Officer - Applications

Job No: FedCourt140

Location: Perth

Closing Date: 22 Jan 2019 AEDT

Registry: National Native Title Tribunal
Section: Applications and Registration Team
Classification: APS4
Salary: $63,794 - $69,264 per annum plus superannuation
Job Type: Ongoing, full-time
Location: Perth, WA
Reports to: Applications and Registration Manager

Overview of Agency
The Federal Court of Australia (the Entity) is a non-Corporate listed entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and a statutory agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999. The Entity supports the operations of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA), Family Court of Australia (FCoA), the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) and the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). The FCA, FCoA and FCC are Chapter III Courts under the Australian Constitution and continue to operate as individual judicial jurisdictions.

Organisational Context
The NNTT is an authority established by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act) which has offices in four Australian States.

The Tribunal comprises a President and members, who are appointed by the Governor General under the Act to make decisions, conduct inquiries, reviews and mediations, and assist various parties with native title applications, and Indigenous Land Use Agreements.

The Tribunal is supported by the Native Title Registrar (Registrar), who together with the President and members, have separate and specific functions and responsibilities to perform under the Act. Staff assisting the Tribunal and the Registrar are employed by the Federal Court of Australia.

Position Overview
The Officer supports Senior Officers and the Applications and Registration Manager in providing assistance to the President and members of the Tribunal and the Registrar in the discharge of their functions and powers under the Act.

The role requires frequent contact with internal and external stakeholders, working effectively as part of a team, displaying the ability to work independently and showing initiative.

As a member of the Applications and Registration Team, the Officer will also be required to continually maintain and share knowledge amongst the team.
The Officer role would suit someone who is comfortable working within statutory and procedural frameworks, enjoys working and communicating with a diverse range of people and has a good eye for detail.

Major Activities

• Support the Applications and Registration Team in the provision of expertise and technical knowledge of Tribunal and Registrar statutory functions.
• Utilise internal databases record accurate information. 
• Undertake tasks as directed by the Applications and Registration Manager, Registration Delegates or Senior Officers. 
• Develop a sound understanding of relevant Commonwealth and State legislation and the NNTT’s statutory obligations under the Act.
• Apply approved records and information management practices in compliance with the NNTT Records & Information Management Policy and Procedures.
• Set priorities and manage competing workloads to ensure quality and timely outputs.
• Assist the Applications and Registration Team in providing decision-making, analysis and written products in support of the President, members and Registrar.
• Work as an effective team member, promoting team cohesion, but also displaying initiative and the ability to work autonomously. 
• Engage with external clients in accordance with the organisation’s stakeholder engagement plan, exhibiting clear communication and a positive image of the NNTT.
• Display an understanding of the NNTT’s corporate governance framework, actively participating in operational planning by supporting and contributing to the achievement of the Corporate Plan and Operational Plan strategies by identifying areas for improvement and innovation, contributing to business improvement strategies and continuous improvement in workplace practices.
• Perform other duties as reasonably required or directed.

Competencies and Attributes
The position requires the following competencies and professional attributes:

• Possess and demonstrate an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Possess and demonstrate an ability to communicate sensitively with and to demonstrate cultural understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify opportunities, identify problems and options for their resolution.
• Possess high-level administrative skills with the ability to accurately record information. 
• Possess good interpersonal skills and the ability to represent the NNTT in a variety of forums displaying discretion, integrity and sensitivity.
• Engage with external clients in accordance with the organisation’s stakeholder engagement plan, exhibiting clear communication and a positive image of the NNTT.
• Display an understanding of the NNTT’s corporate governance framework, actively participating in operational planning.
• Possess the ability to work within a statutory framework including capacity to comprehend and apply the provisions of the Act with appropriate guidance.

Formal Qualifications
Qualifications demonstrating administration, research and communication skills, while not essential, would be an advantage.

Selection Criteria

1. Possessing and demonstrating an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
2. Possessing and demonstrating an ability to communicate sensitively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Knowledge of native title and the Tribunal and Native Title Registrar’s functions, or the ability to quickly acquire this, including the provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and other relevant legislation, policies and procedures. 
4. Proven ability to work under limited supervision, while managing a variety of tasks to achieve work outcomes within agreed timeframes.
5. Demonstrated ability to remain positive and flexible in a changing environment, and to lead and assist team members to adapt.
6. Demonstrated oral and interpersonal communication skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders across all levels and the ability to build and sustain a network of positive working relationships with key people, internally and externally.
7. Demonstrated ability to act impartially and professionally with external clients and parties and operate within the boundaries of organisational processes, constraints and APS values.

Please note: This vacancy is advertised as an ‘identified position’ as both the role and the work of the National Native Title Tribunal have a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Successful applicants are required to have knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (criteria 1 & 2 above).

Successful applicants will be expected to provide a reference from an Indigenous referee, where possible, to confirm they can meet these requirements.

For further information about Identified Positions, see http://www.apsc.gov.au/managing-in-the-aps/indigenous/identified-positions

Eligibility
Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

• Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship;
• Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment;
• Health clearance – the successful applicant may be required to complete a health declaration or attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

How to Apply
To be considered you will need to upload a comprehensive statement of claims against the selection criteria and attach an up to date resume by 11:55pm AEDT on 21 January 2019.

For more information contact Donna Drew, by email Donna. Drew@nntt.gov.au or phone (07) 3307 5021.

Please note once you submit your application you will not be able to edit it.