About AHNT

Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory (AHNT) Aboriginal Corporation incorporated in August 2019 as the first peak body advocating for Aboriginal-controlled housing in the Northern Territory (NT). Five years on we are the NT’s leading voice on Aboriginal housing reform and sector capacity-building, and a signatory to the tripartite Partnership Agreement for Remote Housing in the Northern Territory worth $4 billion over 10 years.

We are governed by a board of Aboriginal leaders. Those directors are elected by our membership of 19+ Aboriginal community-controlled organisations that provide housing and related services in town camps, remote communities and homelands. We also work closely with our associate members, the 4 land councils of the NT and our partners, the Australian and Northern Territory governments.

AHNT is a member of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT Alliance (APONT) and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA). We have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NT Shelter as the peak for NT housing and homelessness, advocating for a shared approach to improving housing options for Aboriginal people, and we are an important member of Community Housing Industry Association NT (CHIA NT).

Our values In all our work we embody these values:

• cooperative – we work together
• culturally strong – we are community-led and respect Aboriginal knowledge
• strengths-based – we focus on what works
• trustworthy – we are reliable and committed
• innovative – we try new ways

About the role

Now that we are well-established as the NT’s peak body for the Aboriginal community-controlled housing sector, and agreements are in place with governments, land councils, peaks and partnerships, AHNT is growing in terms of resources, capability and influence. As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) you will ensure that the organisation maintains the strategic direction set by the board and elaborated in our own Strategic Plan 2024–27, and that our work proceeds in accordance with the following agreements and plans:

• the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, priority reforms, socio-economic targets (especially outcome 9) and the NT implementation plan
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Sector Strengthening Plan
• Partnership Agreement for the Joint Steering Committee on Remote Housing in the NT
• the NT Government’s Community Housing Growth Strategy 2022–32

As CEO, you will foster and maintain strong and effective relationships with the Aboriginal community-controlled sector, Aboriginal land councils, Australian and NT governments and other peak bodies, including NATSIHA, Coalition of Peaks and APONT.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team of passionate, skilled employees, ensuring the highest standard of service and advocacy for the

Aboriginal community-controlled housing sector, and absolute transparency and accountability for our funders and supporters.

Key duties and responsibilities

As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) you will:

• proactively lead and influence reforms to strengthen the Aboriginal-controlled sector across homelands, remote communities and town camps, and to transition from government to Aboriginal community control over Aboriginal housing
• work closely with the NT and Australian governments to coordinate and drive growth of Aboriginal-controlled community housing and housing services in the NT
• maintain strong partnerships with the land councils, NT and Australian governments, NATSIHA, APONT, NT Shelter and CHIA NT.
• represent the sector in meetings with the NT and federal governments, sector forums and the media, and promote understanding and prioritisation of needs of the Aboriginal community-controlled housing sector
• provide strategic advice to the board and member organisations on reforms and anticipated or emerging issues
• ensure best-practice accountability and transparency for funding partners, the board and membership.

Selection criteria

Essential

1. In-depth knowledge and understanding of the circumstances of housing and homelessness among Aboriginal Territorians, and the emerging Aboriginal-controlled housing and services sector.
2. Well-developed strategic, conceptual and analytical skills including the ability to read local and national political landscapes and to take and manage risks so that AHNT remains well-placed to respond and adapt.
3. Exceptional collaborative and influential skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and sustain productive working relationships with staff and external stakeholders, to motivate and support people to achieve high-quality outcomes in a complex, high-pressure environment, to de-escalate any conflict and to negotiate respectfully and constructively.
4. Highly developed cultural awareness and sensitivity, and determination to support Aboriginal people to improve housing on their own terms.
5. Sound financial and organisational skills including prioritisation, risk management, budgeting, recordkeeping, accounting and reporting
6. Exceptional oral and written communication skills for a wide range of contexts, including meetings with senior executives; public addresses; and conversations with Aboriginal people for whom English isn’t the primary language.
7. Sound knowledge of historical and contemporary policy and politics and reform agendas in NT town camps, remote housing and homelands.

Desirable

1. Previous experience as a senior executive of an Aboriginal corporation.

next steps

To apply, please click Apply Now and follow the prompts.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are very strongly encouraged to apply.

A position description is attached.