Position Summary

The Country Planning and Engagement Officer has the key role for building community capacity, increasing participation and driving best practice engagement across the organisation to ensure Gunditjmara rights, interest, knowledge and skills are informing cultural landscape management planning and delivery. This is an identified role (see conditions of employment below).

This is an identified position under the ‘special measures’ section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• An ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Key roles and responsibilities

Incorporate Gunditjmara goals, values and objectives into cultural landscape policy, strategy and projects by:

• Providing advice and assisting GMTOAC staff in coordinating community engagement activities to support the inclusion of Gunditjmara rights, interests and knowledge and skills into cultural landscape management activities.
• Providing support to and participating in the development and implementation of GMTOAC Nyamat Mirring (Sea Country) and Mirring (Country) plans.
• Working with GMTOAC’s project partners, including PV, DEECA and GHCMA to support cultural landscape management planning and project implementation across Gunditjmara Country more broadly.
• Engaging with other agencies and stakeholders to support partnerships which increase Gunditjmara engagement and connectedness, advocacy and collaboration.
• Undertaking reporting and providing input into investment bids to fund future cultural landscape management works.
• Working collaboratively with GMTOAC staff.
• Ensuring Work Health and Safety responsibilities are applied as identified in policies and procedures.
• Carrying out all other duties as required.

Skills and Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and/or at least five years demonstrated professional experience in environmental science, natural and cultural resource management, cultural heritage management or community development.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in building strong and effective relationships with a range of community-based organisations, government and industry partners.
• Experience in incorporating traditional owner values into project delivery.
• Ability to manage and deliver projects.
• Strong organisational skills including the ability to prioritise work, manage multiple tasks and competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently when required but also to work cooperatively with others as part of a team.

Applicants must have

• An awareness and understanding of historic and current issues affecting Gunditjmara and Country, as well as the broader Australian Aboriginal and Torres Islander community and their relationships with the broader Australian society, to communicate effectively and sensitively with Gunditjmara and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of GMTOAC, its operations and activities.
• Be committed to Aboriginal self-determination.

Conditions of Employment

• Must have a Victorian Drivers Licence.
• Ability to obtain a positive National Police and Working with Children Check.
• Be Fully Vaccinated for Covid-19.
• GMTOAC is an equal opportunity employer – If you believe you may be unable to achieve a positive check result, we have the ability to review your results and act with discretion. This allows us to employ staff only if we consider the outcome of this record will not have any negative impact to GMTOAC operations or reputation, or the role the staff member is completing.
• This is an identified position under the ‘special measures’ section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
  • o An understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  • An ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.