POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Details

Title / Government Engagement Co-ordinator

Classification

/ EL 1

Vacancy Type

/ Identified Position

Group / Division

/ Indigenous Affairs Group / PM&C Regional Network

Security Clearance Level

/ Baseline Vetting

Location

/ XXXXX

About the Department

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has primary responsibility for Indigenous affairs policies and most Commonwealth Indigenous-specific policy and programmes across Australia. This reflects the Government’s priorities of ensuring better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a particular focus on getting children to school, adults in jobs and safe communities.

The Department briefs the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and the Parliamentary Secretaries to the Prime Minister, and consults extensively across the Australian Public Service (APS) to ensure that the advice provided draws on the most appropriate and up-to-date sources. The Department is also assuming a stronger leadership role in driving Indigenous affairs policy development and innovation across the APS. The Department is working with State and Territory Governments to deliver high priority initiatives in pursuit of the Government’s priorities.

About the PM&C Regional Network

The PM&C Regional Network comprises 12 regions across Australia, each reflecting unique cultures and languages. The PM&C Regional Network leads engagement with communities, other stakeholders and government agencies to drive outcomes in the Government’s three key Indigenous policy areas of getting children into school, getting adults into jobs and making communities safer. The PM&C Regional Network manages the delivery of services to achieve outcomes in these areas through funded providers. Funded providers are expected to work closely with Indigenous communities in the design and delivery of projects and services. Staff in the PM&C Network also work closely with funded providers and communities to develop and implement local solutions to improve outcomes in the Government’s priority areas.

The PM&C Regional Network is overseen by a National Director who is accountable to the Government for delivering results on the ground. Local staff report to the National Director through their Regional Manager to promote increased responsiveness and quicker decisions both on the ground and at the national level.

About the Role

As the key government contact within a local area, Government Engagement Co-ordinatorsgenerally live within an Indigenous community and work closely with community members and stakeholders in the community including other government agencies and service providers.Government Engagement Co-ordinators support and monitor the delivery of services to communities in the field. The role works in a responsive and flexible way with all these parties to broker solutions that will meet community needs and that will achieve results against the Government’s Indigenous Affairs priorities. [ROLE] are results-oriented and possess strong engagement and communication skills. The role builds on opportunities for collaboration andjoint problem solving and seeks to establish a more integrated approach to service delivery within a local region. In order to be effective the role must build productive relationships with Indigenous leaders within the community. The role maintains a detailed understanding of the range of programs and services being delivered to communities within a local region. The role supervises, mentors and seeks development opportunities for the Indigenous Engagement Officer(s) who also work within the community. The [ROLE] reports directly to [ROLE]a Director in their local Regional Office.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain a strong and detailed understanding of the regional contextand the needs and history of communities within that area and barriers to the achievement of outcomes for communities
  • Maintain a very strong understanding of local community needs and of the services being provided within the community by government and non-government organisations
  • Maintain a very high level of engagement with community members and service providers funded by the Commonwealth government
  • Ensure the maintenance of links and lines of communication between service providers and the community and be pro-active and creative in establishing communication between the community and service providers
  • Work responsively and in partnership with communities, other government agencies and service providers to broker local solutions that are tailored to local needs
  • Negotiate project goals and performance outcomes that will target community needs
  • Monitor the performance of service providers and discuss and resolve local, on-ground issues associated with the delivery or quality of services
  • Identify future community needs and issues that may impact on these needs; Engage with the Regional Office to have input into regional planning based on the identification of future community needs
  • Work with providers to assist them to make the most efficient and effective use of funds and ensure that providers understand and are fulfilling their obligations
  • Provide advice to more senior staff and the Regional Manager on service delivery issues to facilitate a timely resolution
  • Provide local intelligence on urgent matters and emerging issues and escalate issues to the local Regional Office as required
  • Mentor, identify development opportunities for and undertake training of Indigenous Engagement Officers to build their capacity and skills and prepare them for higher level work
  • Develop and implement work plans and priorities for the team and provide direction to facilitate the achievement of outcomes
  • Coach, guide and develop employees including identifying learning needs, monitoring and providing feedback on performance, mentoring staff and building co-operation within the team
  • Uphold the APS Values and Code of Conduct and understand and acknowledge what it means to be an APS employee

Key Relationships

  • Direct supervisor (EL 2)
  • PM&C State/Regional Office
  • Community members, leaders and Boards
  • Funded service providers
  • Local Indigenous businesses
  • Local Land Councils
  • Local government representatives
  • Representatives of local, State/Territory and Commonwealth agencies

Technical Skills and Knowledge

  • A comprehensive understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • Strongly developed knowledge, sensitivity and understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures and protocols
  • Strongly developed knowledgeand understanding the dynamics and perspectives of local Indigenous communities and the interests of those communities
  • A basic understanding of grants management activities

Capabilities

Communication and Relationships

  • Communicates sensitively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and holds Indigenous culture in high esteem
  • Resolves complex issues through negotiation and collaboration
  • Establishes relationships and builds trust and respect with key people in the community and government
  • Consults actively and works with stakeholders to achieve improvements in client service delivery
  • Guides and mentors others and identifies learning opportunities to assist them to develop their capabilities

Judgement and Political Nous

  • Assists others to understandrequired standards and objectives and the rationale behind them
  • Monitors the environment and responds quickly to issues and risks to community and organisational outcomes
  • Makes sound judgements based on a strong understanding of the context and underlying issues

Agility and Resistance

  • Helps others to develop solutions to resolve problems
  • Supports others to operate effectively in a difficult or demanding environment
  • Identifies and overcomes barriers to the achievement of good outcomes

Professionalism and Integrity

  • Assists stakeholdersto understand community needs and to deliver quality outcomes to meet these needs
  • Develops and applies a detailed understanding of the factors shaping a community, culture or perspective
  • Makes the best use of team and stakeholder strengths
  • Connects the work of different stakeholders to achieve better, more consistent outcomes

Problem Solving

  • Makes decisions based on evidence and careful judgement
  • Explains the reasoning behind goals, decisions and policies
  • Develops creative ways to tackle problems and develop new solutions