Regional Aboriginal Pathways Officer

Regional Aboriginal Pathways Officer

Location – Northern Region (Various) – Mid-North Coast, North West New England regions. Flexible work arrangements available

Employment type – Ongoing, Full Time

Salary – Clerk Grade 9/10 - $133,348 - $146,945 (plus superannuation + Annual Leave Loading)

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only

Your role

Provide culturally specific expert advice to correctional centre management and staff on strategies to reduce adult reoffending and ensure the safe and humane treatment of Aboriginal inmates whilst in custody.  Partner with Corrective Services NSW management to develop cultural capability of staff in the correctional centre.

Coach and mentor Aboriginal inmates.  Support Aboriginal inmates and their families in the event of an Aboriginal death in custody or death of family member. 

What you’ll do

• Attend correctional centres to provide in person support to high-risk Aboriginal Inmates. Promote their participation in programs, services, industries, employment and identify well-being issues.
• Use business data to identify inmate movements and risks to be managed.  Ensure centre staff are aware of their responsibilities to ensure the Regional Aboriginal Pathways Officer (RAPO) is notified of inmates placed on segregation orders (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 or placed with Risk Intervention Team (RITS). 
• Provide culturally sensitive advice relating to Aboriginal inmates placed on segregation to improve behaviours and Aboriginal inmates placed on RITS to improve well-being outcomes.
• Provide advice to all Aboriginal inmates and case management staff on strategies to address causes of offending behaviour and on pathways to support reintegration to the community.
• Provide cultural support in accordance with CSNSW policy and practice to the families of Aboriginal people who die in custody, including arranging for local smoking ceremony and support throughout the coronial investigation.  Provide support to inmates in the event of a death in their family and provide online streaming services of the funeral when required.
• Complete relevant case management notes on all interactions in with Aboriginal inmates on the CSNSW’s Offender Integrated Management System (OIMS).
• Establish and maintain local Aboriginal community relationships with correctional centres within the allocated portfolio. Recommend selection of an Aboriginal delegate to the Governor/MOS of every Correctional Centre.
• Work with the CSNSW management on increasing cultural capability of all centre staff and plan, budget and coordinate Aboriginal cultural events and forums including NAIDOC and to coordinate regular meetings (monthly or quarterly as required) with Aboriginal Inmate Delegate Committees.
• To manage time effectively to attend multiple correctional centres and provide in person advice and support to improve outcomes for a high-risk group of inmates.
• To build an influential relationship with correctional centre management and staff to ensure effective management of Aboriginal offenders; including raising staff awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture and the diversity within the Aboriginal Culture
• Balancing the cultural and community aspects of the role with the organisational constraints, obligations and managing the expectations of inmates and their families.

What we’re looking for

• Understanding of the issues facing Aboriginal offenders in the criminal justice system
• Aboriginal cultural competence and ability to engage with multiple stakeholders both internal and external to Corrective Services NSW.
• Demonstrated cultural capability, which includes lived experience, knowledge and understanding of contemporary social issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, including skills in identifying and/or responding to the diverse needs of Aboriginal people experiencing significant trauma and disadvantage.
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.
• Certificate IV in Social Work or equivalent or demonstrated work related experience in a similar field.
• Current driver’s licence and preparedness to drive a vehicle to work sites.
• Attendance at correctional centres in remote areas within reasonable time frame. Some air flight will be necessary.

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia’s First Nations people.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
• is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Download the role description.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people

https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers-at-dcj/pathways/careers-for-aboriginal-people.html

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information?  Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close  16 August 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Timothy Taylor via email - timothy.taylor@correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au .

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Rachel Urquhart-Secord on 02 9354 1624 or via  rachel.urquhartsecord@dcj.nsw.gov.au  

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified).

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/