JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Title of Position : Director, Aboriginal Services Unit
Classification : MAS3
Location : Aboriginal Services Unit
Reports To : Executive Director, Offender Development
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Position No: CS1497
Division : Offender Development
PS Act
X
Contract Up to 5 Yrs
Casual
Ongoing
X
Contract Up to 2 Yrs
FTE
Job Status:
Financial Delegation:
X
$ 20,000
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION APPROVAL
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Chief Executive or Delegate
JOB SPECIFICATION
1. KEY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Director, Aboriginal Services Unit is accountable to the Executive Director, Offender Development
and is a member of the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) Executive team. The position
provides expert and strategic contribution to the Executive in regard to achievement of enhanced
outcomes for Aboriginal people engaged within the Department and broader Justice portfolio. The
position provides high level strategic, policy and operational advice on justice issues affecting
Aboriginal people to executive and senior management across the Department and Justice portfolio.
The position works closely with other Government Departments and service providers to improve
mechanisms and pathways for service delivery to Aboriginal clients, families and the South Australian
Aboriginal community who are in contact with the South Australian justice system.
2. KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION
The position reports to the Executive Director, Offender Development and is a member of the DCS
Executive Team.
The incumbent will work in partnership with relevant Departmental staff, other stakeholder agencies,
Government Departments, Universities, VTEC-SA, Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal agencies
with a focus on justice issues impacting Aboriginal people.
The incumbent maintains Aboriginal community networks and provides leadership, guidance and
support to Aboriginal staff across DCS, and where relevant, engages those staff in planning, policy and
evaluation processes to enhance systemic responses across the department and broader South
Australian justice system.
3. BRANCH PROFILE
The Aboriginal Services Unit is part of the Offender Development Directorate within the Department for
Correctional Services. The role of the Branch includes: advocating for greater recognition to cultural
issues affecting Aboriginal offenders, their families and the broader Aboriginal community as
recommended by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody; advocating and advising on
cultural appropriate supervision of Aboriginal offenders in the community; guiding the development and
delivery of culturally appropriate programs and services to Aboriginal prisoners and offenders to assist
in their rehabilitation and reduce the rate of recidivism; maintaining membership of all departmental
working groups, guiding the development of appropriate policies and strategies to affect positive
systemic change and assisting Aboriginal prisoners and offenders to develop appropriate skills to
positively re-integrate into the community and contribute to its wellbeing.
DCS JPS Template March 15
JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION
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Several positions currently located in the Aboriginal Services Unit include responsibilities relating to
administration, program delivery, community liaison, prisoner/offender support, prisoner family
advocacy, staff recruitment and retention, staff training and support, arts program coordination, policy
and planning, reporting and management.
4. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
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Section 47 of the Public Sector Act 2009 applies in conjunction with other provisions of the act and
other applicable industrial entitlements.
The incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete a National Criminal History Check;
A current South Australian Driver’s Licence and willingness to drive is essential;
Out of hours work will be required;
Some interstate and intrastate travel will be required which may necessitate overnight absences.
5. HIGHLIGHTED EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
A requirement to understand, observe, conform and adhere to:
 Legislative requirements that apply to the role. This includes, but is not limited to, the Public Sector
Act; Correctional Services Act, Work Health & Safety Act, Return to Work Act, Equal Opportunity
Act, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act, the State Records Act and various relevant
industrial awards and enterprise agreements.
 The Public Sector Principles and Practices including the SA Public Sector Code of Ethics, the
Professional Conduct Standards, the Commissioner’s Determinations and Guidelines, DCS Human
Resource policies and guidelines and DCS Core Values.
 Work health and safety and injury management requirements as set out in relevant legislation,
Public Sector and DCS policies and procedures, including complying with any reasonable
instruction associated with these documents.
6. KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Directly influence the strategic and operational agenda for improving Justice outcomes for Aboriginal
people by:
 Working with Chief Executives, Executives, management and staff across Justice agencies to
foster a greater understanding and awareness of justice and incarceration issues affecting
Aboriginal people;
 Providing expert strategic advice to DCS Executive and to functional managers across the
Department;
 Providing leadership to the development, implementation and review of innovative programs
and strategies to address longer term systemic issues (including shorter term practical
measures that can be taken to address those issues);
 Contributing to the effective development and implementation of culturally appropriate and
effective policies, programs and services by:
 Providing strategic advice on policy, planning, performance measures and targets to be
incorporated in strategic and business plans at the Justice Portfolio level and within
DCS;
 Providing expert advice and operational advice to working groups across the department
to enhance service delivery;
 Providing expert advice and high level support to Directorate visions to ensure the
development and implementation of Directorate Plans that support achievement of
corporate goals and objectives;
 Engaging, consulting and providing leadership to staff in planning, policy and evaluation
processes;
 Providing an expert Aboriginal perspective and expert advocacy services by involvement
and consultation with Aboriginal groups and communities;
 Ensuring regular monitoring and reporting on service delivery performance against
standards and indicators.
JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION
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Providing advice on the deployment of staff and resources to improve the access of services to
Aboriginal people, address systemic issues and best meet the needs of Aboriginal people;
Providing expert and strategic advice to the Justice Portfolio and DCS on implementation of the
Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and monitoring
progress;
Influencing, monitoring, and reporting on DCS’ progress in relation to achievement of relevant
sections of the State’s Strategic Plan;
Representing the Justice Portfolio and DCS on relevant committees, advisory bodies and to
promote and advance awareness of Aboriginal issues and strategies needed to address those
issues;
Contributing to improving the recruitment, retention and development of Aboriginal staff across the
Justice Portfolio and within DCS.
Manage and lead the Unit through effective decision making and judgement of delegated authority
and appropriate financial and human resource management) by:
 Leading the Unit’s business planning and implementation processes;
 Providing sound leadership to and management of staff including managing
performance management and evaluation processes;
 Ensuring individual training and development needs of staff are identified and addressed
 Developing budgets and contingency plans for the allocation of resources;
 Ensuring that the principles of Equal Opportunity, Industrial Relations, Work Health and
Safety and Return to Work are promoted adhered to and maintained.
 Responsible for taking reasonable care for their own and others’ health and safety and not
adversely affecting the health and safety of others.
 Responsible for early notification and reporting of workplace hazards, incidents and injuries.
7. QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
Desirable: An appropriate tertiary qualification in a relevant field of study
8. PERSONAL CRITERIA
8.1 Essential Criteria
 A high level of experience in the Aboriginal community with broad experience and specialist
knowledge in managing Aboriginal staff and programs within a government environment which
includes:
 Working with staff from varied cultural backgrounds and skill bases to develop plans,
policy and evaluation, with a focus on service improvement;
 Establishing and maintaining networks to enhance communication and consultation
with Aboriginal people to improve the relevance and effectiveness of cross-portfolio,
cross-agency and agency plans, programs and services;
 Managing and leading a team to achieve strategic targets/deadlines that improve
outcomes for Aboriginal people whom are incarcerated or on community based
orders;
 Guiding, advising and representing Aboriginal staff and the issues they identify at the
executive level.
 High level interpersonal, oral and written communication skills relevant to working with Aboriginal
communities, government and non-government agencies which includes high level negotiation
and conflict resolution capabilities
 Senior level experience in providing high level strategic advice, to executive and managers
 Experience in managing the financial, physical and human resources of a business unit
 Understanding of, and ability to manage, the spirit and principles of the Premier’s Safety
Commitment and the legislative requirements of the Work Health & Safety Act, Regulations and
associated Codes of Practice, utilising AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management
8.2 Desirable Criteria
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Extensive knowledge and understanding of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into
Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Experience in liaising with other Government Departments and service providers to improve
mechanisms and pathways for service delivery to Aboriginal clients
Experience in the development and implementation of programs for Aboriginal staff across Justice
General knowledge of personnel management principles under the Public Sector Act, Work Health
& Safety Act, and the Equal Opportunity Act.
General knowledge of DCS organisational structure and the South Australian Justice portfolio
Understanding of the responsibilities of Government employees in relation to the State Records Act