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and ACCOs.
• Strong leadership, communication and strategic advisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement First Peoples engagement strategies for culturally safe service delivery.
• Build partnerships with ACCOs, Elders, communities and stakeholders.
• Provide expert cultural advice for planning, policy and decisions.
• Lead and develop the engagement team with a high-performing workspace.
• Drive continuous improvement for outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.

Skills

First Peoples engagement

Stakeholder relationships

Leadership

Job description

First Peoples Engagement Manager

Grade: HS8 | $144970 + super + salary packaging

Location: Paul Mullen Centre, Clifton Hill, 3068
Will be required to travel to regional sites

Eligibility Requirement

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under the Special Measures provisions of Section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)

Forensicare

Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health) is Victoria’s specialist provider of forensic mental health services. We deliver recovery-focused programs that support consumers living with serious mental illness or problematic behaviours who are connected to, or at risk of contact with, the justice system, across a variety of settings including community-based services, inpatient units, and secure environments throughout Victoria.

About the RFMHS:

Embedded within Forensicare’s Community Directorate, the Regional Forensic Mental Health Service (RFMHS) comprise eight teams across the state - one in each Wellbeing region (three in metropolitan Melbourne and five in regional Victoria). These teams operate as ‘spokes’ to Forensicare’s central Community Forensic Mental Health Services (CFMHS) ‘hub’.

Each RFMHS team is multidisciplinary, including a manager, medical, nursing and allied health(psychology, social work, occupational therapy)clinicians, as well as administrative support. The teams deliver services to people aged 18 years and overwith forensic mental health concerns.

RFMHS teams provide consultation, case management, supervision, care coordination and psychological interventions to individuals living in, or transitioning to the community.

About the role

As the First Peoples Engagement Manager, you will provide strategic leadership to strengthen cultural safety, embed First Peoples perspectives across service delivery, and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers. Working closely with communities, stakeholders and internal leaders, you will drive initiatives that support self-determination, partnership and culturally responsive forensic mental health care.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and implement First Peoples engagement strategies that enhance culturally safe service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Elders, communities and key stakeholders.
• Provide expert cultural advice to support service planning, policy development and organisational decision-making.
• Lead and develop the First Peoples Engagement team, fostering a high-performing and culturally safe workplace.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and communities.

About You

You are a respected Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for First Peoples communities and influencing meaningful system change.

Key Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience leading First Peoples engagement, community development, health, justice or social service initiatives, with a strong understanding of the principles of self-determination and cultural safety.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ACCOs, Elders and other key stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills, with experience providing strategic advice and driving organisational improvement and change.

Please note, applications close on Tuesday 27th October 2026.

Contact Mia Bromley for further information via [e-mail]

or mobile - [phone]

• A culture where people matter.
• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of all our team members.
• Well defined career pathways existing across our Directorates with multi-disciplined Teams.
• Salary Packaging Options available – Mortgage, Rent, Car, Expenses
• A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• Access to an employee assistance program – an external, confidential, self-referral employee wellbeing program, for personal or work-related matters.
• A mental health and wellbeing program providing psychological, peer support and critical incidence response programs.

Eligibility

• Influenza and Immunisation Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of RESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.