Job description
* Location: Deakin, Canberra; Whalan, Greater Western Sydney; and Casuarina, Darwin
* Salary: $90,830 - $98,228 plus superannuation and salary packaging
* Hours: Full time – 37.5 hours per week
* Some work outside of normal business hours may be required.
* Reports to: Education and Training Pathways Program Lead (local role)
* Contract: Fixed term to 31 December 2027 with likelihood of extension.
These roles are identified positions open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates only. This is intended to constitute a special measure in line with the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT) subsection 27 (1)(b) and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) subsection 8(1).
Purpose of the position
As leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, training, and workforce development, IAHA support and elevate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce to lead transformative change across health and wellbeing systems, grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing, for better health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes.
A key focus of IAHA’s work is education, training and employment pathway programs, facilitating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enter the workforce. This includes the IAHA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy, an innovative and community led education model, and the work of IAHA Group Training to support traineeship and apprenticeship pathways, particular school-based traineeships.
The Field Officer will play a critical role engaging with students, schools, education providers, and employers locally, to support entry into, success within, and pathways from IAHA’s culturally centred education and training models.
Organisational environment
IAHA is a national, community controlled, not-for-profit and member based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health organisation. IAHA was established in 2009, from a network of committed allied health professionals and is now a registered company limited by guarantee. IAHA has a growing Secretariat with offices based in Canberra, Darwin, Katherine, Lismore, and Sydney, supporting a Board of Directors and over 2200 members nationally. Further information on IAHA, our membership, activities and projects can be found on our website www.iaha.com.au
IAHA appreciates all people working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing including a holistic approach to health care; the value of education and other social determinants; the right to self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; their cultures, spirituality and traditions of wellness and health. IAHA’s vision is that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and future generations are thriving in ongoing connection to self, spirit, and place.
IAHA focuses on five strategic areas of work to:
* Strengthen and engage our IAHA membership.
* Grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce through access and entry, effective pathways, promoting and support for allied health careers, skills development, and retention.
* Transform the allied health and wider workforce by building culturally safe and responsive health and education systems.
* Lead in the Indigenous health and allied health sectors to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led solutions and approaches to policy and program development.
* Connect with and promoting connectedness with IAHA members, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families, communities, and cultures.
Working conditions, benefits, and salary packaging
IAHA operates under a distributed leadership and cultural governance model to ensure that IAHA programs, activities and services are delivered and implemented in a culturally safe and responsive manner by all staff and directors.
IAHA is recognised by the Australian Tax Office as a Health Promotion Charity and salary packaging is available to all employees to increase take home pay. Free onsite parking is available for staff at the Canberra, Western Sydney and Darwin offices.
IAHA is committed to supporting personal, cultural, and professional development opportunities for employees. IAHA provides all employees access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), including access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers in addition to an annual social and emotional wellbeing allowance.
In line with the IAHA Leave Policy, employees may be entitled to flex time as approved in advance. IAHA provides a diverse range of leave entitlements additional to recreational and personal leave including cultural leave, bereavement/compassionate leave, emergency services leave, special leave, paid parental leave and pandemic leave. Please note that, as a school-based program, regular availability within school terms is a requirement for the role.
The employment instrument is the National Employment Standards – Fair Work Act (2009).
Role responsibilities
The Field Officer will provide on-the-ground support for the success of IAHA’s Education and Training Pathway Programs undertaking activities which include most, and potentially all, of the following:
* Develop and maintain relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families, the broader community, employers, schools, career advisors, and government agencies, to promote existing programs and establish new opportunities.
* Ensure successful program and service delivery is in a culturally responsive way through liaison and coordination with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, across government, non-government, community, and corporate sectors, including the vocational education and training sector, Registered Training Organisation(s), and health, education, professional and service delivery bodies.
* Complete administrative and operational tasks, provide one-on-one learner support, and lead classroom facilitation where appropriate to assist education and training programs.
* Ensure compliance with reporting requirements under funding agreements, training package requirements, and applicable regulations and legislation.
* Under direction, facilitate social and wellbeing support, mentoring, and service coordination for learners, trainees and apprentices, to contribute to their retention, successful completion and post-completion pathways.
* Support apprentices and trainees, including developing relationships with supervisors and host-employers to support access to student placements aligned with the learning and support needs and career goals of trainees, appropriate on-the-job learning, and post-completion employment opportunities.
* Work with employers, including promoting cultural safety and responsiveness, effective workplace orientation and workplace readiness, and completing and recording regular site visits to monitor and guide success.
* Contribute to high quality, accurate and timely record keeping, including compliance quality assurance, monitoring and reporting to senior staff and the IAHA Chief Executive Officer.
* Conduct all work consistent with IAHA’s policies and legal responsibilities, including, but not limited to, IAHA’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
* Other duties as directed.
Selection Criteria
Essential
* Demonstrated experience in community engagement activities including strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families, communities, and/or stakeholders.
* Knowledge of the education and training sector including school-based learning and/or adult learning, or the factors which impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student success.
* Experience in one or more of the following areas: community development, community services, health services or policy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, workforce development or employment services.
* Well-developed organisational skills, interpersonal and negotiation skills with the capacity to demonstrate initiative in delivering high quality outcomes aligned with IAHA priorities.
* Well-developed oral and written communication skills including effective representation with diverse stakeholders.
* Strong administrative skills including the ability to create and maintain accurate and timely records, including in software platforms such as JobReady.
* Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment and to balance multiple tasks and competing priorities within tight deadlines, and to escalate concerns.
* Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young people, including upholding the National Child Safe Principles
Qualifications and licences
* A current Working with Vulnerable People registration in the relevant jurisdiction and National Police Clearance, or the ability to obtain.
* Tertiary qualifications in an allied health or health or community services-related discipline at a Certificate IV level or higher.
* Certificate IV or above in Training and Assessment or a willingness to complete the qualification as part of your employment.
Desirable
* Experience in the design, development and delivery of VET sector training or traineeships.
* Ability to travel regionally when required.
A position description is attached.