For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Your work can make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders peoples in Queensland.

Your skills and cultural knowledge can help us become a better human service agency by improving the way we deliver our policies, services and programs to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We offer a number of specialised positions such as identified or specified positions that require the applicant to have an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and societies.

Cultural leave

We recognise the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff being able to meet obligations under traditional law, customary law and family obligations, and to celebrate religious and cultural observances.

The department is committed to cultural diversity and we support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff by providing access to flexible work arrangements and cultural leave, as well as standard leave provisions.

Cultural leave allows staff to take various forms of paid leave or special leave without pay to celebrate religious or cultural observances such as Sorry Business, National Sorry Day, NAIDOC, National Reconciliation Week, Mabo Day and Coming of the Light Festival.

Information about what we offer in terms of salary and providing flexible ways of supporting employees to be able to blend the various obligations of work and life can be found under the 'Benefits of working for us' section.

Mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who come to work in our department can access the Career Pathways program.

The program, developed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in collaboration with the former Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP), was created to strengthen representation by First Nations employees in senior leadership roles across the Queensland public sector.

Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff

The department’s Employee Assistance Service provides a dedicated and confidential support line for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff. The department will not be aware that individual staff have accessed this service.

Cultural capability of our staff

Our department recognises that, to better support Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, our staff should have cultural capability and understand the needs of our staff and clients.

Accordingly, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Action Plan sets out the department’s approach and commitment to growing the cultural capability of all of our staff.