Join AHL and make a real difference
At Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL), we’re all about connection, care and opportunity. The work is real and so is the impact!
We provide culturally safe, affordable accommodation for First Nations people travelling away from home and for over 50 years, we have been helping change lives across Australia.
You’re not just working; you are creating a place where people can feel safe and at home.
AHL is looking for reliable and motivated Weekend Cook (Cannon Boggo Pilot Hostel), Housekeeper and Night attendant (Jumula Dubbins Hostel) to join our team and help create a safe, clean, and welcoming environment at our Hostels. This is a great opportunity to be part of important work that supports First Nations peoples across Australia.
If you’re looking for a position in a supportive team where your efforts truly matter, we would love to hear from you.
What We Offer:
- Competitive Pay & Benefits: You’ll receive 15.4% superannuation, and generous leave entitlements to make sure you’re well looked after.
- Job Security & Career Growth: Enjoy employment with plenty of opportunities to grow and move up within the organisation.
- Supportive Team Setting: You’ll be part of a friendly, inclusive team where your work is valued.
- Generous shift penalties apply for work after hours, weekends and public holidays.50% penalty rates apply for Saturday, and 100% penalty rates apply for Sunday.
- Regular salary packaging options for vehicles, superannuation and laptops etc PLUS, ability to salary sacrifice $15,900 per FBT year for rent, mortgage or living expenses. This benefit reduces taxable income, increasing fortnightly take-home pay.
- Generous Leave Entitlements – including additional days off when a your RDO falls on a public holiday, 18 days sick/personal leave per annum, cultural and NAIDOC day leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme: Employees, their partners, and their dependants/children will have access to a confidential, professional counselling service to assist employees to manage personal and work issues.
They key duties of the position include:
Under the general direction of the Hostel Manager, all hostel worker positions will provide high quality care and support within a residential setting for First Nations people.
Cook
The Cook position will assist with the preparation of meals and day-to-day operation of the kitchen in accordance with food standards and relevant legislation.
Duties include but not limited to:
- Preparing and serving meals for residents.
- Receiving, rotating and storing food and kitchen supplies.
- Assisting with stock management.
- Maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment.
- Preparing and cleaning the dining room for all residents.
Night Attendant
The Night Attendant position will assist with the monitoring of the night security of the hostel in accordance with AHL’s policies and procedures.
Duties include but not limited to:
- Monitor premises to preserve order and protect property.
- Oversee and record entry/exit of residents, staff and visitors.
- Report and assist in escalating emergencies following established procedures.
Administrative tasks:
- Enter and maintain data on AHL’s online reservation system.
- Record daily activities and note irregularities, eg. equipment or property damage, theft, unauthorised persons, or unusual occurrences) using established templates.
General domestic duties:
- Carry out cleaning duties to ensure hostel grounds, gardens, windows, and the property are kept tidy.
- Prepare rooms for housekeeping the following day.
Housekeeper
The Housekeeper position will assist with maintaining a clean, safe and welcoming environment for residents and staff in accordance with organisational standards and relevant legislation.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Undertaking daily cleaning tasks throughout the hostel, including resident rooms, common and service areas.
- Ensure cleaning is performed to a high standard and maintaining hygiene requirements.
- Monitoring and maintaining an adequate supply of cleaning products and equipment.
- Inspecting rooms and facilities regularly for maintenance requirements and reporting issues to the Hostel Manager or Assistant Hostel Manager.
- Supporting the hostel team with general housekeeping and ad hoc cleaning tasks as required.
Essential Qualifications and Training
Night Attendant
- First Aid Certificate
- Emergency Warden Training (or ability to obtain in the first six months of employment)
Cook
- Food Safety Handling Certificate (or ability to obtain in the first six months of employment).
Housekeeper
- Chemical Handling Training through an AHL’s approved supplier (currently Jaysol) (or ability to complete within the first six months of employment).
Eligibility:
To be eligible to apply, applicants must be Australian Citizens or have already lodged an application for Australian Citizenship.
Prior to engagement the successful applicants will be required to:
- provide an Australian Citizenship document (e.g. birth certificate or passport);
- undergo a satisfactory National Criminal History Check;
- hold and maintain a working with children check in QLD; and
- meet the fitness for duty requirements.
Recruitment Initiatives
This is an Affirmative Measures – First Nations applicants only position. The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. To be eligible to apply under the Affirmative Measures initiative, applicants must:
- be an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person
- identify as an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, and
- be accepted by their community as being an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person.
Evidence of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
Applicants under the Affirmative Measure must meet the three criteria mentioned previously. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status before they are appointed to the role.
Further, the RecruitAbility scheme applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under RecruitAbility, declare you have a disability, and meet the minimum requirements for the position.
How to apply
- Upload and complete the application form, available from our website Work with us | Aboriginal Hostels Limited
- Email your application form and current resume to
[email protected] by 11:59PM AEST, Monday 14 September 2026.
- Include your name and the job reference (VN-0772250)in the subject of your email.
- Contact person: Jackson Beckley – 0437 767 985
📌 Cook, Housekeeper and Night Attendants (Thursday Island)
🏢 Aboriginal Hostels
📍 Thursday Island