• Locations: Deakin, Canberra and Whalan, Greater Western Sydney  
• Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week
• Working outside of normal hours and travel will be required.
• Salary: $124,951 - $142,509 plus superannuation and salary packaging
• Reports to: Relationships and Engagement National Manager
• Contract: Fixed term to 31 December 2027

Indigenous Allied Health Australia is a community-controlled organisation with strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing and leadership. IAHA value cultural knowledges and ways of working as this role is working directly with and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples, families and communities therefore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Purpose of the position

As leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, training, and workforce development, IAHA support and elevate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce to lead transformative change across health and wellbeing systems, grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing, for better health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes.

A key focus of IAHA’s work is education, training and employment pathway programs, facilitating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enter the workforce. This includes the IAHA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy, an innovative and community led education model, and the work of IAHA Group Training to support traineeship and apprenticeship pathways, particular school-based traineeships.

The Regional Lead provides strategic leadership, oversight and management to existing programs and services regionally, provides high level representation and develops and maintains key strategic relationships, and identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and growth, including expansion. 

Organisational environment

IAHA is a national, community controlled, not-for-profit and member based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health organisation. IAHA was established in 2009, from a network of committed allied health professionals and is now a registered company limited by guarantee. IAHA has a growing Secretariat with offices based in Canberra, Darwin, Katherine, Lismore, and Sydney, supporting a Board of Directors and over 2200 members nationally. Further information on IAHA, our membership, activities and projects can be found on our website www.iaha.com.au

IAHA appreciates all people working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing including a holistic approach to health care; the value of education and other social determinants; the right to self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; their cultures, spirituality and traditions of wellness and health. IAHA’s vision is that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and future generations are thriving in ongoing connection to self, spirit, and place.

IAHA focuses on five strategic areas of work to:

• Strengthen and engage our IAHA membership.
• Grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health workforce through access and entry, effective pathways, promoting and support for allied health careers, skills development, and retention.
• Transform the allied health and wider workforce by building culturally safe and responsive health and education systems.
• Lead in the Indigenous health and allied health sectors to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led solutions and approaches to policy and program development.
• Connect with and promoting connectedness with IAHA members, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families, communities, and cultures.

Working conditions, benefits, and salary packaging

IAHA operates under a distributed leadership and cultural governance (Our Ways of Working) model to ensure that IAHA programs, activities and services are delivered and implemented in a culturally safe and responsive manner by all employees and Board directors.

IAHA is recognised by the Australian Tax Office as a Health Promotion Charity and salary packaging is available to all employees to increase take home pay. Free onsite parking is available for staff at the Canberra, Western Sydney and Darwin offices.  

IAHA is committed to supporting personal, cultural, and professional development opportunities for employees. IAHA provides all employees access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), including access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers in addition to an annual social and emotional wellbeing allowance.

In line with the IAHA Leave Policy, executive employees may be entitled to time in lieu as approved in advance. IAHA provides a diverse range of leave entitlements additional to recreational and personal leave including cultural leave, bereavement/compassionate leave, emergency services leave, special leave, paid parental leave and pandemic leave.

The employment instrument is the National Employment Standards – Fair Work Act (2009).

Role responsibilities

The Academy Regional Lead duties may include most, and potentially all, of the following:

1. Strategically lead the IAHA National Academy program and its implementation within the region, including resourcing culturally and child safe supports, curriculum delivery and materials for school-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees undertaking Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance.
2. Lead evaluation and reporting, to collect data and stories from relevant stakeholders including schools, students, employers, and community members to inform ongoing program evaluation, communicate impact and report to program funders and partners.
3. Establish, develop, and maintain good working partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders across governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health and wellbeing services, schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and groups, educational bodies, VET sector providers and allied health services, including to expand programs, services and funding.
4. Support IAHA Group Training’s operations in the region, in coordination of day-to-day activities, compliance, business development and forward planning.
5. Promote the broader work and interests of IAHA, including to identify and facilitate business opportunities within the region.
6. Develop and deliver internal and external education, training and employment pathways opportunities, including activities which support career promotion, recruitment, retention, completion and transitions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners.
7. Represent IAHA at high level meetings, conferences, forums, and seminars as required.
8. Develop and maintain meaningful and safe relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, including students, families, and organisations.
9. Prepare, coordinate, and contribute to high quality and informative responses to presentations, national submissions, reviews, and other key consultative measures.
10. Actively engage in providing and maintaining a safe and respectful online and physical environment for all children and young people.
11. Conduct all work consistent with IAHA’s policies and legal responsibilities, including, but not limited to, IAHA’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
12. Other duties as required.

Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Demonstrated high level experience working in education, training, workforce development, health, youth development and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs.
2. Experience working with and leading a team and the ability to be flexible and adaptable to be responsive to organisational, program, and community needs and aspirations.
3. Excellent interpersonal and community engagement skills and the ability to build safe and professional relationships and to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and community-controlled organisations.
4. Demonstrated experience in preparing high level written submissions, papers, briefs, grant funding applications, policy and/or research documents.
5. Excellent organisational and effective time management skills to manage and deliver on competing priorities and organisational outcomes.
6. Excellent negotiation and communication skills, including the ability to work with schools, tertiary education providers, employers, governments and others.
7. A strong understanding of, and commitment to upholding, the National Child Safe Principles.
8. Hold a current Working with Children Check in the ACT/NSW or the ability to obtain and maintain, and a clear National Police Check. 

Highly Desirable

1. Tertiary qualifications in health, education, social sciences, related field, or equivalent work experience.
2. Vocational qualification in Training and Assessment (TAE)
3. Ability to travel, when required, including to rural and remote locations.

A position description is attached.