About Bunurong Land Council

We are a Traditional Owner organisation that represent the Bunurong people of the South-Eastern Kulin Nation. We aim to preserve and protect the sacred lands and waterways of our ancestors, their places, traditional cultural practices, and stories.

Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) is a not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation that represents the Bunurong Traditional Owners and community. BLCAC was formed in the late 1990s by a small group of Bunurong Elders and warriors to provide representation on Bunurong Country, particularly around cultural heritage management and protection. The corporation was registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) in 2000 and since then, membership has grown to over 300 members.

BLCAC is the Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) for and on behalf of Bunurong People. We have overcome many obstacles on the way, but Bunurong People are now recognised as the Traditional Owners of their lands and waters across greater Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, and the Bass Coast.

BLCAC members descend from the First People of the coastal areas around Port Phillip Bay (Narrm), with a provenance dating back well over 40,000 years. Our community has survived over200 years of kidnappings, slavery, massacres, poisonings, imprisonment, disease, and broken promises. We were removed from Country, our language silenced, but the survivors continued to tell and retell the stories of Bunjil and the Lore, family, dispossession, loss but continued to dreaming that one day we would come together again and restore the Bunurong community on our Traditional Lands.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a small team of staff, ensuring their safety and wellbeing on country.
• Mentor and guide Strong Country Rangers in land management practices.
• Plan and deliver on-Country projects, including pest control, revegetation, and land management.
• Build and maintain relationships with community groups, stakeholders, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with BLCAC policies, procedures, and Occupational Health and Safety standards.

Key Accountabilities:

• Participate in a MSA processes to support collaboration and effective communication.
• Act as the key contact point to support projects and initiatives between BLCAC and the MSA Sector and identify and explore potential future projects and funding opportunities, including assisting with MSA funding agreements and reporting.
• Implement and manage programs to control invasive plant and animal species.
• Ensure effective use of resources and compliance with environmental standards.
• Plan and execute native vegetation planting to restore ecosystems.
• Monitor the growth and success of revegetation efforts.
• Maintain and enhance natural landscapes through activities like erosion control and habitat improvement with the use of bushland regeneration techniques
• Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of land areas.
• Ensure all equipment is operated safely and efficiently.
• Maintain and enhance partnerships with government, community and other stakeholders to ensure a positive and productive view of BLCAC.
• Meeting with local community groups and other external stakeholders to engage with the Strong Country works.
• Maintain strong relationships across the MSA sector of DEECA, demonstrating experience in government and stakeholder liaison and relationship management.
• Ensure any works is completed within budget and reported correctly.
• Comply with all relevant legislation and regulatory standards.
• Ensure all information is recorded to achieve compliance with all organisational policies and procedure and legislative requirements.
• Ensuring organisation and community confidentiality is maintained
• Utilise data and program analysis to provide accurate and meaningful reports.
• Provide statistical and other reports to meet organisational, stakeholder and statutory requirements including analysis, reporting of results and supporting recommendations.
• Comply with organisational policies and procedures to model best practice behaviour and performance to all staff.
• Compliance with and understanding of EEO Legislation.
• Supervise and manage a team of Strong Country Rangers.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and support to enhance team performance and development.
• Ensure all recruitment activities and probation reviews are completed in line with BLCAC policies and procedures.
• Manage any performance or conduct concerns in collaboration with HR and The Strong Country Manager.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated computer proficiency, including the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Clear Working with Children Check, National Police History Check
• Current VIC Drivers Licence
• Experience working with Traditional Owner organisations and communities.
• Excellent plant identification skills
• Project Firefighter ticket and/or other experience with fire management practices
• Experience with Bushland Regeneration practices.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Environmental Science/Natural Resource Management (or equivalent) and/or relevant field experience
• Agvet Chemical User Permit
• Chainsaw Licence, (desirable Tree Felling)
• 4x4 driving and recovery experience (desirable)

Personal Qualifications and Attributes:

• Aboriginality, Bunurong Nation – desirable
• Experience in Community Engagement
• Demonstrated working experience and knowledge of Working on Country
• Highly developed organisational skills and capacity to prioritise competing demands.
• Effective conflict resolution skills, negotiation, mediation and decision making skills.
• Highly innovative and the willingness to assist the organisation achieve its objectives
• Full VIC drivers licence
• National Police Check
• Working with Children Check