Lead – First Peoples Policy and Partnerships
Policy & Partnerships
Permanent Full Time
Band 7: $108,545.62 to $121,358.58 per annum + superannuation + RDO (RDO applicable for full-time 38 hours per week only)
This is a designated position under s.12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.
Why You’ll Want to Join Us
Supportive and friendly team environment where we value growth and development
Hybrid/flexible working arrangements and an emphasis on work/life balance
Award-winning organisation-wide Health and Wellbeing initiatives
Benefits Package
Hybrid Working Policy For those working full-time hours - 3 days worked in the office and 2 days WFH
Exceptional leave entitlements - 16 days personal leave, 18 weeks parental leave, plus cultural leave and compassionate leave
Health and wellbeing - free EAP counselling, discounted leisure membership 40% off for Staff and 25% off for Managers, salary sacrifice childcare options
Professional Development – leadership courses and learning workshops, Education Assistance Program featuring study and exam leave and up to 50% course fee reimbursement
About the Role
Yarra City Council is seeking a skilled and collaborative Lead – First Peoples Policy and Partnerships to contribute to Council’s work with Traditional Owners, First Peoples communities, and First Peoples-led organisations connected to or operating in Yarra.
This role provides specialist policy advice, partnership coordination and governance support to contribute to the Council’s work with Traditional Owners, First Peoples communities, and First Peoples-led organisations connected to or operating in Yarra.
The role supports the implementation, monitoring and reporting of Council’s First Peoples policy settings, including the emerging Yana Ngargna Policy Framework, Reconciliation Action Plan commitments, Council Plan priorities and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan priorities.
A key focus of the role is supporting Council’s First Peoples policy and partnership commitments in practical, respectful and well-coordinated ways. This includes coordinating policy, governance and reporting work; supporting agreed engagement pathways; preparing advice and briefings; and helping Council officers work consistently with endorsed policy settings, cultural protocols and First Peoples-led governance and advisory mechanisms.
The role also supports agreed governance and partnership processes, including the effective operation of the Yana Ngargna Advisory Group, Council’s strategic advisory committee established in partnership with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and the broader First Peoples community. The role will also support the establishment of the Marnelong Network, a local partnership network focused on strengthening collaboration, service coordination and culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Yarra.
The role will provide input to relevant Council projects and initiatives where First Peoples policy, partnership, cultural recognition, or engagement considerations arise, including place-based work, public realm, planning, service design, community wellbeing, and advocacy.
The role works in ways that respect the cultural authority that sits with Traditional Owners, First Peoples communities, and relevant First Peoples-led governance and advisory mechanisms.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone with experience in First Peoples policy, partnerships or governance, and the ability to support implementation, reporting and practice improvement.
You will bring a sound understanding of self-determination, cultural safety, Traditional Owner cultural authority, First Peoples-led governance and the policy issues affecting First Peoples communities.
You will be able to build respectful relationships with Traditional Owners, First Peoples community members, First Peoples-led organisations, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, government agencies and internal stakeholders.
Strong written communication, consultation, and coordination skills will be important, including the ability to prepare clear advice, briefings, reports, and correspondence; manage competing priorities; coordinate follow-up actions; and work across Council teams to support agreed commitments.
As an employee of Yarra City Council, you will be eligible for a range of benefits, including flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities and exposure to meaningful work across local government.
Yarra City Council is a flexible organisation. We pride ourselves on our inclusive culture and diversity. We aim to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Applications close on: Friday 31 July 2026, at 11:55pm.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter.
Your cover letter should briefly outline your relevant experience and respond to the Key Selection Criteria in the Position Description. You do not need to provide a separate Key Selection Criteria document.
The selection panel will assess your resume and cover letter against the technical skills, abilities, qualifications and Key Selection Criteria for the role.
Need More Info?
For further information, please see the position description attached or contact Julia Bennett-Mitrovski, Senior Coordinator Policy and Partnerships, on (03) 9205 5490
This position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement. Pre-employment checks are not used by Yarra City Council to prevent any applicant from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.
Yarra City Council is committed to being a child-safe organisation and supports flexible and accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer.
We draw pride and strength from our diversity, remain open to new approaches and actively foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates the contributions made by all our people
Additional Information
This position is subject to satisfactory Police Check, Working with Children Check, screening against the Aged Care and Disability Banning Order Register to ensure eligibility to work in the sector and a pre-employment medical assessment prior to commencement. Pre-employment checks are not used by Yarra City Council to prevent any applicant from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.
At Yarra Every Job is a Climate Job! Acting on the climate emergency requires that we change the way we think, make decisions, and prioritise action. We must embed proactive climate responses in the ways we govern, live our lives, and conduct our work. Every choice we make today and into the future will have an impact; this is true for Council and the community.
Acknowledging the scale of this crisis, at Yarra we are committed to ensuring that every job is a climate job meaning that each staff member will play a key role in shaping our climate response.
Yarra's Commitment to Diversity
Yarra City Council is committed to being a child safe organisation and supports flexible and accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer.
We draw pride and strength from our diversity, remain open to new approaches and actively foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates the contribution made by all our people.
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More than 1000 scientists, engineers and experts work at ANSTO to answer the significant environmental, medical and industrial questions using nuclear techniques.
ANSTO’s international collaborations, including partnerships with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), ensure Australian scientists are connected to a global network of experts and research projects.
As part of enabling a strong national collaborative network, ANSTO is connected with all Australian and New Zealand universities through the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), providing researchers access to Australia’s nuclear science, technology and engineering expertise and landmark infrastructure.
On average, ANSTO accommodates over 1800 visiting researchers from other Australian and international research organisations each year.
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