Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Aboriginal Assistant Manager -

Acmena Youth Justice Centre,

Youth Justice

• Ongoing, Full time
• Location: Grafton
• Level 6 Salary ($118,296 - $129,228 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only.

Your role

The Aboriginal Assistant Manager, Centre is responsible for managing the delivery of client services of the youth justice centre on a day-to-day basis to ensure the needs of young people sentenced, or on remand, are met within a safe and secure therapeutic setting in accordance with relevant legislation.

The role manages a team of staff to deliver centre programs across client services, counselling, WHS, building environment, response equipment and operational security and ensures compliance with policy, procedure and relevant legislation.

This role is committed to building a workforce that better reflects the perspectives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities we serve.

What you'll do

• Communicating respectfully with Aboriginal communities in a culturally sensitive way (Yindyamarra - with respect)

• Manage a team of staff including work allocation and rostering, performance management and learning and development to deliver a range of centre programs including client services, counselling, WHS, building environment, response equipment and operational security.

• Manage the delivery of client services based on a multidisciplinary model to provide high quality psychological, counselling, health, education and other services and programs consistent with defined case plans for young persons.

• Coordinate the design, delivery, monitoring, evaluation and funding of a range of programs provided by centre and community-based providers to support children and young people sentenced, or on remand, who present with complex needs and behaviours.

• Coordinate the delivery of various reports and submissions including issues and incidents, ministerial briefings, Serious Young Offenders Review Panel (SYORP), Classification Review Panels, Parole Reviews, and Conditional Discharge.

• Manage and coordinate the development, implementation and review of young persons' case plans by a team of unit and specialist staff to support the delivery of high-quality client services.

• Lead the design, implementation and modelling, a range of operational procedures, practices and systems including accountability and quality assurance systems, by monitoring reviewing and coaching staff practice ensuring good operational practice is maintained.

• Perform quality assurance reviews and drive operational efficiency, a secure environment and safe work practices that comply with legislation, policy and procedures.

What we're looking for

• Tertiary qualifications in behavioural/social sciences, education, psychology or relevant experience managing multidisciplinary teams within a criminal justice or human services environment

• Current NSW Drivers licence (minimum class C)

• Possession of ‘Provide First Aid' Certificate (HLTAID003)

• This is an identified position and only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons (see notes below for further information).

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
• is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now' button.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers-at-dcj/pathways/careers-for-aboriginal-people.html

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply. You will need to attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum five pages) and a cover letter (maximum three pages) with a brief outline on how you meet the focus capabilities & requirements of the role and answer the two targeted questions below:

1. Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully managed a multidisciplinary team in a high-pressure environment? How did you ensure efficient allocation of resources, foster staff development, and improve team performance to achieve program delivery goals?

1. Describe a time when one of your colleagues was not providing service according to the organisation's standards. What did you do and what was the outcome?

Applications close Sunday 20 July 2025 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Pana Turaga on 0436 663 248 or at [email protected]

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Lisa Smith on 0456 199 105 or via [email protected]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW' page.

Profile description:

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is the lead agency in the Communities and Justice Portfolio. Communities and Justice aims to achieve a safe, just, and inclusive New South Wales (NSW) by operating an effective legal system; increasing access to social and affordable housing; protecting children and families; addressing domestic and family violence; promoting public safety; reducing reoffending; and supporting community harmony and social cohesion.

DCJ works to enable everyone's right to access justice and help for families through early intervention and inclusion, with benefits for the whole community by providing services that are effective and responsive to community needs.

We offer:

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.