Aboriginal Education Liaison Officers x3 – Terrigal / Thornton / Port Macquarie

Company Description

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is one of Australia’s largest autism-specific service providers, with one of the biggest autism-specific school programs in the world. A not-for-profit organisation, we work in partnership with people of all ages on the autism spectrum, and their families to deliver evidence-informed solutions that are person-centred, family-focused and customer driven.

At Aspect we recognise a different brilliant®, where we seek to understand, engage and celebrate the strengths, interests and aspiration of people on the autism spectrum.

Vision: The best opportunities for people on the autism spectrum

Mission: We work with people of all ages on the autism spectrum, delivering evidence-informed solutions that are person-centred, family-focused, and customer-driven

Values: We are passionate about people, about being positive, and about what’s possible.

Job Description

Aboriginal Education Liaison Officers (3 positions available)

Contracted positions commencing Term 4, 2024 until the end of Term 4, 2025.  

Please indicate your preferred location in your application:

• Aspect Central Coast School, Terrigal – 1 part-time position (2 days per week)
• Aspect Hunter School, Thornton – 1 part-time position (2 days per week)
• Aspect Hunter School, Port Macquarie – 1 part-time position (2 days per week)

Aspect is committed to equity and excellence for all and to ensuring our educational strategy supports and advances Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in and through education to achieve their learning potential. We seek to do this in collaboration with Indigenous communities ensuring their perspectives in the decision-making process.

As an Indigenous mentor with a passion for education and cultural mentoring, you will work closely in a team with other professionals such as our school psychologist, speech therapists and occupational therapists to develop and deliver quality learning programs. The team’s purpose is to promote the Aspect school as a place of learning and excellence in accordance with contemporary evidence-based learning principles for autistic students.

The purpose of the role is to support the Principal in leading:

• A culturally safe and inclusive school environment for students, teachers and school community members
• Staff in being culturally competent in the local context
• Effective engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members relating to student learning, wellbeing, and engagement.

Key accountabilities

Work with teachers to:

• Support Aboriginal cultural awareness for all students with particular reference to Aboriginal students
• Help maintain effective relationships between Aboriginal students, Aboriginal parents, the Aboriginal community and school staff
• Support staff relating to meetings with Aboriginal families regarding the educational progress of their children and attend meetings where requested
• Assist Aboriginal students in all school activities, including excursions as requested

Work as part of a school team to support students:

• In relation to their school participation and programs
• In relation to their attendance and retention

Other Duties:

• Build effective partnerships with local Indigenous agencies and representatives in order to support student outcomes and pathways
• Liaising with the Principal and staff on protocols for interacting with the Aboriginal community in relation to staff and Aboriginal students in the school and Aboriginal education activities
• Performing other related duties as required by the Principal
• take reasonable care for their own health and safety.
• comply, so far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by the person conducting the business or undertaking to allow the person to comply with legislative requirements.
• report unsafe conditions or practices, and make suggestions to their manager on improving work, health & safety at Aspect.
• participate in the staff consultation process about work health & safety matters.
• understand and adhere to Aspect’s Code of Conduct.

Qualifications

What you bring:

• Demonstrated experience and expertise working in educational and/or community settings with a focus on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities
• Established and ongoing links with the local and/or wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community that can support the development of community programs and student pathways
• Qualifications and/or experience (see below) relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and/or cultural settings. This is inclusive of being able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and contemporary educational issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, in particular the ability to relate well to students and to work in teams with staff members.
• Initiative and the ability to handle a number of tasks concurrently, working independently and flexibly to adjust to changing situations

Requirements for the role:

• Being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification for this position as described under section 14 (d) of the NSW Anti-discrimination Act 1977.  In order to ensure this qualification is considered, submission of corroborated acknowledgment of Aboriginality is welcomed (Desirable)
• Current Senior First Aid Certificate (Desirable/willing to obtain)
• Current unrestricted Class C Driver’s Licence (Desirable)
• Current paid Working with Children Check (WWCC) number.

Click here for the position profile.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• $34.71 per hour + superannuation (This hourly rate of pay is adjusted to ensure payment each fortnight during school term and holidays after 1 year of employment. During the first year of employment, holidays will be paid pro rata of school term worked.)
• Salary packaging options to increase your take home pay
• Employee referral incentive
• Access to a wide range of discounts through Perkbox on everyday purchases
• Discounted membership to fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

To apply:

Click on the “Apply Now” button and attach your resume (not compulsory) and complete the candidate questionnaire; a cover letter is optional. We do not accept CV’s directly via email. Please indicate your preferred location in your application.

Aspect reserves the right to interview and appoint at any stage during the search process.

Enquiries should be directed to: Bríd Corrigan, National Manager, Education Leadership & Learning, [email protected] using the subject line: Aboriginal Education Liaison Officers x3 – Terrigal / Thornton / Port Macquarie enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Aspect is committed to increasing the number of Autistic staff and providing an inclusive workplace where everyone can feel that they belong. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, neurodivergent people, people with a disability, the LGBTQIA+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to apply. We have a range of universal strategies to meet the needs of different people in our hiring processes, and are happy to individualise these.

Learn more about us: www.autismspectrum.org.au.