About the Treaty Authority

The Treaty Authority is an independent entity with a mandate to facilitate the formation of treaties between the State of Victoria and First Peoples in Victoria.

The Treaty Authority’s work is grounded in Aboriginal culture, lore and law and led collectively by a panel of five Members committed to Aboriginal self-determination and empowerment. It engages with a broad cross-section of stakeholders including the State of Victoria, the First Peoples’ Assembly and Traditional Owners in Victoria.

The objects of the Treaty Authority’s work are to:

• Facilitate the journey towards reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between First Peoples and other people of the State and to
• Maintain, promote and advance the self-determination and empowerment, culture and human rights of First Peoples.

About the Role

The Treaty Authority has cultural accountability to First Peoples and has a unique role and responsibility as the independent facilitator of Treaty negotiations to practice, observe and uphold Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority.

The integral role of Cultural Counsel forms part of the Executive Leadership team which will influence the direction of the Treaty Authority strategic and operational work, internally and externally. The Cultural Counsel will work with the Leadership team to build a culturally strong and skilled organisation. They will bring expertise on how to uphold and honour Aboriginal laws, knowledge and customs in the Treaty process, as requested by First Peoples’ Treaty negotiating parties. They will nurture and lead relationships by upholding Traditional Owners Lore, Law and Authority.

The Treaty Authority welcomes applications from all candidates interested in this role, we are open to considering full-time, part-time and/or job share opportunities. In this case, two part-time roles would be considered at a maximum of 0.8 FTE each.

Key Duties

This role focuses on upholding Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority within the Treaty Authority. Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing high quality advice in relation to Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority.
• Leading initiatives to recognise and uphold Aboriginal cultural values, spirituality, governance systems and kinship structures.
• Developing a Cultural Safety Plan and promoting cultural humility and integrity within the organisation.
• Supporting the Treaty Authority to maintain, nurture and strengthen respectful relationships with relevant representatives of/from Traditional Owner groups, other First Peoples’ groups, the First People’s Assembly including the Elders Voice.
• Providing expert advice on cultural matters during treaty negotiations, policymaking and organisational strategy.
• Leading the development and delivery of cultural activities, including ceremonial events.
• Mentoring and supporting cultural safety for Aboriginal staff. This includes cultural mentoring to build knowledge of and connection to Victorian communities.
• Providing advice and guidance to ensure relevant Treaty Authority frameworks, policies and processes uphold and embed Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority and supporting implementation in a culturally strong way.

The Cultural Counsel plays a crucial role in ensuring the Treaty Authority operates within a culturally respectful framework, supporting Aboriginal-led initiatives and safeguarding cultural authority throughout treaty negotiations and organisational functions.

Selection Criteria

The ideal candidate for this role is preferably a Victorian Traditional Owner with knowledge of and demonstrated lived experience of practising Aboriginal Cultural Lore, Law and Authority.

Key qualifications & experience include:

• Deep understanding of Victoria’s First Peoples’ cultures, customs, languages and the importance of Eldership and Cultural Authority.
• Proven experience in senior roles, with strengths in organisational change, people leadership, coaching and mentoring, and fostering respectful relationships within Aboriginal communities.
• Knowledge of cultural safety and wellness in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander context and the ability to foster a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff.
• High emotional intelligence, cultural humility and the ability to engage effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong background in strategic and operational planning, project and financial management and communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Experienced in managing pressures, meeting deadlines, working autonomously and maintaining organisation in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to supporting reforms that benefit First Peoples in Victoria.

This position has a starting salary range of $216,376 including super, depending on the successful applicant’s experience.

This role is based at our offices in Collingwood.

Due to the nature of the Treaty process and emphasis on self-determination for First Peoples, this role has been designated for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people as a special measure under section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

If you feel you could contribute well in this role, apply now with a copy of your resume along with a brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in this opportunity.

For a detailed job description or any initial enquiries please call Nicole McConville on 0433 969 711 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Cultural Counsel (Designated) enquiry via EthicalJobs.