Aboriginal Unit Manager - Orana Youth Justice Centre, Youth Justice

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Opportunity for an Aboriginal Unit Manager at Orana Youth Justice Centre in Dubbo, a full-time on-site leadership role in Youth Justice. You will direct a team, rotate as Duty Manager, and drive culturally informed case planning and programs for Young People while advocating Aboriginal business. The Identified role requires Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage and qualifications including Certificate IV in Youth Work or Community Services, Certificate IV in Frontline Management, a current First Aid certificate, NSW Driver’s license and Working with Children Check. To apply, use the DCJ Careers site, attach a current résumé and a cover letter addressing focus capabilities and the two targeted questions, and include Aboriginality confirmation.

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Aboriginal Unit Manager –

Orana Youth Justice Centre,

Youth Justice

 

 

 

• Ongoing, Full time
• Location: Dubbo
• Level 5, Salary ($107,131 - $116,969 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

 

 

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

 

 

Your role

 

Direct and manage a multidisciplinary team to ensure appropriate care and custody of Young People and safety of staff in accordance with relevant legislation.  Takes on the role of Duty Manager on a rotation basis and is responsible, in this role, for the centre wide supervision of Shift Supervisors and Youth Officers.

 

Advocate and inform Executive team of any issues or information regarding Aboriginal cultural business within the Centre or Community that may impact the running of the Centre.

 

This role is committed to building a workforce that better reflects the perspectives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities we serve.

 

 

What you’ll do

 

• Develop and maintain relationships with the Aboriginal community, staff and key stakeholders to successfully plan and deliver programs, provide cultural advice and participate in recruitment for Identified and other roles, and provide cultural mentoring for staff and young people.
• Responsible for detainee inclusion in case plan development and detailed activities and programs that are in line with detainee classification, and work with staff to ensure the Young Peoples cultural needs are met and Young People are involved in their case plan development. Consult with the Aboriginal Education Officer on Young Peoples cultural needs in educational programs.
• Work with Shift Supervisors and Youth Officers to ensure the Young Peoples case plan processes are culturally responsive and timelines are adhered to, and plan outcomes are achieved and work with the Aboriginal Practice Officer to plan and deliver cultural programs.
• Shift planning, resource allocation, and ensuring security within the Unit, including briefing/debriefing of staff on incoming shifts regarding any incidents / issues. As Duty Manager, oversee the running of the Centre as a whole, ensuring appropriate strategies are in place for the effective use of staffing and resources to manage any identified risks.
• Providing direct supervision and support to Young People, advise staff on the management of Young People, cultural advice particularly regarding challenging or difficult behaviours and developing culturally appropriate plans for working with Young People, and liaise with Education on the cultural needs of young people in the classroom.
• Coordinating daily routines, including casework and program attendance, facilitation of case conferences, completion of all appropriate documentation and coordination of data entry to ensure compliance, consistency and quality is maintained.
• Reviews investigation reports of Young Peoples misbehaviour, conducts enquiries and makes determinations when Young People lodge appeals in relation to action to be taken ensuring those actions are procedurally correct, fair and equitable.
• As Duty Manager, oversee the running of the Centre as a whole, ensuring appropriate strategies are in place for the effective use of staffing and resources to manage any identified risks.

 

 

What we’re looking for

 

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person (see notes below)
• Certificate IV Youth Work (Youth Justice) or Community Services (or equivalent) and
• Certificate IV in Business (Frontline Management) or equivalent
• Possession of, or willingness to obtain, a ‘Provide First Aid’ Certificate (HLTAID003)
• A current NSW Drivers licence.
• Current NSW Working with Children Check clearance

 

 

As an Identified role, this role 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 and authorised by 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.

 

Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require the following checks/ clearances:

 

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014

 

 

Download the role description.

 

 

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

 

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

 

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

 

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. You will need to attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum five pages) and a cover letter (maximum three pages) with a brief outline on how you meet the focus capabilities & requirements of the role and answer the two targeted questions below:

 

• Explain why cultural safety is important and describe strategies you would implement to enhance & ensure the cultural safety of your Aboriginal staff and the young people and their families that encounter Youth Justice?

 

• Describe a time where you have been required to coach, influence or manage a staff member. What were the challenges? How did you overcome them?

 

 

Applications close Sunday 1 March 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 Julieann Millington – Assistant Manager Orana YJC on 0447 109 585  or via [email protected]

 

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 Lisa Smith on 0456 199 105 or via [email protected]

 

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.

 

 

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/

 

The Welcome Experience
 Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

 

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.