Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Advisor

Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Advisor

Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Advisor (Identified role*)

Full-Time (1 FTE), Permanent

Based in Richmond

Comes with a vehicle

17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options

Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance

*Odyssey House Victoria considers that accepting applications only from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is permitted as a 'special measure' under section 8 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) as this role will be best met by someone who has lived understanding of Aboriginal culture, spiritual connections to the land and good connections to the Aboriginal Community

About Odyssey Victoria:

Odyssey Victoria (OV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey Victoria we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community. OV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.

Role Purpose:

This Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Advisor supports Odyssey Victoria’s vision to provide culturally safe services and increase accessibility to Aboriginal peoples seeking AOD treatment. The position supports agency employees to improve their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander client’s substance use and mental health needs to advise staff on how to create a culturally safe and welcoming environment. The position also drives the Odyssey Reconciliation Action Plans to improve services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The position also supports and assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in their professional development and managing the ‘cultural load’ that they may experience working with complex clients.

This is a strategic role aligned with OV Strategic Plan and Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. The position reports progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance indicators and activities to the OV Executive.

The position also advises the Executive Team and drives key projects. The role supports the Programs within OV, including providing support more directly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural clients through secondary consultation and advice to the broader clinical staff.

Key areas of focus:

• Developing, implementing and monitoring activities and projects in line with OV Strategic Plan and Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan.
• Reporting on progress, barriers and suggest Improvements to the OV Executive Team.
• Establishing, supporting, enhancing, and maintaining agency relationships with significant Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, programs, and workers.
• Supporting the development of relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service elders and communities, with OV community and residential services sites and programs.
• Establishing and coordinating the Odyssey Aboriginal Advisory Group and ensuring inclusive and transparent communication with members is maintained.
• Promoting enhanced cultural competency across OV
• Providing leadership through the provision of cultural supervision and mentoring for OV employees who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or work in specific indigenous positions.
• Support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients within OV Services, including direct client contact (if required), through advice and secondary consultation.

To be successful in this role, you must…

• Sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander diverse peoples, cultures, and practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and communities.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and families in non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
• Understanding of the provision of cultural services and training to clinical employees.
• Developed communication and negotiation skills with a range of people, including health professionals and other key stakeholders.
• Experience with, and experienced at community engagement, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and other service providers in forging and maintaining strong partnerships.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and work independently as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

OV requires people in clinical positions to have the following competencies or their equivalent(in either qualification and/or experience). Where people do not already have these competencies, OV will invest in the person’s professional development by providing them through its RTO.

The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:

• CHCAOD001 - Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
• CHCAOD004 - Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues.
• CHCAOD006 - Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.
• CHCAOD009 - Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

What we can give YOU!

• In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Providing work that is meaningful and challenging, with career development opportunities through project and secondment opportunities and succession planning
• Providing career pathways across diverse OV programs.
• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)
• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave, Study Leave and Sabbaticals
• Flexible working arrangements such as monthly RDO’s for full‑timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements).

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional wellbeing.

Our commitment to diversity

At OV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

Safety screening

OV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us.

All Odyssey Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees

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