vacancy: coordinator (full-time) - wordpress.com · vacancy: coordinator (full-time) the ngukurr...

_________________ Lot 399, Mutju Strit, Ngukurr Community, CMB 6, Ngukurr NT 0852 [email protected] P 08 8977 4225 ICN 7515 ABN 87 055 733 902

Vacancy: Coordinator (full-time) The Ngukurr Language Centre Aboriginal Corporation is seeking a friendly, dynamic and dedicated person to be their first ever coordinator. It’s a challenging and exciting opportunity to collaborate with a great team of elders and language workers, work with some of the world’s most endangered languages and further develop our young organisation. About the Ngukurr Language Centre The goal of the Ngukurr Language Centre is to revitalise, document, teach and promote the traditional languages of the community. This is achieved through the delivery of a range of community-based language programs. The organisation seeks a dedicated, friendly and dynamic coordinator to help them achieve their goals. The Ngukurr Language Centre was originally established in 1999 as a branch of the Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre. It became an independent, locally-governed organisation in 2011 and recently secured operational funding. The Language Centre now seeks a coordinator to oversee the continued development of the organisation and community language programs in line with its strategic plan.

Location and Languages Ngukurr is a large Aboriginal community (pop: 1000+) in Southern Arnhem Land. It is a dry community and a designated Territory Growth Town. The community has 8-10 heritage languages that are all now endangered. The main language spoken now is Kriol. The community is surrounded by pristine landscapes and lies on the banks of the Roper River and is in close proximity to the Limmen National Park providing excellent opportunities for fishing and camping. The community has a swimming pool, art centre and amenities such as health clinic, police station and large store. Organisation structure The Ngukurr Language Centre is a small, independent, non-profit organisation with an annual turnover of approximately $200,000. The organisation is overseen by an Indigenous board of directors, elected from a membership base of local language workers, language speakers and educators. The Board is currently assisted by an accountant and volunteer public officer. The Ngukurr Language Centre recently secured funding to employ a full-time coordinator, a part-time language worker and casual wages for language consultants. The coordinator will report directly to the Board and supervise the other employees. A diverse team of external mentors and advisors has been organised to provide the coordinator with additional advice and support. About the role The position is full-time, commencing on October 1, 2012. Funding has been secured for nine months initially and is ongoing, pending continued funding. There is a six-month probationary period, with an initial review after three months. The coordinator will be provided free accommodation in the small but comfortable accommodation area of the Ngukurr Language Centre. It is fully furnished with all amenities.


Contact and Apply For more information contact Greg Dickson (Public Officer) on 0427 391 153 or email [email protected]. Applicants should address the selection criteria and send a current CV with three referees. Applications close Monday, August 20. Entitlements

Salary Range $58,000-$65,000 plus 9% Superannuation Annual Leave 6 weeks (includes 17.5% leave loading) Accommodation Included Tenure 9 months (ongoing, pending recurrent funding) Award Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services

Industry Award 2010 Level Social & Community services employee level 6

Requirements of the Job Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to work independently and demonstrate leadership • Highly developed time management, organisational and administrative skills • Excellent communication skills – verbal, written, interpersonal • Ability to supervise staff and provide workplace training • Problem solving and research skills • Project development, implementation and facilitation skills • Financial management and ability to develop and work within a budget • Good corporate governance skills • Genuine interest or experience in working cooperatively with Aboriginal people • Good cross-cultural communication skills and ability to work successfully in

multilingual environments • Knowledge of community cultural development practice • Understanding of the historical, social and linguistic complexity of Aboriginal

languages, including Kriol • Excellent IT and other technology skills including MS Office and experience

working with digital audio and video recordings and digital communications tools e.g. web/internet and social media.

Qualifications and Experience • Relevant tertiary degree (e.g. linguistics, Indigenous studies, international or

community development, social sciences etc.) with experience; and/or • Relevant post graduate qualification; and/or • Relevant experience attained through previous appointments, service and/or

study with a combination of experience, expertise and competence sufficient to succeed in this position


Coordinator: Duties and Responsibilities The role of the coordinator is to manage the daily operations of the Language Centre. This includes supporting language programs and language workers, administration, financial management, facilitating good corporate governance, project management and managing facilities and resources. Time allocation is approximately 50% on administrative and management duties and 50% working directly with language programs and resourcing.

Language Resourcing and Programs

• Maintain the language resources and archives held by the Language Centre (in

audio, video and print formats) and maintain databases (metadata) of digital and print resources held at the Language Centre

• Ensure appropriate off-site archiving (e.g. AIATSIS) of all significant digital and print resources

• Facilitate the appropriate distribution and dissemination of copies of language resources to community members

• Promote the increased use and recognition of traditional languages • Use media and social media to promote and educate the community members and

the general public about the Language Centre, its activities and languages • Develop, implement and monitor informal and formal education and training

programs for adults and children to learn local languages and develop language worker skills

• Facilitate programs and activities that increase and/or improve the documentation of local traditional languages in audio, video and written formats

• Ensure language programs are of a high quality and lead to tangible benefits for the resourcing, revitalisation and maintenance of traditional languages of the region

• Foster best practice in language documentation, including using archive quality digital formats for audio/video and ensuring that written language adheres to agreed upon, consistent writing systems (orthographies)

• Capitalise on the use of new technology and IT in language activities (e.g. to develop audio, video and well-designed print resources)

• Facilitate the development of high-quality language resources (audio, video, print) • Foster the development and awareness of Kriol as a central to the linguistic ecology

of Ngukurr. This may include encouraging Kriol’s role in effective workplace communication, providing written translation services and/or Kriol language/cultural awareness courses and information for non-Indigenous residents

Governance and Community Development • Facilitate regular meetings of the governing committee and foster collaborative

decision-making and participatory processes • Maintain governance related records, including minutes and member’s list and

report to regulatory bodies (e.g. Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)


• Foster good governance practice by the committee and members and facilitate governance training for board members

• Utilise community development practices to ensure high levels of participation by Board and staff in decision-making processes and developing and achieving strategic goals

• Provide formal and informal training and support to staff members, board members and community members in a range of areas in order to build the capacity of members and staff to manage the organisation and deliver programs successfully

• Work respectfully, collaboratively and co-operatively with staff, board members and program participants

Financial, Administrative and Strategic Management • Maintain efficient administrative procedures required for the day-to-day operation of

the Language Centre, including correspondence, business documentation, asset and resource management, reporting, financial management and human resource management

• Financial management of the Language Centre’s business activities, including banking, basic bookkeeping and data entry, managing payments and receipts, working closely with the organisation’s accountant(s) and auditor(s) and reporting to the governing committee

• Research and source funding opportunities for language projects based on the organisational goals and strategic plan and in collaboration with the governing committee

• Implement and facilitate language projects and programs and acquit funding upon completion

• Prepare reports and documentation of activities to meet reporting requirement of funding agencies, board members and other stakeholders as applicable

• Manage and maintain the Ngukurr Language Centre facility and its assets • Develop opportunities for the Language Centre to generate independent income e.g.

language consultancy services, translation services, Kriol and cultural awareness courses, merchandise or tourism opportunities

• Utilise the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan to develop the organisation and language programs and use the Strategic Plan’s reporting template to assess progress and provide feedback to the board

• Develop and maintain strategic links and relationships with other local, regional and national organisations in line with the strategic goals of the organisation

• Supervise and support staff, including development of work plans, providing feedback and appraisal, facilitating professional development, providing HR administrative support including payroll, timesheets etc.


Selection Criteria: Coordinator (full-time)

Please address these Selection Criteria and submit with a current CV including three referees. Essential • Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or experience

• Knowledge of community development principles and practices, especially in the

context of remote Aboriginal Australia

• Demonstrated understanding of historical, social and political context of Aboriginal languages

• Experience in project management. This may include sourcing funding, developing,

implementing, monitoring and acquitting projects

• Demonstrated high-level organisational and administrative skills, including financial management

• Demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to work

successfully in linguistically diverse environments

• Has or able to obtain Working with Children (Ochre Card) clearance and National Police Clearance

• Qualifications and/or experience in supervising staff and/or delivering vocational or

on-the-job training

• Experience with facilitating or contributing to good corporate governance Strongly Desirable • Demonstrated understanding of or experience in working with Aboriginal languages

(e.g. research, tertiary education and/or community-based programs)

vacancy: coordinator (full-time) - wordpress.com · vacancy: coordinator (full-time) the ngukurr...

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