Aboriginal Attendance Officer at Department of… · Newcastle

Aboriginal Attendance Officer – Identified

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

This is a full-time role (5 days per week). You will be required to work a minimum 4 days per week at a designated education office location when not delivering face to face support in schools. 1 day per week may be worked remotely, subject to operational requirements.

• Ongoing Full-Time

• Location Newcastle - This is a full-time role (5 days per week) and you will be required to work minimum 4 days per week at the Newcastle education office.

• Salary Clerk Grade 7/8 range from $116,982 to $129,492 base + superannuation and annual leave loading.

About the Student Wellbeing Support directorate

Student Wellbeing Support provide direct support to schools to strengthen accessible and inclusive education practice to maximise wellbeing and learning for students in NSW public schools. The Student Wellbeing Support directorate includes four Student Wellbeing Support groups that service our schools across various principal networks. Student Wellbeing Support advances equitable outcomes through outcomes focused programs, systems, and processes.

Schools access our support through the one-call, Team Around a School model. The Team Around a School helps school teams to improve student learning and wellbeing practices and strengthens school and staff initiatives across the care continuum. We are a key enabler of the department’s Plan for Public Education and are committed to ensuring we provide support to schools that is efficient, effective, and easy to access.

About the role

The Aboriginal Attendance Officer role is to create the connection between Aboriginal students, parents, schools and agencies so the student has the best possible chance of re-engaging in their education with the promise of a better future. The role work strategically to assist schools with meeting agreed attendance targets operate as part of the state-wide attendance program to achieve organisational objectives and align with government priorities.

For further information please click here to view the role description Information Session

On Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at 2:00pm the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Advisory team will host an online Yarn Up (information session) about this role. The session will provide a detailed overview of the recruitment process, including applying for the position and interview to build confidence in your application.

To register your interest, please fill out the registration form. We will be in touch with further details and the meeting link. Alternatively, you may email the team at AboriginalEmployment@det.nsw.edu.au with subject line "Yarn Up" noting the job reference number: 16370&16373

Key knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

• Knowledge of the Department’s School Attendance Policy & Program

• Demonstrated experience with key external and internal stakeholder engagement

Essential requirements of the role

• This is an identified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander position. Aboriginality/Torres Strait Islander descent is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants must provide documentation upon appointment. More information can be found in the policy library under Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Descent.

• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

• Current and valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance for paid employment or willingness to obtain.

• Current and valid driver’s licence and an ability and willingness to travel between work sites

Why Join Us?

• Be part of Australia’s largest education system

• 35 hour working week

• Enjoy flexible working arrangements

• Flex leave entitlements

• Competitive, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

• Fitness Passport

• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth

How to apply Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role. Please also answer the following questions:

Q1 - Describe your experience working alongside Aboriginal children or young people, and their families or communities, where additional support was needed to strengthen engagement. What approaches did you use to build respectful relationships and achieve positive outcomes? (300 words maximum)

Q2 - Describe a time when you worked collaboratively with schools, organisations or other services to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children or young people. How did you build effective partnerships, influence others and contribute to achieving a shared outcome? (300 words maximum)

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience, insights and alignment with the Department’s values and priorities.

Please be advised that it is a requirement that all candidates submit their applications online. No paper based, email based, or late applications will be accepted.

Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application. If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit your application.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.

Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.

Closing date: Monday 16th November 2026 at 11:59pm. For role enquiries please contact Hiring Manager Melanie White, R/Support & Interagency Coordinator, Melanie.White23@det.nsw.edu.au and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Recruiter Julie Nguyen on julie.nguyen49@det.nsw.edu.au

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.

A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.