River Cultural Officer (identified position)

• Status: Three working days (22.5hours per week - 7.5hour working days) (1-year contract – ongoing subject to funding)
• Remuneration: $32 per hour plus 11% superannuation
• Locations: Dubbo, NSW or Mildura, Victoria 

About the position

OzFish’s work on Australia's waterways is on the country of our First Nations peoples. We pay respect to their longstanding custodianship of this land. We acknowledge the deep connection and understanding they have with our waterways and our fish as we seek their support, advice, and approval for our stewardship actions.

This position aims to guide OzFish in the establishment of genuine partnerships and activities with First Nations peoples in areas of mutual interest that supports the protection and restoration of Australia’s waterways for future generations. OzFish recognises that greater habitat impact and value can be created, and new insights gained when OzFish projects are interwoven with the knowledge, perspectives, capacity, and capability of this country’s original fishers, fish habitat scientists and environmental stewards.

The River Culture Officer will be responsible for assisting the development and delivery of River and Cultural projects undertaken within Dubbo or Mildura and surrounds, including coordinating the volunteer work program and achieving on-ground outcomes against specific projects in the local area of operations. The River Repair Bus provides a unique model of community engagement in river habitat restoration and is equipped with the required tools/PPE to plant and maintain native vegetation, build habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species, undertake rubbish clean-ups, and upskill participants in these areas. The position operates under the supervision of and working closely with the Senior Program Manager – Murray Darling Basin, the River Repair Bus team leader, and OzFish Unlimited regional staff.

The position is also critical to OzFish’s dedication to ensuring we work with local people on their own country. The River Culture Officer will actively engage and consult on a weekly basis with the relevant First Nations communities. 

The River Culture Officer responsibilities will include

1. Driving the River Repair Bus to the designated work sites and managing volunteers in appropriate tasks
2. To actively workshop OzFish vision and mission in relation to the region with First Nations community and convey their wishes, knowledge, and activity back into OzFish projects
3. To bridge the gap in relationship building between the OzFish team and First Nations community and continually nurture that relationship
4. To bring First Nations culture into every OzFish action, including dance, ceremony, art, and traditional practice (as appropriate)
5. Assisting with coordinating the work program for the River Repair Bus
6. Managing site tasks including (but not limited to); native tree planting and maintaining plantings, weed control, rubbish removal and building of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species
7. Identify and develop project opportunities with the relevant councils, regional and state agencies
8. Follow all administrative tasks and guidelines established by OzFish Unlimited on a daily basis

Required skills

1. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander decent (with relationship to local country)
2. Relevant experience in a variety of environmental and natural resource management techniques and methodologies (revegetation, weed control, habitat construction)
3. Experience working with community volunteers from all backgrounds, including those who may be socially disadvantaged and underprivileged
4. Demonstrated level of skills in Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word
5. Demonstrated standards in safety and work planning, including wet weather contingency
6. Willingness to travel in the local area daily and hold current driver’s licence

Advantageous skills

1. Hold current first aid certificate
2. Current chemical application certification
3. Strong connections to the local fishing community
4. Current chainsaw certification, boat licence, working with children check
5. Knowledge of indigenous and exotic flora species identification
6. Note that a police check, health check and driver safety record may be required for this position

OzFish Unlimited offers a flexible working environment and as an NGO we offer Salary Packaging options.

nrmjobs.com.au/job/20020711