Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have unique skills, experience and knowledge that can make a real difference with a career in the department.
The department acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout NSW and their continuing connection to land, waterways, culture, lore and community.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
The important role of Aboriginal peoples
We are working to ensure Aboriginal peoples play an increasing role in the education and training of young Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students improve their learning outcomes and build their personal strengths when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and communities are involved in their education.
You can help us increase Year 12 completion rates, expand culturally inclusive learning programs and promote opportunities for Aboriginal communities to engage with school life.
There is a constant demand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. We will help you at every stage, starting with finding the right job and then building your skills and capabilities at work.
Employment opportunities
We have a wide range of opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to work in our schools, in our regional and state offices and within our senior executive service.
You will be supported from the moment you begin work with an induction program. There are networking and mentoring programs to support you, and you will be encouraged to develop your career through opportunities for job rotation, temporary appointments, secondments, work shadowing, and study leave.
We have two types of jobs: those identified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples, and non-identified positions open to all candidates.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates for our wide range of non-identified positions and we believe you have an important role to play in strengthening education and training for all young Australians.
Identified roles
In a job identified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, you will work in our schools or corporateeducation support offices to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and communities. You will see these jobs described as Aboriginal identified positions.
In the department, it is expected that if you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander for the purposes of employment you will identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the workplace.
If you are applying for a job that has been advertised as an Aboriginal position you will need to tell us about your Aboriginality. There are three things which are important:
- being of Aboriginal descent
- identifying as an Aboriginal person
- being accepted by the Aboriginal community as an Aboriginal person.
At an interview for an identified position you may also be asked about your Aboriginality.
Confirmation of Aboriginality
We are committed to improving the employment outcomes and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to ensure that you have the opportunity to excel and achieve in every aspect of your career and professional development.
Applicants and department employees must provide confirmation of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent for Aboriginal-targeted teaching scholarships and identified positions.
The Confirmation of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander descent procedure details the process applicants or employees must follow to apply to have thier Aboriginal and identified positions, as well as current employees who wish to change their status with the department by having their Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander descent recognised.
Support for your teaching career
There is a strong connection between the work of our teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and improved learning outcomes for Aboriginal students.
We have more than 1,250 teachers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent working in our schools. Some of our schools are located in Aboriginal communities or have high numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
You can read more about Joining our mob and the support and pathways we offer to becoming a teacher of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
The department has a graduate recruitment program for teachers to help you to find the right teaching position once you have completed your studies.
Another pathway into teaching is to progress from a school administrative and support role. If you are already working in a school, we can support you as you train to become a qualified teacher.
If you take up a new appointment as a teacher of Aboriginal descent, we support you during your first year with:
- a mentor
- invitations to attend network meetings and workshops at the local and regional level
- regular telephone/email contact with Aboriginal human resources officers.
If you have just gained your teaching qualifications and have not yet taken up a permanent teaching role, we offer temporary teaching engagements so you can improve your teaching skills and confidence.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and have satisfied the service requirements for transfer, you may apply to transfer with priority status.
Positions in school leadership and support
After teaching for some time, you may consider applying for a senior position that gives you the opportunity to apply your leadership and management skills. These positions include head teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Other positions you may consider include:
- school education director
- Aboriginal community liaison officer
- Aboriginal student liaison officer
- consultant Aboriginal education
- home school liaison officer
- school development officer
- Aboriginal education and wellbeing officer
These positions give you the opportunity to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, communities, teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and teaching communities. The positions are generally located in state and regional offices.
Support for your school administration and support career
School administration and support workers are often the first to greet students, parents and visitors when they arrive at school. The skills, experience and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly valuable in helping Aboriginal communities engage with school life.
More than 480 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are employed in these roles in our schools.
Aboriginal education officers
Some positions in schools with high Aboriginal student enrolments are identified for Aboriginal peoples. In particular, Aboriginal education officers work on culturally appropriate programs and are valuable role models for Aboriginal students.
Professional development for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SASS
To support you in your role, a suite of on-demand learning resources and provided links to a range of interactive, facilitated sessions. Please check out these learning plans to give yourself a head start.
Support for your education support career
Working in the department's education support offices, you can help foster a relationship built on respect, commitment, collaboration and accountability.
The department is aiming to increase the number of Aboriginal staff in all our workplaces.
As an Aboriginal applicant, we value your unique skills, experience and knowledge. We believe it is important for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples to work together to enable Aboriginal students to achieve their aspirations and realise their potential.
People in Aboriginal identified positions that provide effective support to Aboriginal students and communities, and are actively involved in the department's decision making processes.
We welcome your application for a education support role. Join our collaborative efforts to meet the education needs of Aboriginal peoples.
Networking opportunities
To help you share information and ways of working with your peers the Aboriginal Workforce Team are building a series of networking opportunities as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Workforce Strategy. Feel free to join the existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network.
Further Information
Contact
Aboriginal Employment
1300 32 32 32
For principals and DELs select 3, 2, 2 and 1. For staff members select 3, 3, and 1.
aboriginalemployment@det.nsw.edu.au