About ARDS
ARDS Aboriginal Corporation has been working with Yolŋu communities in north-east Arnhem Land for 50 years. We are led by Senior Yolŋu. Our vision is for Yolŋu to engage with the Balanda world as equals. We try to help Yolŋu to be strong in Yolŋu culture, and strong in understanding Balanda culture. We learn from each other and try to work in Yolŋu ways.
Role Description
We are looking for a law and justice practitioner to support our Dispute Resolution Services in the Darwin and Miwatj regions (this includes the Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Gunyaŋara, Birritjimi and the Laynhapuy homelands). You could be a lawyer, social worker, youth worker, mediator or legal educator Our Dispute Resolution Service aims to work within Yolŋu structures of gurruṯu (kinship) and rom (law) to maximise the ability of Yolŋu families and communities to take leadership in resolving conflict and having greater control over justice outcomes. This is a role for a skilled team-player who is enthusiastic about working in the challenging but exciting cross-cultural law and justice field.
This role can be based in Nhulunbuy (with option for provided housing) or in Darwin.
Key Duties
In this role, contributing to the overall successful delivery of the ARDS Dispute Resolution ('DR') Service, you will be responsible for:
* Supporting the DR Service in Darwin and on the Gove Peninsula
* Supporting the recruitment, training and mentoring of Yolŋu staff to assist in the DR Service
* Alongside Yolŋu staff, identifying and assessing cases for dispute resolution
* Facilitating discussions, family conferences and pre-mediation meetings with relevant parties
* Co-facilitating mediation and restorative youth justice conferences
* Organising the logistics necessary for matters that are accepted by the DR Service
* Liaising with project stakeholders and funders
* Documenting activities as per funding requirements
* Assisting project leads with management of project budgets, and
* Contributing to an understanding of Yolŋu dispute resolution practices and advocate for greater Yolŋu control over peace-making processes
About You
To be successful in this role you will have:
* Demonstrated knowledge of the Australian legal and justice systems (particularly of the criminal justice, youth justice and domestic, family violence and sexual violence fields).
* Demonstrated knowledge of Australian and NT Government policy directions relating to Indigenous peoples, and appreciation of the environment in which services are funded and delivered in remote Australian communities.
* Demonstrated experience in mediation, restorative justice conferencing, youth work, criminal justice, domestic violence services, community legal education, social work and/or law (criminal, civil or family).
* Communication skills and experience speaking in a nuanced way about complex and difficult topics in multilingual environments with diverse clients, stakeholders and staff.
* Experience using Plain English for spoken and written communications.
* Demonstrated project experience, including: fieldwork; project co-design; data collection and recording; monitoring & evaluation; preparing oral and written reports; achieving outcomes within agreed timeframes; and providing appropriate advice to key stakeholders.
* Experience interacting with government and non-government agencies and institutions in a community development, legal, policy or related context.
* National mediator accreditation, or be willing and able to obtain mediation accreditation in accordance with the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Standards (AMDRAS) soon after joining ARDS (funded by ARDS)
Ideally, you will also have:
* Experience working closely and collaboratively with Yolŋu people or other First Nations peoples, especially with a fieldwork focus in remote communities.
* Working knowledge of a Yolŋu matha language.
* Experience explaining the workings of dominant culture systems.
How to apply
If you are interested in this role, please request the full Position Description by contacting Xanthe Weaich at
After you have received the Position Description, please go ahead and hit 'Easy Apply' and upload in one document both your:
1. Up-to-date Resume, and
2. Cover Letter that tells us why you suit this role, including how you meet the key selection criteria outlined in the Position Description.
Please note applications for this role will close at 11.59pm on the 25th January 2026.
We look forward to hearing from you