About the role
Together we shape thriving communities, public spaces, places and economies.
- An exciting leadership opportunity to shape better outcomes with and for Aboriginal communities across NSW through trusted cultural advice and policy.
- Permanent ongoing opportunity
- Sydney or Regional location encouraged with hybrid working supported
- TRP from $255K to $280K including superannuation, commensurate with experience
What’s in it for me?
Join our deadly team and culture, where collaboration, flexibility and wellbeing are part of how we work. You’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, build your career and help Shape your world through work that makes a difference for Aboriginal people, communities and entities across NSW.
This is an identified position where Aboriginal identity, cultural knowledge or connections are a genuine aspect of the role.
The Director, Aboriginal Inclusion sits at the heart of how DPHI works with and for Aboriginal people, communities and entities across NSW. You’ll help shape policy and reform, leading the policy, reporting and ministerial services portfolios of Aboriginal Strategy, Policy and Engagement (ASPE) and ensuring advice, briefings and reforms are culturally informed, credible and timely.
You’ll provide trusted cultural leadership and expert advice to senior decision-makers, while embedding place-based and culturally inclusive approaches aligned with Closing the Gap commitments and broader government priorities. Just as importantly, you’ll build trusted, sustainable relationships with Aboriginal communities, leaders, networks and the community-controlled sector to help shape better outcomes.
Leading multidisciplinary teams, you’ll strengthen cultural capability across the Department and navigate complex and sensitive issues where priorities can move quickly. At its core, this is an opportunity to ensure Aboriginal voices, rights and perspectives inform the policies, systems and decisions that affect communities across NSW.
For more information read the full Role Description: Director Aboriginal Inclusion ASPE
What you will bring to the role
You’ll be an experienced strategic leader who can bring together cultural knowledge, policy expertise and strong partnerships to influence outcomes. You’ll bring:
- Extensive experience leading policy and coordination functions that champion Aboriginal outcomes, with the ability to embed strategy into core business and provide trusted advice at a senior level.
- Experience shaping and delivering organisation-wide strategies, with demonstrated strength in thought leadership, coordination and reporting.
- A strong track record of partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and entities to support shared outcomes.
Essential requirement
Aboriginal identified positions are developed where Aboriginal identity, cultural knowledge or connections are a genuine aspect of the role. Positions are specifically noted under the provisions of the NSW Anti-discrimination Act (1977) for Aboriginal people who meet the following criteria:
- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
- is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
About us
The Aboriginal Strategy, Policy and Engagement (ASPE) division focuses on bettering outcomes with and for Aboriginal peoples, communities and entities (our partners) in NSW. ASPE centralises the Department’s coordination of Aboriginal outcomes to maximise the prosperity of our partners through approaches that unify our organisation, whilst protecting the cultural rights and interests expressed by the communities we seek to serve.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) improves the liveability and prosperity of NSW. To achieve this, we: create vibrant, productive spaces and precincts; manage lands, assets and property effectively; and deliver affordable and diverse housing.
We strive to be a high-performing, world-class public service organisation that celebrates and reflects the full diversity of the community we serve and building the cultural capability of our department to improve outcomes with and for Aboriginal people, communities and entities.
We are an inclusive and accessible workplace, where your individual contributions are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to feel a sense of connection and belonging. DPHI supports various employee affinity groups, practices flexible working, offers job share and workplace adjustments.
Information Session
In addition to this process, we will hold an Information Session about this role and team, on Thursday 12th November 2026 from 1pm to 1:30pm, if you are interested in the session, please register your interest by emailing executive.talent@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Join us
If your experience, cultural knowledge and commitment align with this opportunity, we encourage you to apply with your CV and a cover letter outlining your interest and how your experience will contribute to the role.
Applications close Sunday 15th November 2026 at 11:55PM.
Should you require further information about the role please contact Matthew Dwyer, Talent Acquisition Partner via matthew.dwyer@dphi.nsw.gov.au
A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.
Check out our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for the role or contact our Aboriginal Career pathways team for a yarn.
We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process, ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via talent.acquisition@dpie.nsw.gov.au or (02) 63637676 - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'.
Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment. This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including a criminal record check