Are you passionate about driving employment and training outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? Do you have strong stakeholder engagement, project management, and strategic planning skills? Join our Far North Queensland team as the Principal Indigenous Program Officer (PIPO) and make a real difference by collaborating with Indigenous communities, organisations, and industry to create meaningful employment and training pathways.

Job details

TARGETED VACANCY 

First Nations Identified position

This is a designated First Nations Identified role. Under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (QLD), it is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent to be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is one who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and either:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
• is accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which they live.

About the team

The Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET) is committed to shaping Queensland's workforce by connecting individuals with quality training and skills development opportunities. The Delivery and Partnerships (DAP) division focuses on building strategic partnerships with industry and communities to deliver meaningful outcomes for apprentices, trainees, and employers.

About the role

As the Principal Indigenous Program Officer, you will:

• Collaborate with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, and industry to identify and create employment and training opportunities.
• Provide strategic advice and contribute to the development of regional strategies to increase training qualifications for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Manage and monitor projects and programs that support government priorities and foster collaboration with stakeholders.
• Develop and implement targeted projects to achieve regional objectives for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Represent the department in community forums to promote Indigenous training and employment goals.

What we are looking for

The position requires an applicant who can:

• Demonstrate high-level program and project management skills, with knowledge of the vocational education and training (VET) sector as it applies to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
• Exhibit strong conceptual thinking, research, and problem-solving skills to support project development and delivery.
• Communicate effectively, consult respectfully, and negotiate sensitively in alignment with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander protocols.

Refer to the Role Description for a full list of responsibilities and what we are looking for.

How to apply

To apply, please submit the following via the SmartJobs application page:

• Your current resume, detailing your previous work or voluntary experience, including two referees.
• A covering letter (up to two pages) addressing the ‘What we are looking for' statements and outlining your motivation to join us.

Please ensure you refer to the Role Description 'Interested in applying' section for more information on what to include as part of your application.

We are committed to appointing the best-suited person for each role. This includes considering equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion needs within our agency. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you require any reasonable adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact the designated contact for the vacancy.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.             '

Job Ad Reference: QLD/678695/26

Closing Date: Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Applicant Information Package 2026 (PDF, 787KB)
  
  
  678695 26 Role Description (Word, 301KB)