ABOUT US:

Bourke & District Children’s Services (BDCS) is a not-for-profit children's service situated on the banks of the Darling River in Western NSW at Bourke. We run a Childcare Centre, Preschool, Mobile Play Group and Toy Library.

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BDCS works collaboratively with other agencies, organisations, schools, and health care providers to support families, develop links to culture, build capacity of the child and community, nurture a lifelong love of learning and improve outcomes for the children of Bourke and District.

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This is your opportunity to make a difference in a vibrant and diverse community, rich in Indigenous Culture.

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ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Indigenous Employment Strategy (IES) Coordinator leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of BDCS’s Indigenous Employment Strategy. As a member of the senior leadership team, this role drives initiatives to recruit, retain, and develop First Nations staff, ensuring culturally safe practices and supporting career pathways. The Coordinator manages a small team, including the Indigenous Employment Support Project Officer and casual cultural mentors, and works closely with internal teams, Indigenous communities, and external stakeholders to deliver strategic outcomes, meet reporting obligations, and foster a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement.

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More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Strategy Development and Implementation 

  • Lead the implementation and ongoing refinement of BDCS’s Indigenous Employment Strategy.  

  • Identify and address barriers to Indigenous employment through culturally safe recruitment, retention, and career development initiatives.  

  • Develop and deliver pre-employment support, training programs, and mentoring activities for participants. 

• Team Leadership 

  • Provide supervision, guidance, and support to the Indigenous Employment Support Project Officer and cultural mentors.  

  • Allocate tasks, monitor performance, and foster a collaborative, culturally safe team environment.  

  • Support professional development and wellbeing of team members. 

• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration 

  • Coordinate quarterly Steering Committee meetings and prepare reports.  

  • Facilitate quarterly sensemaking workshops with BDCS Directors and stakeholders.  

  • Represent BDCS at community forums, conferences, and engagement events.  

  • Build partnerships with Indigenous organisations, government agencies, and training providers. 

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 

  • Enter participant and activity data into DEX weekly and maintain accurate records in systems such as Asana, Xplor, Employment Hero, and Smartsheet.  

  • Prepare and submit six-monthly PMP reports, annual IES review, and end-of-project report to NIAA.  

  • Track KPIs including staff representation, training completions, and participant outcomes.  

  • Conduct participant reflection interviews and maintain engagement logs. 

• Risk Management and Compliance 

  • Identify and mitigate risks related to recruitment, retention, and community engagement.  

  • Ensure informed consent and cultural safety in all data collection activities. 

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PERSONAL BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

As an individual you are expected to: 

• Be honest, humble, and respectful towards staff, children, families, and the community, and contribute positively as part of a team. 

• Display appropriate behaviour in the workplace in line with BDCS’s Code of Conduct. 

• Take ownership and responsibility for your key obligations and accept direction. 

• Demonstrate initiative and a willingness to put forward ideas along with demonstrating a personal interest toward improving the way key responsibilities are achieved. 

• Possess appropriate skills and emotional intelligence to resolve working relationship issues if they arise. 

• Demonstrate flexibility and resilience and lead the team through change as a change facilitator. 

 

LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS - LEADER OF OTHERS

As a leader of others, the Indigenous Employment Strategy Coordinator is expected to model the following behaviours: 

Inspire and Influence 

• Act with integrity, fairness, and transparency. 

• Set a clear vision for the team and communicate it effectively. 

• Demonstrate commitment to the organisation’s values, goals, and ethical standards. 

• Embed the service and your personal philosophy to drive culture, inspire staff, and influence high-quality practice. 

Build Capability and Accountability 

• Support staff in achieving high standards of performance and professional growth. 

• Delegate responsibilities appropriately and hold team members accountable. 

• Recognise and celebrate achievements, address underperformance constructively. 

Foster a Collaborative and Respectful Culture 

• Create an inclusive, safe, and supportive work environment. 

• Encourage open communication, active listening, and shared problem-solving. 

• Promote cultural competence and respect for diversity among staff, children, and families. 

Drive Improvement and Innovation 

• Encourage reflective practice and continuous learning. 

• Seek feedback from staff, families, and the community to improve the service. 

• Stay up to date with developments in early childhood education and share knowledge with the team. 

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ABOUT YOU:

To be successful you will need:​​

• Deep understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and values.  

• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.  

• Experience in team leadership and staff supervision. 

• Experience in Indigenous employment programs or workforce development.  

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  

• Ability to manage data and reporting obligations (DEX, PMP, NIAA).  

• A current NSW Working with Children Check or be eligible to obtain. 

• A current Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or be willing to obtain. 

• To be an Australian Resident or equivalent or holder of a visa allowing permanent employment in Australia.​

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DESIRABLE SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

The following criteria are considered highly desirable:

• Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.  

• Experience in early childhood education services.

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PERFORMANCE GOALS:

• Successfully implement and monitor the Indigenous Employment Strategy across BDCS and the local community. 

• Build strong partnerships with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.  

• Deliver accurate and timely reports and data entries. 

• Promote culturally safe and inclusive practices across BDCS. 

• Support and develop team members to achieve program objectives. 

 

​CHILD SAFETY:

As a Child Safe organisation, we are committed to child safety and have a zero-tolerance policy towards child abuse. All applicants are expected to uphold our child safety policies and procedures and understand that reference checks will be conducted to ensure that only suitable individuals are hired. Please click here to read our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety.

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CORE VALUES OF BDCS: 

At BDCS, our work is guided by the following core values: 

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• Child – At the centre of everything we do 

• Family – Honouring the vital role of families in children’s lives 

• Community – Embedding strong community connection and collaboration 

• Safe – Creating environments that are culturally, emotionally, and physically safe 

• Respect – Promoting respectful relationships and inclusive practices 

• Inclusive – Valuing diversity, connection, and belonging 

• Proud – Celebrating culture, identity, and achievements 

 

TO APPLY:

Please submit your resume, along with contact details for 2 current referees to, Bourke & District Children’s Services.

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Alternatively, contact Priscila Luschwitz for a confidential discussion.

Email: pluschwitz@bdcs.org.au | Phone: 0428 507 601