Senior Policy Officer – Aboriginal Homelessness Reform - Identified Position

Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is the largest Aboriginal community housing provider in Australia.

Managing more than 1600 properties with over 4,500 tenants, our vision is to secure appropriate and

affordable housing as a pathway to better lives and stronger communities for Aboriginal Victorians.

Aboriginal Housing Victoria is the lead agency for the implementation of Mana-na woorn-tyeen maartakoort: the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework (VAHHF). Developed in 2019 in

response to the crisis in housing insecurity and homelessness in the Victorian Aboriginal community,

Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort provides a roadmap to a future in which every Aboriginal person in

Victoria has a home. The framework sets out to achieve this vision through five key strategic objectives:

1. Securing housing to improve life outcomes
2. Building supply to meet the needs of a growing Aboriginal population.
3. Opening Doors to home ownership and private rental
4. An Aboriginal focused homeless service system
5. A capable System that delivers Aboriginal housing needs

• Work Type/s: full time, 12 month contract
• Location: Based in Melbourne (Fitzroy North)
• Applications close: 6 June 2025

This role is open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates. 

The Aboriginal Homelessness Reform team works with the implementation team for Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort at Aboriginal Housing Victoria. In line with objective four, it works to develop an Aboriginal focused homelessness service system. With nearly one in four Aboriginal Victorians accessing specialist homelessness services over 12 months in the last reporting period, the Aboriginal Homelessness Reform team is focused on aggressively reducing Aboriginal homelessness and developing a specialist homelessness service system that is culturally safe and meets the unique and specific needs of the Aboriginal community.

The Senior Policy Officer provides high level policy, advocacy and secretariat support to the Blueprint Steering Committee and Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) on matters relating to Aboriginal homelessness reform in Victoria.

Key attributes and skills required for the role include:

• Expert knowledge and a lived experience of Victorian Aboriginal societies and cultures and an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal people in contemporary Victoria including the diversity of circumstances of Aboriginal people
• Demonstrated understanding of the social, economic, and political factors affecting housing and homelessness.
• An understanding of the historical and contemporary impacts of homelessness and housing exclusion on and in Aboriginal communities. Specific experience in the Victorian context is preferred.
• An understanding of the role that ACCOs and TOs play in the Victorian Aboriginal community. Experience in policy analysis and development, as well as strategic advocacy initiatives.
• Experience developing and utilising policy frameworks to deliver outcomes that drive systemic change and influence public policy
• Strong organisational skills and an ability to work on multiple tasks, manage competing priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly ACCOs and TOs.
• Demonstrate experience in building and maintaining relationships within the Aboriginal community- controlled sector, government, industry, and community organisations.

This role is open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates. 

This position will be based in our Fitzroy North office.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria in the attached position description (also available at https://ahvic.org.au/about/ahv-careers) by COB 6 June 2025.    

Applications should be sent to jobs@ahvic.org.au using the subject line: Senior Policy Officer

Please direct inquiries about the position to Tim on 0460 880 030.