Senior Cultural Convenor and Aboriginal Practice Leader

We are seeking an experienced and passionate leader to join our Children, Youth and Families Division in a fixed-term opportunity that places Aboriginal self-determination, family authority and cultural leadership at the heart of practice.

As the Senior Cultural Convenor & Aboriginal Practice Leader, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and families by leading Aboriginal Family Group Conferences (AFGCs), driving culturally informed practice and supporting families to make decisions that promote safety, wellbeing, cultural identity and strong family connections.

We are looking for a skilled leader who is committed to Aboriginal family-led decision making, values collaboration and cultural safety, and is passionate about developing people while driving excellence in practice.

If you are ready to make a genuine difference and lead practice that empowers Aboriginal children, families and communities, we would love to hear from you.

Organisational Profile

GEGAC is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation based in Bairnsdale Victoria. Consisting of about 200 staff, GEGAC is a Not-for-Profit organisation that delivers holistic services in the areas of Primary Health, Social Services, Elders & Disability and Early Childhood Education.

GEGAC advocates for the self-determination of the Aboriginal community by prioritising services that enhance social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, with culture at the heart of everything we do.

Position Purpose

This fixed term position provides specialist leadership in Aboriginal family-led decision making, cultural planning, family group conferencing and culturally informed practice across the Children, Youth and Families Division.

The role is responsible for establishing and facilitating Aboriginal Family Group Conferences (AFGC) for families connected to Restoring Families program and other programs as required, ensuring Aboriginal children, young people and families are supported to make informed decisions that strengthen safety, wellbeing, cultural identity and family connectedness.

The position provides operational leadership and direct supervision to the Cultural Support Planner, Aboriginal Family Led Decision Maker and Administration Support roles, ensuring high quality practice, effective service coordination, workforce capability and culturally safe service delivery. The role is responsible for providing professional supervision, performance development, workload oversight, coaching and practice guidance to these positions.

The position also provides cultural leadership, practice advice and capability building across programs to strengthen culturally safe, trauma-informed and family-centred service delivery.

Working closely with Family Support Services, Extended Community Care, Child Protection and community partners, the Senior Cultural Convenor and Aboriginal Practice Leader promotes self-determination, family authority and culturally led solutions for Aboriginal children and families.

Key Selection Criteria 

·Demonstrated cultural authority, credibility and strong connections within Aboriginal communities, with the ability to provide cultural leadership and promote self-determination in service delivery and decision-making processes.

·Demonstrated experience facilitating Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing, family-led decision-making processes, mediation, healing circles or similar culturally informed approaches that empower families and strengthen family authority.

·Extensive experience working effectively with Aboriginal children, young people, families and kinship networks experiencing complex social, emotional, cultural and wellbeing challenges.

·Demonstrated ability to provide professional practice leadership, mentoring, coaching and reflective practice support to staff, with experience strengthening culturally safe, trauma-informed and family-centred practice.

·Demonstrated ability to provide specialist advice and guidance in complex family situations, balancing child safety, cultural identity, family preservation, permanency and wellbeing outcomes.

·Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with Child Protection, ACCOs, community service organisations and government agencies, and to advocate for culturally appropriate responses and outcomes for Aboriginal families.

·Highly developed interpersonal, communication, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and manage sensitive and challenging conversations.

·Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records, contribute to reporting and quality assurance requirements, utilise client management systems and support continuous improvement, evaluation and service development activities.

Qualifications and Registrations Requirement (Essential or Desirable).

·Valid Victorian driver’s licence    ESSENTIAL

·Relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Human Services, Psychology, Family Therapy or a related field is desirable. Equivalent combination of extensive experience, cultural knowledge, community leadership and professional expertise will be highly regarded    ESSENTIAL

·A satisfactory Working with Children Check and Fit2Work Police Check    ESSENTIAL

·A person of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander background    ESSENTIAL

·Proof of COVID-19 vaccinated to align with GEGAC requirements    ESSENTIAL

How to apply for this job

A copy of the position description can be obtained by copying and pasting this URL into your browser:  https://gegac.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-PD-Senior-Convenor-and-Aboriginal-PL.pdf

A copy of the position description can also be obtained by emailing ••••@gegac.org.au.

Applicants must address the key selection criteria for shortlisting.

Any applications that have not addressed the key selection criteria will not be considered during the shortlisting process.

Applications can also be emailed to ••••@gegac.org.au

This position will remain open until filled. Applications may close at any time without notice. To avoid disappointment or missing out, prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply without delay.”

A valid Working with Children Check and Police check is mandatory to work in this organisation.

"this advertisement is pursuant to the 'special measures' provision at section 8 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)".