- Strawberry Hills
- Temporary up to 27 January 2028 (possibility of extension) - Full-Time (35 HPW)
- Clerk Grade 7/8, base salary ($116,981 - $129,492), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Your role

Established in July 2025, the Office for Youth connects the NSW Government with young people, ensuring their voices influence policy. Through accessible engagement platforms and a focus on consultation, co‑design, expert advice, stakeholder support and innovation, it works to create meaningful, lasting impact.

The Aboriginal Participation Advisor will manage and deliver participation projects that strengthen the voices of children and young people in decisions that affect their lives, aligned with Part 4 of the Advocate for Children and Young People Act 2014 and the Office for Youth Work Plan. Engage and consult with children and young people across NSW, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, to ensure their views inform policy, programs, and services. Build inclusive opportunities for meaningful participation and representation.

What you’ll do

- Lead and support participation projects that amplify the voices of children and young people across NSW, ensuring culturally safe and inclusive engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Conduct environmental scanning, research, and analysis to identify emerging issues, risks, and opportunities affecting children and young people, informing evidence-based project design and delivery.
- Plan, coordinate, and monitor project activities, timelines, resources, budgets, risks, and reporting requirements to deliver outcomes on time, within scope, and to quality standards.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, to support effective policy, program, and service development.
- Prepare high-quality reports, briefings, discussion papers, and project updates that provide clear insights and support informed decision-making.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to apply consistent project management and research methodologies, proactively managing competing priorities, project risks, and stakeholder expectations.

What we’re looking for

- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and facilitate meaningful participation with diverse communities.
- Demonstrated cultural capability and commitment to culturally safe engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,



young people, and communities.
- Proven project coordination skills, with the ability to deliver outcomes on time, manage competing priorities, and monitor risks and resources.
- Strong research, analytical, and communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, provide insights, and support evidence-based decision-making.

Download the role description.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

- A challenging and rewarding career

- Flexible, autonomous work environment

- Competitive pay and conditions

- Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

- Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working setting!

Essential requirements

- This is an identified position and only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons ( see notes below for further information).
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
- Some evening and weekend work as required to meet the needs of participating young people is required.

- A current valid NSW driver’s license (unrestricted) and willingness to travel regularly and stay overnight is required.

As an Identified role, this role is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia’s First Nations people.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and authorised by Section 14(d)



of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

Or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
- is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the targeted question below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

- Targeted Question 1 - Give an example when you have worked in collaboration with Aboriginal community to reach a desired outcome for children and young people. What did you do, who did you involve and what were the outcomes?

Applications close Sunday, 6 September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Sophia Finlay Melville, Manager Participation via [email protected]

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please contact Paola Piña | Talent Acquisition Officer, via [email protected]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ , culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

📌 Aboriginal Participation Advisor - Office for Youth (Strawberry Hills)
🏢 Department Of Communities And Justice
📍 Strawberry Hills