The Nullu Badi Ngudyubay Academy (NBNA) is a unique Indigenous-led independent school under development in Central Queensland. As NBNA’s Principal you will be driven by NBNA’s vision as a culturally-inspired, holistic learning environment that offers wrap around multi-disciplinary supports and multi-generational engagement for students and their families.

Strong in Culture, you will also bring the entrepreneurial and innovative mindset needed to establish and operationalise NBNA and its special ethos and multi-generational approach. Simply doing what’s been done before won’t produce the outcomes needed for Indigenous children and young people and as NBNA’s Executive Principal you will continue to shape every aspect of the NBNA education, services and support model. You will finalise the development of the NBNA campus, accreditation, the curriculum and immersive learning environment, the suite of wrap around supports and the Cultural and community support system that will make NBNA truly unique. You will establish NBNA as a place where First Nations’ students, families, extended kinship networks and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community feel connected, strong and proud in Culture and where individual students have the tailored and well scaffolded pathway they need to thrive. Importantly, whilst NBNA will be a special place for First Nations people, it will also welcome non-Indigenous students and their families and be a place of cultural sharing, respect and reconciliation.

You will feel confident in managing projects through from ideation to delivery, leading a small development team comprising of a Business Manager and key consultants and report to an active Board and group of highly capable community partners. NBNA will start with initial year 7 and 8 cohorts and grow over time. The five-year enrolment target is 120 students from all backgrounds. The long-term enrolment target is 240 students.

You will know that doing things differently for better outcomes isn’t straightforward and cannot be achieved alone. Complementing your expertise in education leadership roles and the ability to connect, learn and build partnerships with other educational leaders, you will have the relationship skills to build strong partnerships with community, institutions, government, regulators, stakeholders, supporters and financiers who will help make the NBNA vision a reality.

Once the doors open at NBNA, you will be responsible for NBNA’s professional leadership and strategic management and are mandated to lead and manage the Academy in the achievement of its vision and mission. You will ensure this is achieved in a manner consistent with the NBNA philosophy, its goals, strategic plan, board policies and directions, and statutory and regulatory requirements. Further, you will work with the Board to develop and achieve the Strategic Plan through effective implementation of an Annual Plan.

As the Executive Principal you will have responsibility for the following:

Leadership

Provide the visionary, innovative and entrepreneurial leadership to establish an holistic new learning and support model as an alternative to mainstream schooling for First Nations and other students.

Work with the Darumbal People’s Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Elders, community leaders and community members to bring Cultural Authority and sound Cultural practices into all aspects of life at NBNA.

Lead the school’s partnerships with key stakeholders in establishing and operationalising the multi-disciplinary and multi-generational NBNA model.

Lead the wider stakeholder engagement required to build support for and establish NBNA as a new education institution in the Central Queensland region.

Support the NBNA Board in strategic planning and be responsible for executing the business model, financial oversight, monitoring KPIs and reporting.

Lead executive responsibilities typically held by a CEO including risk management, compliance, corporate governance and strategic planning.

Finalisation of campus acquisition, site readiness, facility compliance and ongoing capital works.

Lead the securement of a permanent site for the NBNA, site planning, capital works and infrastructure oversight.

Development of the NBNA model

Lead the school and wider community to develop, articulate and commit to a shared educational vision focused on providing quality learning outcomes for all students.

Finalise the development and implementation of the NBNA school curriculum.

Building on expertise, evidence, and insights from alternative schooling and youth and family development models, develop a flexible learning and support model that better meets the needs of First Nations and other students.

Work with the Darumbal People’s Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, Elders, community leaders and community members to develop NBNA’s cultural and community support framework.

Work with all stakeholders to develop NBNA’s multi-disciplinary and multi-generational support model.

Achieve accreditation of the school and oversee accountability for all reporting obligations and engagement with bodies like ACNC, NSSAB and ISQ

Finalise the interim site for the school campus, oversee its development and securement of the permanent site of NBNA.

Lead development of the school’s operating frameworks, including required policies and procedures, through to maturity and implementation.

Lead student recruitment for the initial year group intakes and subsequent growth.

Quality learning and life outcomes

Set high standards for student and staff performance.

Embed socially just practices in daily school life.

Support the cultural and spiritual growth of students and staff.

Develop the support model and learning scaffolding required to achieve outcomes for students with more complex needs and their families.

Actively participate in life-long learning and ongoing professional development.

A well-run school with strong partnerships

Form strong partnerships with parents, families, Cultural leaders, other government agencies, community groups, industry, other education and training providers and business.

Understand the legislation and policies impacting on schooling and the support services offered through the NBNA model.

Manage NBNA’s resources effectively to achieve goals and ensure sustainability, including managing philanthropic partnerships, financial oversight and driving long term financial sustainability

Lead the development and implementation of a NBNA human resource plan supporting the successful appointment, supervision, support and training of NBNA’s multi-disciplinary staffing model.

Lead and provide strategic oversight of localised planning including school annual strategic plans, business plans, implementation plans, partnership agreements, referral pathways and local Implementation Groups

Lead the coordination of NBNA communication and marketing strategy and activities. As Executive Principal you will act as the key spokesperson and ambassador for the NBNA for media, peak bodies, funders and government agencies.

Lead the school’s partnership with funders.

Qualifications and Experience

Extensive experience leading complex school environments and developing and delivering significant change initiatives, ideally including establishing new schools.

Extensive experience in First Nations education and a deep understanding of the social and cultural context of First Nations students and their families.

Experience in negotiation and working closely in partnership with the community sector, with Government and other stakeholders.

Hold teacher registration or has the capacity to be registered with the Queensland College of Teachers

Minimum, Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education and or experience

Strong Project Management experience

Current Blue Card

Experience working cross-culturally and with diverse groups, including students and families with more complex needs.

Selection Criteria

Demonstrated expertise in educational leadership and stewardship regarding teaching and learning, school improvement, innovation and change which is underpinned by better practice for Indigenous students’ education and wellbeing.

Extensive experience working with First Nations students, their families and with students with more complex needs.

Demonstrated ability to manage and oversee large, complex projects involving complex project management, budgeting, financing, stakeholder management, negotiations and authorisations

Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to build strong networks, negotiate, and develop and sustain productive relationships within and beyond the school community.

Demonstrated strategic thinking and analytical skills and the ability to use those to influence the educational agenda and new flexible alternative learning model

Demonstrated ability to effectively manage human, financial and physical resources to deliver high quality organisational outcomes.

Demonstrated capacity to undertake, in addition to the successful leadership of complex school, executive leadership roles in the broader education community and human services sectors.

Demonstrated capacity to develop and maintain an organisational culture based on ethical professional and personal behaviours and strong Cultural and corporate values.

This role is an identified position which will be filled by a suitably qualified education leader from a First Nations background.

Working Conditions

Work will occur across multiple sites: Yeppoon TAFE Campus (interim NBNA site) and Rockhampton partner offices. Full time at 38 hours per week.

It is a condition of employment that staff provide a current Blue Card and Police Records Check prior to commencing.

As a DGR1 charitable entity we can offer our employees a full range of salary packaging benefits.

A probationary period of 6 months will apply to this role.

Limited travel may be required from time to time.

Leave Entitlements During Establishment Phase

As NBNA is not yet operational, mandatory school holiday periods do not apply.

Leave remains subject to approval per the National Employment Standards and relevant Modern Award i.e annual leave/personal carers leave etc.

The above conditions can be subject for negotiation