APS6 / EL1 Education Officer

Drive national education programs and shape policy to foster inclusion and strengthen social cohesion across schools and the wider education sector.

This small, specialist office sits within a large federal department and supports the Australian Government’s work to strengthen social cohesion and respond to religious discrimination.

Its work includes commissioning educational resources, analysing incidents, building trust with affected communities and advising government.

The office works closely with community organisations, schools, education and training bodies, and agencies across government.

The Opportunity

The office is looking for an Education Officer to lead its education programs and policy work until the 30th of September 2027.

You will be the office’s go-to person on education and training, making sure its programs, policies and events line up.

You will work with departmental colleagues, agencies across government, and schools, training providers and community members, and you may represent the office at external forums.

You’ll have the chance to:

• Own the education portfolio for a small national office, with broad direction rather than close supervision
• Design and run national programs and events that build awareness of Islamophobia across the education sector
• Work at the point where education policy, community engagement and social cohesion m
• eet
• Advise senior leadership directly on complex and sensitive issues
• Work from Sydney or Melbourne on a Commonwealth role, with no relocation to Canberra required

The Role

This role leads and coordinates all education and training work in the office, from planning through to delivery and evaluation.

You’ll be:

• Developing, coordinating and delivering national education programs, initiatives and events that build awareness of Islamophobia and promote social cohesion in schools and the wider education sector
• Scanning the environment, anticipate emerging issues, and turn complex developments into clear strategic advice and practical program or policy responses
• Providing advice on complex and sensitive issues, and influence stakeholders across government, the education sector and the community
• Evaluating program and project outcomes, identify what is working, and adjust approaches to deliver results
• Identifying and managing risks, escalating where needed
• Preparing high-quality briefs, reports and other written materials, and give the office’s leadership clear, actionable advice
• Contributing to frameworks, methodologies and process improvement across the office
• Travelling interstate, represent the office at external forums, and occasionally work outside standard hours when required

The Ideal Person

You know the Australian education sector from the inside, through teaching, training, or education policy and programs, and you can turn research and community insight into programs that work.

You stay calm and professional when issues are sensitive and under public scrutiny, and you engage with people’s personal stories with empathy and cultural competence.

You will bring the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of Australian education systems, including policy and program expertise, and experience in teaching or training
• Experience in education programs or policy related to social cohesion, intercultural or interfaith cooperation
• The ability to undertake complex research and analysis, and translate findings into evidence-informed educational resources, advice and program responses
• High-level cultural competency, with the empathy to engage with affected communities, including Australia’s Muslim community, and with schools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparing high-level briefs, submissions and reports
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills to build partnerships and influence decision-makers on sensitive issues
• Sound judgement, resilience and capability in identifying and managing risk across policy, project and program delivery

Australian citizenship and the ability to obtain or maintain a Baseline security clearance are essential for this role.

It’s also desirable if you have:

• An understanding of government decision-making and whole-of-government approaches to education, training and learning
• Experience in related social policy areas such as anti-racism, anti-discrimination, multicultural affairs or human rights
• Experience coordinating consultations, forums, roundtables or other stakeholder engagement
• An understanding of, or experience with, Australia’s Muslim community or issues relating to Islamophobia.

Salary / Rate

• $75/hr – $95/hr + Super
• Full-time contract until the 30th of September 2027
• Based in Sydney or Melbourne, with attendance in the office on agreed team anchor days