• New role with an Aboriginal corporation
• APY Lands (Northern South Australia) based role
• Salary $84,446 per annum (inclusive of leave loading) + 9.5% superannuation + 6 weeks annual leave

About the Organisation

The Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee Aboriginal Corporation (PYEC) is an Anangu-run organisation that supports education of Anangu in the APY Lands. PYEC oversees education across the APY Lands and runs a number of projects to support the education and advancement of Anangu. PYEC has a close relationship with the South Australian Department for Education.

The APY Lands cover an area in excess of 100,000 square kilometres in northern South Australia and are extremely remote, with the nearest major town being five to six hours away in Alice Springs. The resident population is estimated to be 2,500 people spread across a number of communities and homelands. Predominant languages spoken are Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, as well as varying levels of English.

About the Role

PYEC is piloting a ‘school-to-work’ transition support initiative in the remote Aboriginal communities of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands.

This initiative has been co-designed with local communities to address the need for a transition program which supports young people to find meaningful work, get further qualifications and have the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.

The Transition Officer is a critical element of the initiative – bridging the relationship between young people, employers, schools, and their families. The role includes both a strategic focus on advocacy and partnerships as well as direct implementation through program delivery.

Main elements of the role include:

• Working closely with schools and secondary teaching staff to implement transition curriculum and ‘work – readiness’ activities
• Working closely with employers and training providers in community and across the region to provide relevant, supported work experience opportunities, pathways to employment, training, and support for new workers
• Working closely with young people and their families to develop individual transition plans and provide support for a minimum of 12 months post-school towards implementing outcomes

About you

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, youth work, community services, education, career development or similar
• Experience and/or knowledge of Aboriginal culture and communities, and how they operate, as well as an understanding of the health and wellbeing issues, and the social and organisational environments that affect staff working with vulnerable students and families in remote Aboriginal communities
• Case management skills and experience with the ability to implement a person-centred approach
• Understanding or experience in working with employers/businesses in assisting with the development of roles, processes, measures etc that meet (or balance) the needs of the employer as well as the student, so that there is a focus from the outset on mutual benefit and value
• Proven success in achieving education and employment outcomes for young people
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain good working relationships with a range of stakeholders across a number of isolated communities in the region
• Cultural sensitivity and experience of working in a cross-cultural environment
• Demonstrated organisational skills, the ability to self-manage workloads and experience working in a high volume and demanding environment

Essential requirements:

• Above all, you will demonstrate honesty, integrity, diplomacy, and a sense of fairness
• Ability to adapt to changing conditions with a flexible attitude
• Ability to live and travel extensively in the APY Lands
• A current ‘C’ class driver’s license and 4WD experience
• A positive Working With Children Check, and National Criminal History Check