Youth Community 'Partners in Place' Project Officer

Partners in Place Project Officer (Identified Position)

📍 Echuca, VIC | 🕐 Full time, 37.5 hours per week (part time negotiable) | 12-month contract, with possible extension subject to funding and review

Lead Change. Build Partnerships. Shape Community-Driven Systems.

Njernda Aboriginal Corporation is seeking a Partners in Place Project Officer to support an ACCO-led, place-based coalition transforming the commercial and economic systems that shape youth health and wellbeing in Campaspe. This is a new, co-designed role sitting across Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, Echuca Regional Health and Campaspe Shire Council, delivering an initiative to reduce exposure to harmful environments and strengthen cultural, community, school and social settings for young people. In Year 1, the coalition will complete systems mapping, co-design and strategic planning, before moving into long-term prevention and cultural governance work.

This is a designated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander position under a special measure in accordance with section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic).

🔴 THE ROLE

Reporting to the Youth and Wellbeing Manager, and working closely with Echuca Regional Health's Population Health Manager, you'll play a central role coordinating activities, supporting Aboriginal leadership and ensuring culturally safe, community-driven processes.

• Build strong relationships with Aboriginal young people, families, Elders, community organisations, schools and local partners

• Assist with systems mapping, gathering local insights, facilitating workshops and documenting the commercial and economic systems influencing youth wellbeing

• Support culturally safe co-design processes with young people, community members and partner organisations to shape strategies and interventions

• Organise meetings, maintain project documentation, track timelines and ensure smooth communication across coalition partners

• Contribute to the development and implementation of prevention initiatives that strengthen protective cultural and community factors

• Support monitoring, evaluation and reporting, ensuring community-owned data practices and cultural governance principles are upheld

• Maintain strong partnerships with local government, education providers, health services and community organisations

🔴 WHY JOIN NJERNDA?

At Njernda Aboriginal Corporation you'll be part of a values-driven, community-controlled organisation, guided by our values of Respect, Accountability, Resilience, Advocacy and Cultural Sensitivity.

• Salary negotiable within SCHADS Level 3-5, dependent on experience and qualifications, + Super

• Generous salary packaging benefits (not-for-profit)

• Victorian Ambulance Membership reimbursement (for you and your family)

• Supportive team environment and access to supervision

• Ongoing professional development opportunities

• Genuine work–life balance and the benefits of a regional lifestyle

🔴 SELECTION CRITERIA — YOU MUST ADDRESS THESE

This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified position. To be considered, your application must include a separate document responding to each of the numbered criteria below.

1. Tertiary qualifications in public health, health promotion, community development or a health-related field, along with relevant years of experience

2. A minimum of 4 years' experience in a similar role

3. Demonstrated experience in planning, implementation and evaluation of primary prevention initiatives or projects

4. Ability to work effectively within cross-sector partnerships and Aboriginal-led governance structures

5. Knowledge of the social and economic determinants of health

6. Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and safely with Aboriginal communities

7. Demonstrated knowledge of the social, cultural and historical factors shaping Aboriginal health and wellbeing

8. Ability to facilitate workshops, engage diverse stakeholders and support youth participation

9. Strong organisational skills, including record-keeping, report writing, scheduling and communication

10. Demonstrated experience working with a broad range of agencies and community settings to evaluate collective effort and achieve collective impact

Desirable: Understanding and knowledge of human-centred co-design, and well-developed local relationships with key settings such as schools, workshops, early years settings and sporting clubs.

🔴 ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Current and valid Victorian Working with Children Check

• National Police Check

• Current and valid full Victorian Driver's Licence

• Eligibility to work in Australia

• Vaccination status and pre-employment screening in line with Njernda's policies and procedures

🔴 HOW TO APPLY

Apply via Seek before 13th September, 2026.

Your application must include:

1. An up-to-date CV

2. A cover letter

3. A separate response addressing each numbered Selection Criterion above

4. Contact details for at least two professional referees

⚠️ Please note: late applications, and applications that do not address the 'Selection Criteria', will not be considered.

We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about you.