About the Aboriginal Housing Peak Body

The Aboriginal Housing Peak Body is the first peak body established to represent the Aboriginal housing sector in South Australia. As a representative body, they are committed to strengthening and sustaining the Aboriginal housing sector to ensure that the housing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across South Australia are effectively met.

During its establishment phase, the Aboriginal Housing Peak Body will be auspiced by the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON), which will provide governance and operational support until the Peak Body becomes a registered incorporated entity with its own elected Board of Directors.

Lead the establishment of South Australia’s first Aboriginal Housing Peak Body

This is a rare and exciting leadership opportunity to shape the future of Aboriginal housing in South Australia.

As the founding Interim Chief Executive Officer, you will lead the establishment and growth of South Australia’s first Aboriginal community-controlled housing peak body.

We exist to strengthen and sustain the Aboriginal housing system — ensuring that housing and homelessness policies, programs, and services reflect the voices, rights, and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

About the role

As Interim Chief Executive Officer (Interim CEO), you’ll play a key leadership role in establishing and growing the organisation from the ground up.

Initially reporting to the SAACCON Leadership Group until a Board of Directors is established, you’ll provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and represent the Peak Body at senior levels across government, community, and the housing sector.

You will:

Lead the organisation’s development in line with its purpose, values, and strategic priorities.

Strengthen relationships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, government partners, and the broader housing sector.

Influence and drive policy reform that delivers community-led solutions in housing and homelessness.

Oversee governance, financial management, workforce development, and risk management.

Demonstrate business and commercial acumen to facilitate financial sustainability and growth in alignment with community values.

Champion culturally safe and Aboriginal-led approaches to housing at all levels.

About you

You are a respected and strategic Aboriginal leader with the ability to build and guide an organisation in its formative stage. You bring:

Strong leadership and executive management experience within Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations or related sectors.

Deep understanding of Aboriginal culture, community priorities, and housing needs.

Proven ability to build partnerships, influence policy, and represent community interests at senior levels.

Strong governance, financial, business, and operational management capability.

Knowledge of housing, social policy, or community services reform (highly desirable).

Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience (highly desirable).

The Position

The Interim Chief Executive Officer (Interim CEO) is the most senior leadership role within the Aboriginal Housing Peak Body, responsible for establishing and leading the organisation in alignment with its strategic vision and operational priorities. This identified position has been created to amplify the voice of Aboriginal people in the housing sector and ensure culturally safe and community-led approaches to housing and homelessness policy and service design. The Interim CEO will work closely with the Interim Board of Directors (Interim Board), to build the organisation’s foundations and drive systemic change for improved housing outcomes for Aboriginal people across South Australia.

The Interim CEO provides strategic leadership, manages resources and operations, and represents the organisation at the highest levels across government, community, and sector forums. The role requires strong governance expertise, deep cultural understanding, and a clear commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions that reflect the rights, aspirations, and lived experiences of communities.

Under the auspicing arrangement, this position will be employed by SAACCON until the Aboriginal Housing Peak Body transitions to an incorporated entity.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Criteria

Executive Management and Leadership

As the Interim CEO, lead the organisation in delivering on its strategic objectives through the development, implementation, and evaluation of operational and business plans, in alignment with the Peak Body’s purpose and values.

Upholding the highest standards of organisational governance, workforce, financial and risk management.

Provide strong, ethical, and culturally grounded leadership that is results-driven, team-oriented, and committed to advancing the interests of the Aboriginal community-controlled housing sector.

Demonstrate business and commercial acumen with the ability to manage financial sustainability, identify opportunities for growth, and ensure effective use of resources in alignment with community values.

Understanding the governance philosophy of ACCOs, including the separation of power and reporting responsibilities between operational staff and the Interim Board.

Promote and lead a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance that reflects community-led priorities and Aboriginal leadership.

Foster a collaborative and accountable executive culture that enables effective internal communication, strategic alignment, and strong engagement across the organisation.

Work collaboratively with the Interim Board towards a unified vision, supporting shared goals and delivering measurable outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, community-controlled organisations, funders, and sector partners; represent the organisation in high-level meetings, forums, and decision-making processes.

Lead the review, development, and implementation of organisation-wide policies, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and operational needs.

Oversee risk management, compliance, and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring best practice methodologies are embedded across all areas of governance and service delivery.

Prepare high-level reports, strategic advice, and briefings for the Interim Board, key stakeholders, and funding bodies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and timely communication.

Management Division

Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations.

Strategically allocate and manage resources to ensure the achievement of organisational objectives and deliverables aligned with the Peak Body’s mission.

Lead the recruitment, training, motivation, and performance evaluation of team members to foster a high-performing, culturally responsive workforce committed to collective goals.

Ensure all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and program deliverables are met on time and in accordance with the organisation’s Strategic and Operational Plans.

Coordinate and ensure timely completion of all reporting requirements to the Interim Board, funding bodies, and key stakeholders.

Engage regularly with team members to support their professional development, wellbeing, and growth within a supportive and culturally safe workplace.

Human Resources

Lead strategic workforce planning and organisational development to ensure the Peak Body’s staffing aligns with current and future operational and strategic needs.

Oversee all aspects of recruitment, induction, training, employee development, performance management, employee relations, and exits to build a skilled, motivated, and culturally safe workforce.

Ensure full compliance with all statutory, legal, and regulatory requirements related to Human Resources, Industrial Relations, and Work Health and Safety (WHS).

Financial Management

Oversee the organisation’s financial management to ensure accuracy, integrity, and compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and reporting obligations, and respond promptly to recommendations arising from external audits.

Collaborate with the Interim Board to monitor, control, and report on financial performance, including budgeting, revenue, expenditure, and grant acquittals, meeting the requirements of the auditors, and funding bodies.

Develop, implement, and maintain robust financial management frameworks and models that support effective budget control and fiscal responsibility.

Executive Support and Administration

Oversee the delivery of executive, project, and clerical support services to the Interim Board to ensure smooth and efficient governance and leadership operations.

Oversee office administration functions.

Reporting Relationships

The Interim CEO reports to the SAACCON Leadership Group.

A Project Officer reports to the Interim CEO.

Renumeration and Incentives

$155,000 + superannuation

Salary Sacrifice is available

Work vehicle provided

Identified Position

This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement under section 56(2) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA).