• Full Time Limited Term (12 months)
• Business Services Band C: $84,567 – $97,899 per annum plus 11.5% statutory superannuation.
• Location: Negotiable across SRW major offices of Maffra, Mitcham and Werribee

About Southern Rural Water

Southern Rural Water (SRW) is a Victorian water corporation with nearly 170 staff, managing major dams, weirs, water licensing and more from Mallacoota through to the South Australian border. At SRW, we believe that diversity makes us stronger, and we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to thrive and contribute to collective success.

Through providing a flexible, always safe workplace and promoting employee development, we empower employees to contribute to our strategy of great value for customers and community through excellence in rural water management.

How We Support You

At Southern Rural Water, we recognise and prioritise the wellbeing and fulfilment of our staff members. Here's what we offer to ensure a balanced and rewarding work experience:

• Embrace flexibility: We support various working arrangements including WFH, 9-day fortnights, tailor your work schedule to accommodate for school drop off and pick up hours.
• Generous leave provisions: 15 days sick leave and 14 weeks paid parental leave to support you during life’s important moments!
• Cultural and Ceremonial Leave: Paid leave granted to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent to participate in cultural and ceremonial activities
• Health and Wellbeing: Yearly reimbursement of up to $150 per financial year to support you in physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Professional development: We support your growth through a range of internal and external training initiatives and offer study assistance programs to empower you to reach your full potential.
• Employee Assistance Program: Receive comprehensive support for yourself and your family through our employee assistance program.
• Salary Sacrifice: Salary Sacrifice options for vehicles, equipment, and superannuation to enhance your financial benefits. 
• See what else we can offer you on our Careers Page!

About the Role

Southern Rural Water is seeking a Cultural Liaison Officer to work with us to help build and nurture partnerships with Traditional Owner Corporations across our service area. This position is an identified role and only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are eligible to apply.

As the Cultural Liaison Officer, you will play an important role in returning water to the Traditional Custodians through water licensing.

You will work within a team that assesses, processes and determines water licences guided by The Water Act 1989. You will help establish processes and ways of working that ensure we meet our legal obligations, whilst ensuring a culturally sensitive approach to water licensing.

As the Cultural Liaison Officer, some of your responsibilities will include:

• Help build strong relationships with Traditional Owner Corporations and Aboriginal communities to support water return initiatives.
• Act as a central contact for Traditional Owner Corporations, facilitating open and respectful communication, preparing informative information to assist knowledge sharing and addressing any concerns or issues that arise.
• Work with decision makers at SRW to ensure process and timelines meet the needs of individual Traditional Owner Corporations.
• Organise and participate in meetings, workshops, and events with Traditional Owner Corporations and relevant stakeholders to advance water return projects.

About you

The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate some of the desired experience and abilities below.  

• Experience working with Aboriginal communities, professionally or community-based volunteer setting.
• An understanding of the water cycle, how water flows through Country and how it is used to support Country, the environment, irrigated agriculture, and commercial uses.
• An ability to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds in both verbal and written forms.
• Knowledge of legislation and current policy such as Sustainable Water Strategies, is preferred but not essential.

This is a special measures role and only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are eligible to apply, as per section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

How to Apply

Applications should be made online by clicking 'Apply Now'.

Please take the time to describe how your knowledge, skills and abilities would make you a suitable candidate for this role as part of your cover letter.

A Position Description for this position can be obtained from this link, or in the attachment below.

Southern Rural Water is committed to diversity and inclusion in employment and is proud to encourage applications from people of different backgrounds, abilities, ages, genders, gender identities and/or sexual orientations.

Southern Rural Water acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters we work with and within, and pay respects to Elders past and present.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to provide an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss your reasonable adjustments during interviews, please contact: [email protected], using the subject line: Cultural Liaison Officer - Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs.