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 secure, 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 Head of Boarding (Cannon Boggo Pilot Hostel), Residential Youth workers (Cannon Boggo Pilot Hostel) and Assistant Hostel Manager (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 Environment: 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.

The key duties of the Head of Boarding position include:

As Head of Boarding, you will be critical in managing and supervising the day to day operations of the hostel to ensure appropriate pastoral care is provided to students. An exciting opportunity to contribute to the educational, social and cultural development of young First Nations students. You will be a leader for Residential Youth Workers and Hostel Workers, and key contact for students, teachers, parents and stakeholders. You will have prior management experience and be able to manage staff matters as well as difficult student situations and behaviours.

The successful candidate will:

- Have a strong understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and issues affecting First Nations peoples.
- Proven ability to support outcomes for First Nations peoples with an ability to communciate effectively and sensitively.




- Demonstrated staff management experience with capability to handle difficult student situations and behaviours.
- Capacity to work independently and manage competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with First Nations peoples.
- Ability to uphold high ethical youth worker practices and principles which includes duty of care towards young people, maintaining confidentiality and respecting privacy of individuals, honest and maintaining appropriate boundaries at all times.

The key duties of the Assistant Hostel Manager position include:

AHL Assistant Hostel Managers are responsible for the day to running of their hostels. This is a hands-on role and will see you working closely with the team to provide a safe, clean and welcoming environment. Great Assistant Hostel Mangers come from a wide range of backgrounds. While experience in a similar industry is important, a successful Assistant Hostel Manager must have empathy and resilience with a calm but firm demeanour. You will be a hands-on manager, working closely with the small hostel team to provide three meals a day and ensuring the facility is clean, safe and welcoming. You will be a perfectionist, ensuring all hostel operations are meeting standards in line with guidelines and policies and continually developing your team to improve our service offering. You will be reporting to an Operations Management Team and will provide regular reports on hostel operations to the Operations Management Team and to AHL’s National Office business areas as required.

The key duties of the Residential Youth Worker position include:

Residential Youth Workers are key in creating a home away from home environment for students. You will support students out of school hours, arrange and engage in creative, culturally rich programs and guide the students to build life-long skills and achieve their personal goals.

Student services — Residential youth workers support students with routine activities, including class preparation, provide transport to school/sport/medical appointments, homework and life skills. You will promote and safeguard the safety and welfare of students, always adhering to AHL’S child safeguarding framework

Community Engagement - Residential youth workers develop cooperative relationships with schoolteachers, parents and community members. You will work alongside your team and with the guidance of the Head of Boarding, resolve complex issues to ensure a positive, culturally appropriate experience and quality stay.

Work,



Health and Safety - Residential youth workers perform all tasks in a manner which upholds AHL's commitment to safety of its staff and residents by adhering to relevant WHS practices. You will report unsafe, hazardous or emergency situations using AHL's Hazard and Incident reporting procedures.

Our ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate is an experienced and driven leader with operational, people management skills and with a strong focus on customer service. You thrive in dynamic environments, are adept at building and leading effective teams, and are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred services. You are confident engaging with local stakeholders and ensuring residents are well supported throughout their stay. You bring a high level of professionalism, attention to detail, and an ongoing focus on improving service delivery in line with AHL’s standards and strategic objectives.

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.

For more information on the RecruitAbility scheme please follow this link: APSC Recruitability scheme guide applicants.

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 ****@ahl.gov.au by 11:59PM AEST, Monday 14 September 2026.
- Include your name and the job reference (VN-0772248) in the subject of your email.
- Contact person: Timothy Wolfgang – 0477 702 ***

📌 Head of Boarding, Assistant Hostel Mangers and Residential Youth Workers (Thursday Island)
🏢 Aboriginal Hostels
📍 Thursday Island