Senior Project Officer (Aboriginal Identified)

NSW Health; St Leonards; On-site; AUD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

NSW Health is seeking a Senior Project Officer (Aboriginal Identified) within the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs, NSW Ministry of Health. The role focuses on improving Aboriginal health outcomes across NSW by leveraging cultural knowledge, engagement expertise and strategic project management.

It requires leadership in Aboriginal engagement, partnership building and policy advice to shape statewide health reform.

Qualifications

• Proven experience engaging with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
• Experience leading strategic projects in health or government.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work across complex health and government environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic alcohol and other drug initiatives for Aboriginal health.
• Build strong relationships with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on Aboriginal engagement and policy.
• Support implementation of the Aboriginal Workforce Strategy.
• Coordinate secretariat support for the Aboriginal Strategic Collaboration Group.
• Work across NSW Health and external organisations to progress projects.
• Plan, report, monitor and evaluate projects.
• Support culturally safe and high-quality AOD services.

Skills

Aboriginal engagement

Cultural safety

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Senior Project Officer (Aboriginal Identified)

Senior Project Officer – Aboriginal Identified

Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs, NSW Ministry of Health

Employment Type: Ongoing Full Time

Position Classification: Grade 9/10

Location: St Leonards, NSW

Hours Per Week: 35 hours

Requisition ID: REQ691490

Closing Date: Sunday 18 October 2026, 11:59pm

Make a difference for Aboriginal communities across NSW

Join the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs at NSW Ministry of Health in a strategic role focused on improving alcohol and other drug health outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities across NSW.

This is an opportunity to use your cultural knowledge, engagement expertise and strategic project skills to help shape initiatives that strengthen Aboriginal health outcomes, support culturally safe services and contribute to meaningful system change.

About us

We are committed to improving alcohol and other drug health outcomes for Aboriginal people through culturally safe, strengths-based approaches and genuine partnerships.

We value Aboriginal leadership, cultural knowledge, community connections and Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.

We work collaboratively with Aboriginal communities, consumers, service providers, government agencies and other stakeholders to improve health outcomes.

We support innovative, evidence-informed approaches to alcohol and other drug policy, programs and service delivery.

We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance and wellbeing.

Build your career in a role that places Aboriginal community priorities, engagement and systems change at the centre of statewide health reform.

This is an Aboriginal Identified role.

Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply. Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

Confirmation of Aboriginality will be required and will be managed respectfully and confidentially in line with NSW Health policy.

About the role

As the Senior Project Officer within the AOD Aboriginal Health Outcomes Transformation team, you will lead and support to strategic initiatives that improve alcohol and other drug health outcomes for Aboriginal people across NSW.

Working in partnership Y with Aboriginal organisations, consumers, communities, researchers, service providers and government stakeholders, you will ensure Aboriginal perspectives, priorities and lived experience inform the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategic initiatives.

The role provides an opportunity to contribute specialist advice on Aboriginal engagement, support the Aboriginal AOD Workforce Development Strategy and provide secretariat support to the Aboriginal Strategic Collaboration Group (ASCG).

You will also build and maintain strong relationships across NSW Health and external organisations, supporting culturally safe and high-quality AOD services and contributing to strategic priorities across CAOD.

What you’ll be doing

Lead strategic alcohol and other drug initiatives to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities across NSW.

Build strong relationships with Aboriginal communities, consumers, service providers and key stakeholders.

Provide specialist advice on Aboriginal engagement and culturally appropriate policy, programs and services.

Support implementation of the Aboriginal alcohol and other drug Workforce Strategy and initiatives to strengthen the Aboriginal alcohol and other drug workforce.

Provide advice to senior leaders on Aboriginal engagement, emerging issues and strategic priorities.

Coordinate secretariat support for the Aboriginal Strategic Collaboration Group, including meetings, agendas and papers.

Work collaboratively across NSW Health, government and non-government organisations to progress strategic projects.

Lead to project planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.

Support culturally safe, effective and high-quality alcohol and other drug services for Aboriginal people across NSW.

About you

We are looking for an experienced Aboriginal engagement professional who brings:

Strong cultural knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal communities, priorities and perspectives, with a demonstrated commitment to cultural safety and self-determination.

Proven experience engaging respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal consumers, communities, organisations and stakeholders, and building genuine partnerships across government and the broader health and community sectors.

Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to strategic projects, programs or initiatives in complex health, government or community environments, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes.

Strong knowledge of the AOD sector, public health, Aboriginal health or a related field, with the ability to provide high-quality, culturally informed advice grounded in evidence and community perspectives.

Excellent communication, relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience supporting committees, working groups or governance processes and working confidently with senior executives and diverse stakeholders.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For more information, please visit Diversity Inclusion Belonging

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

Additional information

This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.

Please note that the selection process will include a range of merit-based techniques to help determine your suitability for the role.

For more information about working at the NSW Health, please visit our career portal.

Applications Close: Sunday 18 October 2026, 11:59pm