Careers at TAFE NSW

Aboriginal Student Support Officer (Identified)

Bundjalung Country – Lismore TAFE Campus

1 x Permanent Full-time

Salary Package Range: ($88,427 - $97,607). Includes salary ($77,908 - $85,996) employer's superannuation and annual leave loading

At TAFE NSW, we are dedicated to life-changing impact.

That’s why we offer world-class training and education that delivers the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Life-changing impact starts with an incredible team that sees their career as an opportunity to shape someone’s world. Whether that’s inspiring students, supporting each other, or helping our communities and industries flourish.

We live by TAFE NSW values: Customer Focus, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence. They define who we are, how we work and inspire our performance.   

We invest in our people

At TAFE NSW, you will discover a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative environment, where you can innovate, create value, and do meaningful work.

We provide you with tools, ongoing training and professional development, health and wellbeing programs with a 35-hour working week.

About the role

The Aboriginal Student Support Officer plays a vital role in supporting students enrolled on their local campus. The successful candidate will support Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander students in achieving successful outcomes by engaging effectively with students, communities, and other relevant stakeholders; monitoring and supporting students; identifying student needs and making appropriate referrals. TAFE NSW campuses that you will cover include Kingscliff, Wollongbar, Lismore and Ballina.

This is a role where being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement. That means that your lived experience, cultural knowledge, community connection or capability is essential to succeeding in this role and the services being provided. For example, Aboriginal lived experience in an Aboriginal Student Support Officer role makes a significant contribution to how we deliver services and programs that have an impact on Aboriginal people. 

About You

You are passionate about supporting Aboriginal students in achieving successful outcomes. Have strong communication skills and demonstrated experience in building effective relationships with key stakeholders. You are skilled and experienced in collaborating with diverse individuals to plan and implement culturally appropriate strategies to provide exceptional learner experiences. You have the ability and desire to address the non-educational and educational barriers to success for your local community and understanding of relevant Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal services for referral, and to provide appropriate pathways to employment and / or further education.

Being resilient and flexible, you are comfortable with constructively managing conflict, mediating, and managing issues with sensitivity and confidentiality. You have demonstrated ability in the use of Office 365 and a strong background in administration (highly desirable within the education sector). Crucially, you are someone who shares the TAFE NSW Values of Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence and Customer First.

To succeed in this role, you will have: 

• Aboriginality (Aboriginality is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1977). Candidates selected for an interview must provide Confirmation of Aboriginality documentation at or before interview.  
• Certificate IV in relevant area or equivalent skills, knowledge and experience in administration support services.
• Class C driver’s licence with the capacity to travel for TAFE NSW business purposes as required.

To find out more about the role, click to view the  Position Description.

Our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment

With over 350 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership group possessing over 240 years of expertise in the VET sector, we are committed to creating a culturally safe workplace where dignity, trust, respect, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion are valued.

At TAFE NSW, you will have a sense of belonging and the opportunity to share your skills, stories, and passions and represent your communities and culture. 

We are proud of our Reconciliation Action Plan, and our Aboriginal Employment Strategy and are continually improving our services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students.

A career of life-changing impact awaits you. Apply now!

Applications close 11.55pm AEST Sunday 24th August

To apply for this role, click on ‘apply now’ and provide:

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role.
• Confirmation of Aboriginality
• Response to one targeted question when prompted in the application form (max 300 words)

Targeted Question: Please provide an example of a time you supported a student or client by working with others, such as colleagues or external services. What actions did you take to ensure they felt supported, their needs were met, and a positive outcome was achieved?

General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: contact Rachael Honeysett - Talent Acquisition Advisor via rachael.honeysett4@tafensw.edu.au or 02 79213369.

Role-specific enquiries: contact Carol Simon - Team Leader of Aboriginal Student Support via carol.simon4@tafensw.edu.au or 0476799220.

Aboriginal Candidate support: contact our friendly Aboriginal Employment team via our Advocate Services at aboriginalemploymentadvocate@tafensw.edu.au for any questions or support regarding our Confirmation of Aboriginality process.

Applicants for this position must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and be accepted in the community as such. An applicant's race is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under Section 14(d) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be required to provide Confirmation of Aboriginality documentation with their application. 

At TAFE NSW we are creating an accessible and inclusive workforce, so you can safely bring your whole self to work and connect with your community through our many diverse employee networks. If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please let your Talent Acquisition Advisor know.

For helpful insights into preparing your application, TAFE NSW’s recruitment process, and getting interview ready, read through our Application Process and the interactive Capability Application Tool.  

This is a child-related position. A Working with Children Check is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of findings of workplace misconduct. 

To be eligible for positions at TAFE NSW, you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.

An eligibility list, valid for 18 months, may be created for this position, and position(s) of the same classification that subsequently becomes vacant, may be filled via this recruitment.

Considering a move to Regional NSW? The Welcome Experience is a free service providing tailored support to ensure a smooth transition. From connecting you with the local community and essential services to helping you navigate employment and lifestyle opportunities. Discover the benefits of regional living –  explore The Welcome Experience and register today!