Community Development Project Officer

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Community Development Project Officer. Terms and conditions vacancy

• Rare opportunity to work with traditional aboriginal people in remote Australia
• Very cohesive and vibrant community

About the business

Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) was first incorporated in 1989 as the governing representative body for the Spinifex People. It was established to enable the Spinifex people to receive and administer funds to develop infrastructure at Tjuntjuntjara, in remote Western Australia. Servicing a close-knit community of around 200 people, PTAC is a non-profit aboriginal controlled community organisation which has grown to administer the Community Store, the Women's and Family Centre, the Community Resource Centre and a range of other programs and infrastructure related projects. PTAC also acts as a local council service provider- managing the essential services (water, power, sewerage, tip airstrip), the Community Development Program and an Environmental Health Program.

The organisation also operates a comprehensive primary health service (Spinifex Health Service) with a team of skilled health professionals including a Manager, Medical Director, visiting health specialists, remote area nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers.

About the role

The primary purpose of this position is to manage community development projects under the Community Development Program (CDP) and to facilitate Environmental Health programs and activities within the community. This includes supervising and developing projects with indigenous workers and clients to address community development and environmental health needs. 

Main Duties

This position is responsible for working with the CDP Case Officer to ensure the administration, participant training and work activities of the programs are delivered and to promote gainful employment and business development opportunities.  This position is responsible for supervising participants and staff working under the Environmental Health program and CDP.   The position is required to assist the Board and staff to manage and supervise community development and environmental health projects and training for aboriginal people living in Tjuntjuntjara.   This includes working alongside and supervising indigenous men and women in practical skills such as fencing, building repairs and maintenance, basic plumbing, essential services, vehicle repairs (tyre changing etc.).  This position would suit someone with sound practical skills and a sound understanding of the appropriate use of a wide range of tools, plant and equipment.

Benefits and perks

This is an amazing opportunity for an applicant seeking an adventure in a remote location, in a part of Australia that most people will never get to see!

In return for your hard work and dedication, you will be rewarded with an attractive salary package including a base salary of $74,401 and super, plus a fantastic range of benefits including:

• Return airfares after 12 months' continuous service for you and dependents onsite;

• District allowance of $4,333;

• Generous salary sacrificing options;

• 4 weeks' annual leave with 17.5% leave loading;

• 8 weeks isolation leave (in lieu of overtime and public holidays);

• Monthly telephone and internet allowances of $50 each ; and

• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

You'll also be able to call the Tjuntjuntjara community home immediately, with furnished accommodation, provided at subsidised rent of $40 per week, including utilities.

Skills and experience

To be successful in this role, you will have a:

• Tertiary or trade qualifications in the relevant area, with at least 5-10 years' experience in relevant field. This would suit a tradesperson with a trade qualification in building, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing or the like with at least 5 years' experience in the trade and at least 2 years as a supervisor or overseer or someone with environmental health qualifications or similar.
• Demonstrated experience working in a remote Aboriginal community
• Computer skills and experience in working with Microsoft Office software and other common software programs.
• Demonstrated experience or ability to work with and motivate a project team, including using community development principles to develop projects with indigenous participants, and encourage workforce participation, capacity building and skill level development.
• Experience working in a time driven work environment.
• Experience operating machinery
• Working knowledge of community development practices and principles and ability to practically apply in a remote aboriginal community;
• Working knowledge of business management practice, procedures and processes;
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work environments, work responsibilities and technology;
• Demonstrated experience and ability to effectively engage indigenous clients and increase workforce participation;
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team displaying leadership and compliance skills;
• Demonstrated capacity to negotiate and deal with conflict;
• An ability to effectively communicate with people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds including aboriginal people
• Demonstrated well-developed organizational, planning and time management skills;
• Sound problem solving, diplomacy and resolution skills
• A genuine interest in working cooperatively with traditionally oriented Aboriginal people;

Applicants are required to lodge an application addressing the selection criteria above, with a minimum of 3 job referees. Queries and requests for a copy of the PD can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

Applications close 5pm (AWST) on Monday 6th August 2018 and are to be lodged via the Seek Site.