Project Officer, Aboriginal Programs

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions in Melbourne invites applications for the Project Officer, Aboriginal Programs to support the Victorian Aboriginal Sporting Partnership Strategy and coordinate projects with Aboriginal communities.

The role will assist development, management and delivery of key projects, prepare minutes and reports, and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance First Peoples opportunities in line with self-determination principles.

Qualifications

• First Nations cultural contexts understanding and respectful engagement with Aboriginal community members.
• Clear, concise written communication in briefs, letters, emails and reports.
• Developed project plans and workplans with defined objectives and steps.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships across business areas and organisations.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Sporting Partnership (VASP) Strategy, including delivery of key initiatives, monitoring and reporting, and providing secretariat support to the VASP governance group.
• Undertake a range of administrative and logistical tasks associated with the development, management, and administration of key projects to ensure the achievement of program outcomes and contract requirements for the Aboriginal Programs Team and Participation and Sector Development more broadly.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders (including First Peoples organisations and community) to support development opportunities and pathways for First Peoples, through a professional and collaborative approach that is culturally safe and aligned to self-determination principles.
• Prepare minutes, briefings, reports and related documents incorporating clear, concise and well-informed options and recommendations across the Aboriginal Programs Team and Participation and Sector Development Unit.

Skills

First Nations Cultural Capability

Written Communication

Work Planning and Delivery

Relationship Building

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/033413-AP

The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is focused on growing Victoria’s prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy and increasing participation – by creating more opportunities for people through skills and jobs; helping businesses and industries to thrive; and building vibrant communities and regions. For more information, see the DJSIR Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Our work spans numerous portfolios, supporting departmental ministers and operating across metropolitan, regional and international offices.

The Department welcomes and encourages applications from diverse applicants, including First Peoples, refugees or asylum seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. All roles at DJSIR can be worked flexibly and we offer reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Project Officer, Aboriginal Programs

• Salary: $81,496 to $98,955 (Plus Superannuation)
• Fixed term position for 12 months
• Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 and Remote (flexibility may be available)

This is a prioritised position for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in accordance with the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority consideration for this role.

The Role

The Project Officer, Aboriginal Programs will play a critical supporting role in implementing the Victorian Aboriginal Sporting Partnership Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy, developed through a self-determined approach and endorsed by a Working Group of 10 First Peoples community leaders, addresses key barriers and aims to increase sport participation among First Peoples communities. Your support will be vital in successfully implementing the Strategy and achieving these aims.

In addition, the role will support the development, management, and delivery of key projects to ensure the achievement of outcomes and contract requirements for the Aboriginal Programs Team and the broader Participation and Sector Development Unit. This could include administrative and logistical support, preparation of written products and relationship management with internal and external stakeholders.

Main accountabilities:

• Support the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Sporting Partnership (VASP) Strategy, including delivery of key initiatives, monitoring and reporting, and providing secretariat support to the VASP governance group.
• Undertake a range of administrative and logistical tasks associated with the development, management, and administration of key projects to ensure the achievement of program outcomes and contract requirements for the Aboriginal Programs Team and Participation and Sector Development more broadly.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders (including First Peoples organisations and community) to support development opportunities and pathways for First Peoples, through a professional and collaborative approach that is culturally safe and aligned to self-determination principles.
• Prepare minutes, briefings, reports and related documents incorporating clear, concise and well-informed options and recommendations across the Aboriginal Programs Team and Participation and Sector Development Unit.

The Team

The position of Project Officer, Aboriginal Programs forms a part of the Community Sport and Recreation branch within the Sport and Experience Economy group.

Sport and Experience Economy (SEE) is comprised of Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Tourism and Events (T&E) and Outdoor Recreation and Combat Sports (ORCS).

About You

The successful candidate will ideally have the following skills and experience:

• First Nations Cultural Capability: Understands First Peoples cultural contexts, engages respectfully and appropriately with Aboriginal community members and stakeholders, applies this understanding to support program delivery and stakeholder relationships.
• Written Communication: Prepares briefs, letters, emails, and reports using clear, concise, and grammatically correct language; ensures written communications contain necessary information to achieve their purpose; uses appropriate style and formats. observes fine details. Identifies gaps in information; looks for logical sequences of information; highlights practical considerations of plans and activities.
• Work Planning and Delivery: Produces project plans/ workplans where objectives are clearly defined and steps for achieving them are clearly specified; regularly communicates with and supports team members; ensures objectives are met by anticipating and managing potential and emerging issues.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains relationships with people at all levels, promotes harmony and consensus through diplomatic handling of disagreements, forges useful partnerships with people across business areas, functions, and organisations, builds trust through consistent actions, values and communication and minimises surprises.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Tess Dryza, Group Manager, Equity, Policy and Engagement on 0408 668 122 or [e-mail]

The Department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with theChild Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Talent Acquisition Team on 0472 875 685, or via email [e-mail] with the position number in the subject line.

Applications close at 23:59pm on Sunday, 4 October 2026.

For the purpose of employment in Aboriginal Designated or Aboriginal Prioritised positions within the Victorian public sector, candidates will be asked to provide Confirmation of Aboriginality. This can be confirmed by a Confirmation of Aboriginality form signed by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation and affixed with the common seal of that organisation. Recognising that access to formal Confirmation of Aboriginality documents can occasionally be problematic, an alternative process can be discussed by emailing [e-mail].

Applications close Sunday 4 October 2026 at 11.59pm