Director, Aboriginal Early Childhood Outcomes – Identified
• Full-time Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identified role
• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW, and make a lasting difference for Aboriginal children and families
• Ongoing Public Service senior executive band 1 role with a remuneration range of $239,251 - $264,197 per annum
• Based in Parramatta NSW with flexible work options
About us
At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling, to vocational education and training.
We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We unlock excellence and unleash the potential of two-thirds of school children in NSW. We're proudly public and the largest education system in Australia. We nurture opportunities for every learner to develop the skills needed for their chosen career path, helping shape the industries of tomorrow.
We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia.
About the role
The Director, Aboriginal Early Childhood Outcomes provides strategic leadership to improve early childhood education and care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across NSW. This role leads the design, implementation, integration and evaluation of policy and programs that support children to thrive in their early years and contribute to Closing the Gap outcomes.
Working at a system level, you will drive complex reform across early childhood education and care, ensuring policy and program delivery is evidence-based, culturally informed and aligned to government priorities. You will establish strong governance, performance and accountability frameworks to ensure initiatives are delivered effectively, on time and within budget, while achieving meaningful and measurable outcomes.
A critical part of this role is building and sustaining trusted relationships with Aboriginal communities, peak bodies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, the early childhood sector and government partners. You will represent the department in high-level forums, provide advice on complex and sensitive issues, and balance community perspectives with policy, funding and reform objectives.
This role supports NSW state-wide initiatives and can be based at various NSW Department of Education office locations (to be negotiated with the successful candidate). Regular travel to the NSW Department of Education office in Parramatta is expected.
For more details about this role, please click here to view the Role Description
About you
You are a respected and values-driven senior leader with a strong commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. You bring deep cultural capability, political acumen and the ability to lead whole-of-system reform in complex environments.
As a member of the executive leadership team, you will be collaborative and courageous, able to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes that make a real difference. You lead with integrity, foster high-performing teams, and create environments where people feel supported, accountable and empowered to innovate.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as education, business, management, social sciences or communications, and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Extensive senior leadership experience managing large, complex organisations and significant programs
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working in partnership with Aboriginal community organisations, peak bodies, government agencies and the early childhood sector
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with and understand issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Demonstrated experience in leading whole system reform and change, including the ability manage and mitigate strategic risk.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead staff in implementing the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.
Please note this position is targeted to the employment of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and is authorised by the Department's EEO Management Plan in accordance with Part 9A of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. When applying for an identified position, applicants must provide confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent upon interview as defined in the Confirmation of Aboriginality Guidelines
Interested?
To apply for this role, please submit an online application and attach your resume along with a cover letter which describes how your capabilities, knowledge and experience make you the best person for this role.
Information Session
On Friday, 23 January 2026 at 1:00pm, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Advisory team will host an Online Yarn Up (information session) about this role. The session will provide a detailed overview of the recruitment process, including applying for the position and interview to build confidence in your application.
To register your interest, please fill out the registration form. We will be in touch with further details and the meeting link. Alternatively, you may email the team at with subject line "Yarn Up" noting the job reference number.
Applications Close: 11:59pm on Sunday, 1 February 2026
Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Natasa Mitic, Executive Director, Quality, Participation and Connection, via email at, to arrange a confidential discussion.
Please note: We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.
A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. Candidates on a talent pool may be chosen and directly offered employment in other or similar roles (ongoing or term) in the near future.