• Indigenous Identified position.
• Canberra-based role (or hybrid working arrangements available).
• 3-year contract.

About the organisation

Established in late March 2020, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia (GDPSA) is the national Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention leadership body. It is governed and controlled by Indigenous experts and peak bodies working in these areas, promoting collective excellence in mental health care.

Find more information on Gayaa Dhuwi here.

Our Team

By leading our Canberra team, you will enjoy working within a small, dedicated and high performing group committed to delivering impactful change and meaningful health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. You will appreciate the need to create a culturally safe, inclusive, harmonious, and highly collaborative environment at Gayaa Dhuwi, incorporating Indigenous Knowledges, cultural values, and ways of working within policy, strategy, governance, and business operations. You will share our excitement at being an integral part of building an enduring and influential national Indigenous peak body organisation.

About the role

This position is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identified Role.

Reporting to the GDPSA Board of Directors, the CEO will be the face of GDPSA, who will provide strong leadership and can develop and deliver a long-term strategy, as well as support the day-to-day operations across all facets of GDPSA. The CEO duties will include:

• Ensuring the organisation complies with all statutory requirements and regulations.
• Providing leadership to the sector through the development of relevant policy, on Indigenous mental health issues and education for mental health practitioners.

• Liaising and building partnerships with stakeholders within the community, including all levels of government, community organisations and traditional owners.

• Contributing to the operational and strategic decision-making process and provide authoritative advice to the Board of Directors in relation to the operational matters and organisational performance.
• Overseeing the organisation’s financial activity to ensure sustainability, including budgeting, reporting, and auditing.

• Providing inspired leadership to all aspects of the organisation’s activities and enterprises.

• Effectively contributing to GDPSA’s organisational outcomes, strategic directions, planning, implementation, evaluation and quality improvement.

• Identifying and developing business opportunities that will enhance the organisation’s strategic objectives.

About you

You will be an experienced senior executive in the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community who can provide strong leadership who leads with a collaborative, positive and inclusive style. You will be confident in your ability to engage and communicate sensitively with Indigenous people, members of the Indigenous mental health sector and a range of other key stakeholders. You will be:

• Culturally aware and inclusive in all approaches.
• Provide leadership and mentoring of the Executive Leadership Team
• Ensure employee and volunteer wellbeing.
• Develop and implement key strategic goals and priorities.
• An energetic, visionary leader with a strong track record as an advocate in developing and implementing public policy.
• Able to write well and express yourself clearly and with confidence.
• Highly organised and proactive in delivering requirements to meet deadlines.
• Develop and sustain valued relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including community, clients, staff, government and non-government sectors.
• Enhance the research agenda of the organisation and identifying and establishing research partnerships and opportunities.
• Future-focused and able to create and build on networks and connections.

Essential Requirements

• Cultural competency covering an understanding of Indigenous people and their communities including policy matters related to the role.
• Knowledge of health and human services, and in particular mental health.
• Demonstrated experience as a senior executive operationalising strategy, whilst monitoring and reporting strategic outcomes to a Board of Directors.
• Experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to Aboriginal communities, all tiers of government, and developers to achieve organisational outcomes.
• Organisational and management experience to effectively lead, direct and manage GDPSA, including the ability to prepare and facilitate management/members meetings.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience leading Aboriginal community-controlled organisations or non-For-profits.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications.

What we can offer you

• Up-to a 3-year contract.
• An attractive remuneration package with salary packaging opportunities and a car allowance.

• An opportunity to make a significant impact on outcomes for Indigenous people.
• Relocation costs up to $10,000, and up to 12 weeks interim accommodation of $500 per week (total cost up to $16,000).
• Generous professional development provisions.

To submit your application, click Apply Now.

For a confidential discussion on this role, please contact Frank on 0411 514 453, or email [email protected] . Or, please find us at our website. 

Our client is an equal opportunity employer and accordingly, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.