Director - Aboriginal Leadership in the Thriving Families SA Initiative

We are seeking a Director to provide strategic Aboriginal leadership - offering a competitive and commensurate package to match the experience brought plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation.

3 Years Fixed Term - Full- time opportunity with a possible extension.

The BetterStart Group, Adelaide University’s School of Public Health, is seeking a Director of Aboriginal Leadership to provide strategic direction and embed Aboriginal leadership at the heart of the Thriving Families SA Initiative. Working alongside University co-leads and the Director of Thriving Families, this role will formalise a co-leadership alliance with the Aboriginal Community-Controlled sector. Grounded in cultural excellence, equity, and shared decision-making, this partnership affirms the cultural authority of Aboriginal communities in shaping solutions for their children and families.

Thriving Families brings together nearly 60 non-government organisations committed to transforming how South Australia supports the wellbeing of children, young people, families, and communities. The Director will provide strategic leadership to support system change focused on prevention and early support. You will work closely with the Thriving Families Director to embed Aboriginal leadership and shared decision making, strengthening the cultural authority of Aboriginal communities in shaping solutions for their children and families.

BetterStart is an interdisciplinary team based in the School of Public Health at Adelaide University, with expertise spanning epidemiology, psychology, social work, and public health. Our focus is on improving wellbeing across the first 1000 days of life, early childhood education, child protection, mental health, and social equity, generating evidence to inform policy and practice that benefits children, young people, families, and communities.

To be successful you will need:

To be a bold, strategic leader with the vision, courage, and credibility to drive long-term change in the systems that support children, young people, families and communities. You will bring:

• Proven Aboriginal leadership and cultural authority with a deep understanding of Aboriginal knowledge systems, values, and priorities, and the ability to embed these across governance, strategy, and program design.
• Strong connections with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations and communities, with a demonstrated track record of building trusted, authentic, and sustainable partnerships.
• Experience in co-leadership and shared decision-making, particularly in working alongside the Aboriginal Community-Controlled sector to drive systemic change.
• Strategic leadership skills to champion Aboriginal voices, influence policy reform, and advocate for culturally safe, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches across diverse systems and partners.
• Ability to mentor and foster emerging Aboriginal leaders, nurturing intergenerational leadership and building capacity within communities and partner organisations.
• Strong governance and organisational leadership skills, capable of embedding Aboriginal leadership into decision-making structures and ensuring accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and manage funding opportunities to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of Aboriginal leadership within Thriving Families.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to represent Aboriginal perspectives at state, national, and international levels.
• This is an identified position for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The path to Adelaide University

We are on an exciting path to Adelaide University as we prepare to open our doors in January 2026. Adelaide University will combine the strengths of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, and we are dedicated to creating an accessible and future-focused educational powerhouse that fosters economic and social wellbeing through ground-breaking research and innovative teaching. You can learn more about Adelaide University HERE and more information will be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

We offer a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you a vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-caliber people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at: adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences contains one of Australia's largest concentrations of leading health researchers, teachers and clinical titleholders. It's comprised of eight schools and a number of specialist disciplines, institutes and centers, variously focused on world-class research, and training the next generation of: medical doctors; surgeons; dentists; nurses; psychiatrists; psychologists; and other health professionals.

Learn more at: health.adelaide.edu.au    

If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to be taken through to the online application form. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to all of the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, Tuesday 7 October 2025.

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

Interested applicants can contact Jacqueline.aldis@adelaide.edu.au for a position description.

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:

Associate Professor Rhiannon Pilkington
BetterStart Group, School of Public Health
Co-Lead, Thriving Families, University of Adelaide
E: rhiannon.pilkington@adelaide.edu.au 

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application. 

Apply now