Position Summary:

The Aboriginal Ranger – WHS Officer plays a dual role in supporting land and cultural management activities as part of the Ranger team, while also ensuring workplace health and safety (WHS) practices are maintained across all Barray Alliance programs. This role combines hands-on environmental and cultural work with responsibility for WHS compliance, training, and safety leadership.

What You’ll Be Doing

As the Aboriginal Ranger WHS Officer, you’ll provide leadership in workplace health and safety to make sure Barray Alliance’s activities - from Ranger programs to cultural events - are delivered safely, respectfully, and in line with legislation. Your work will support both compliance and community wellbeing.

You will:

Lead WHS compliance – ensure Barray Alliance meets its obligations under WHS legislation, regulations, and internal policies.

Conduct site risk assessments – identify hazards and recommend controls for on-Country programs, workshops, and community events.

Deliver safety training – provide inductions, toolbox talks, and refresher sessions tailored for staff, Rangers, volunteers, and community participants.

Incident management – coordinate incident reporting, investigation, follow-up actions, and maintain accurate WHS records.

Maintain WHS systems – update registers (hazards, training, PPE, first aid), policies, and safe work procedures.

Provide advice to leaders – support the CEO, Project Leads, and Team Leaders with practical safety guidance.

Promote safety culture – encourage safe practices across all programs while respecting cultural protocols and ways of working.

Emergency preparedness – develop and review emergency plans for fieldwork, events, and community activities.

Work collaboratively – partner with Elders, cultural leaders, and staff to ensure safety practices align with cultural knowledge and community expectations.

Key Competencies

Behavioural Competencies

Community and Cultural Respect – demonstrates deep respect for Aboriginal cultural knowledge, Elders, and community ways of working.

Collaboration and Teamwork – works positively with staff, volunteers, and community partners to achieve shared goals.

Communication – able to explain safety requirements clearly in plain language, adapting style to suit different audiences.

Integrity and Accountability – acts with honesty, takes responsibility for decisions, and models safe behaviour at all times.

Leadership – confident in guiding others, addressing unsafe practices, and building a culture of care and responsibility.

Problem Solving – responds calmly to issues, identifies practical solutions, and balances compliance with community needs.

Adaptability – flexible and able to respond to the unique challenges of working on Country and in community settings.

Technical Competencies

Strong knowledge of WHS legislation, codes of practice, and risk management processes.

Ability to conduct thorough risk assessments and site inspections.

Experience developing safe work procedures, registers, and WHS documentation.

Skilled in incident investigation and reporting.

Experience delivering WHS training, toolbox talks, and inductions.

Competence in maintaining emergency preparedness plans.

Understanding of safety considerations in environmental, cultural, and community program contexts (e.g. fieldwork, outdoor work, community gatherings).

Confidence using basic WHS reporting systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Aboriginality and strong community ties.

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (WHS).

Demonstrated experience in WHS, risk management, or safety leadership.

Current Working With Children Check.

Current National Police Check (or ability to obtain).

Current Driver’s Licence.

First Aid certificate (or willingness to obtain).

Desirable

Knowledge of environmental or cultural program safety considerations (fieldwork, on-Country activities, community gatherings).

Knowledge of local cultural practices and ability to integrate them into WHS approaches.

If you are passionate about caring for Country and supporting your community, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience to Kath Harris.

Email: [email protected].

Call: 0422 841 203.