About the Organisation

The Spinifex people, including those residents at Tjuntjuntjara Community, are represented by the Pila Nguru Aboriginal Corporation, the Native Title Representative Body in the Spinifex Native Title area. Within this area, Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) is an Aboriginal corporation with responsibility for managing the essential and community services in the community. This includes, but is not limited to, the Community Store, Community Resource Centre, a Women’s Centre, Indigenous Sport and Recreation program, an Environmental Health program, municipal services (airstrip, tip, road maintenance, water, power, sewerage), mechanics workshop, the Community Development Program and Spinifex Health Service’s (including Youth and Home and Community Care programs). 

Tjuntjuntjara is the main population Centre for the Spinifex Lands, over 55,000 sq. kms of Native Title area in the Great Victoria Desert region of Western Australia. PTAC operate a primary health care service that includes youth, aged care and home and community care services trading as Spinifex Health Service. An Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) which also operates an office and accommodation facility in Kalgoorlie and delivers onsite 24/7 clinical services as well as a comprehensive range of specialist clinical and allied health programs on a fly in fly out basis.

About the Opportunity

PTAC has an exciting opportunity for a full time Women and Family Centre Coordinator to join their team in the Tjuntjuntjara community.

The role is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of a range of programs and services through the Women’s & Family Centre such as:   

• Supporting families to give children a good start in life through improved early childhood development, care, education and school readiness (through the Early Childhood Playgroup)
• Getting children to school.
• Improving literacy and numeracy.
• Supporting successful transitions to further education and work.
• Arts and Crafts activities aimed at engagement and cultural maintenance.

The Women and Family Centre Coordinator’s primary focus is to identify, develop and coordinate education opportunities/activities for young people and their parents / guardians to develop their skills to maximise opportunities to prevent the cycle of poverty and welfare dependency.  Particular focus is on those parents who have children that are at risk of becoming disengaged from mainstream schooling in Tjuntjuntjara or are already disengaged from schooling.  Further, parents who are struggling to cope and manage the basic requirements due to lack of social support, drugs and alcohol, family and domestic violence, lack of education, poverty, or other factors. 

About You

To be considered for this position, our ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience, which include: 

• Leadership experience supervising a team of staff, including the ability to promote positive working relationships among staff; 
• Experience in a relevant Community Programs role involving, training, teaching or other relevant field; 
• Ability to innovate, engage with a variety of people, and encourage and support women to engage in leadership and other program initiatives;
• Demonstrated ability to manage grants and budgets in a not-for-profit environment;
• Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing programs in a not-for-profit environment;
• Ability to collect and record data, and report on program activities and outcomes;
• Demonstrated experience in building relationships and partnerships with key external stakeholders, including funding agencies;
• Demonstrated ability to promote locally made products throughout the region;
• Qualifications in human services, training, nutrition, teaching, allied health or other relevant field.

Tjuntjuntjara is one of the most isolated communities in Australia, and critical to your success will be a willingness and physical ability to live and work in these conditions. You will also need to be computer literate with experience in or the ability to learn a range of software.

Please note: Prior to commencing employment, the successful applicant must have or be willing to obtain a current manual driver’s licence, WA WWC, and National Police Certificate.

On Offer

This opportunity is suited to someone with a passion for making a difference, someone who is innovative in their approach and can promote local engagement and achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for the community. In return for your contribution, leadership, and dedication, you will have the ability to salary package up to $15,899 p.a. plus package $2,650 for meals and entertainment, and receive a range of additional benefits including a competitive salary and benefits package, and fully furnished accommodation at no cost including full utilities of power, gas and internet.

About Tjuntjuntjara

The people of Tjuntjuntjara are known today as the Spinifex People, the traditional custodians of 55,000 square kms of Spinifex Native Title Determination area. The community is situated within the Shire of Menzies, approximately 10 hours’ drive from Kalgoorlie. It has a resident population of approximately 200 people, and is home to the world-renowned Spinifex artists, whose work has been showcased in galleries around the world. Cultural events in the community often attract several hundred visitors.

Since establishing Tjuntjuntjara within their traditional homelands in 1989, the community has steadily grown and developed into a stable and important focus for the traditional cultural cycles of Western Desert life.  People from throughout the region with traditional attachment to the area have returned to live at Tjuntjuntjara. Despite the community’s isolation and remoteness, the Spinifex People’s determination to live in their country and provide strong local governance and stability for a highly dedicated workforce makes Tjuntjuntjara a unique place to live. Tjuntjuntjara is an alcohol-free community.