Senior Policy & Project Officer (Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence/Target 13)

This is an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander identified position which is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977

The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) was established in a critical act of self-determination over 50 years ago as part of the Aboriginal rights protest movement. We provide high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout NSW and the ACT, and fight for social justice and equity for our communities.

Your Impact

As a valued member of the Closing the Gap team, you’ll play a key role in the development and delivery of key initiatives aiming to reduce the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. Each day, you will:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including government partners, ACCOs and non-government organisations. 
• Lead the development and delivery of assigned project outputs and contribute to project planning, management and reporting. 
• Undertake research, stakeholder engagement and consultation, policy analysis and policy development. 
• Support preparation of briefings, submissions and project outputs, integrating evidence, data and community insights. 
• Attend and contribute to meetings, workshops and forums with project partners and sector stakeholders. 
• Develop and maintain justice systems knowledge, uphold ethical standards, and contribute to collaborative team practice. 

Your Story & Strengths

You are a strategic and values-driven policy professional with experience delivering complex justice reform projects, developing evidence-based policy and building meaningful partnerships. With a deep understanding of the cultural, social and historical factors impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, you bring strong research, stakeholder engagement and communication skills to help advance Aboriginal-led solutions and create lasting systems change. Key strengths include:

• Tertiary qualifications in law, social policy, public policy or a related discipline, with demonstrated experience in policy development and project delivery.
• Strong research, policy analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop high-quality advice, reports and policy outputs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the impacts of justice systems on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a commitment to advancing their rights, aspirations and outcomes.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and deliver outcomes within deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with diverse audiences including communities, ACCOs and government partners.
• Demonstrated cultural capability, including respect for Aboriginal cultures, communities and ways of working, with the ability to travel and obtain a National Police Check and Working with Children Check (NSW).

Our Journey Together

At ALS, you’ll find a career that truly matters, one where your work has purpose and impact every day. We are proud to offer a supportive and rewarding environment with a range of generous benefits, including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax burden, which means you get to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%, ensuring that you are rewarded for your time off and can enjoy a well-deserved break.
• Career and professional development opportunities.

Caring for Community & You

To protect the communities we serve, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of safe recruitment practices. Therefore, it is essential that candidates either possess or have the capacity to obtain a current and valid National Police Check and Working with Children (NSW) check for this role.

ALS is committed to equal opportunity and cultural safety in recruitment for all candidates. If you identify as a person with a disability and need any adjustments or support throughout the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Team at talent@alsnswact.org.au - we will work with you to ensure an accessible and supportive experience.

Interested in learning more? Contact our Talent Team at talent@alsnswact.org.au using the subject line: Senior Policy & Project Officer (Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence/Target 13) enquiry via EthicalJobs to request a copy of the full Position Description.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Additional Information:

The ALS is the Justice Peak on the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and is responsible for working in partnership with the NSW Government, other members of CAPO and Aboriginal communities represented by their Community-Controlled Organisations for working to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in NSW, to make progress towards Targets 10, 11 and 13.

The ALS is working in partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to make progress towards Socioeconomic Target 13 and implement the Priority Reforms in the DFSV sector. Together, we will deliver the key Target 13 initiative on the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2025–2028, the NSW Aboriginal Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) Plan.

The Plan will guide a whole-of-society approach to improving the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal people impacted by violence over 5 years from 2026 to 2031. It will provide a framework to address the disproportionate impact of domestic, family and sexual violence on Aboriginal Communities in NSW, and progress achievement towards Socio-Economic Outcome 13 – that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and households are safe.

Please note: A resume and cover letter addressing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the position description is mandatory.