Aboriginal Liaison Officer - Fairfield Hospital
Employment Type: Permanent Part Time, 34 hrs per week (9 day fortnight)
Location: Fairfield Hospital
Position Classification: Aboriginal Health Worker
Remuneration: $31.53 - $45.57 per hour
Requisition ID: REQ558401
Application Close Date: 16/03/2025
Interview Date Range: 19/03/2025 – 26/03/2025
⚫️🟡🔴 In this role being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement, and is authorised by section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1997 (NSW).⚫️🟡🔴
Have you considered a career as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer?
We are looking for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has passion and interest in supporting our Aboriginal Community to feel culturally safe whilst they are receiving healthcare at Fairfield Hospital.
The role is only for those internal staff who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander who are looking for an opportunity to work in a hospital setting or who are looking to try something new!
There is already an existing part-time position of Aboriginal Liaison Officer, which is well established within Fairfield Hospital, Braeside Hospital and Corella Detox Unit. This new ALO role will work closely with the existing ALO as well working with other health staff to ensure the best possible service for patients and their families.
What will you do in your role as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer?
- The ALO role was established to provide emotional, social and cultural support to patients and their families with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health services.
- Advocate and mediate for the rights and responsibilities of Aboriginal patients and staff on issues impacting on the delivery of health services to the Aboriginal Community.
- Advocate for patients to ensure that information is shared and understood in a culturally responsive way.
- Liaise with services/teams/departments to improve and or facilitate the access to services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
- Provide informal cultural education via in-service for mainstream staff.
- To improve and educate on the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification and to improve the cultural safety within the facility.
What will my day look like?
You will be based in the Social Work Department of Fairfield Hospital. Every morning you will run a report which will identify any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individuals who are current inpatients at Fairfield Hospital. You will introduce the role of ALO to these individuals and provide support and assistance as required. Occasionally this may be in the form of joint session with other health clinicians. As part of your intervention, you will assist your patients to link to district wide Aboriginal Health services.
You may also receive referrals from Corella Lodge (inpatient detox unit located next to the hospital) as well referrals for inpatients of Braeside Hospital (which is also next to the Fairfield Hospital). When working with Corella patients, you will be supported by the SWSLHD Aboriginal Drug Health team.
You will attend relevant meetings/ family and work in close collaboration with mainstream health staff.
What supports are in place for you?
If successful, you will undergo a two-week period of orientation and will be buddied up with the existing ALO to assist with taking on any of the above tasks. You will have access to ongoing cultural support and supervision through the Social Work Team and through the Aboriginal Health Unit. Joining SWSLHD will also mean that you will have lots of support and opportunities, including access to our Aboriginal Staff Network, opportunity to attend relevant gatherings and cultural and community events. You will have access to special leave provisions such as NAIDOC day leave and if you choose to undertake studies related to this role you will be supported through your course through study leave.
Get more information:
If you would like more information about the Aboriginal Liaison Officer position with Fairfield Hospital, please contact:
Jolanta Swierczynski Darius Neven
Social Work Manager Project Officer, Aboriginal Health Unit
Ph: 9616 8287 Ph: 9616 8125
How to Apply
To be considered for this position, please ensure you address the below questions as thoroughly as possible. View our application guide for information on how to respond to criteria and improve your application.
- This is an Aboriginal identified role; can you outline your connection to community and how this connection/knowledge will inform the way you work with community in this role?
- Describe your experience delivering health services to Aboriginal clients and families. How have you ensured the specific cultural needs of Aboriginal patients are identified and addressed?
- The ALO works as part of the hospital’s Multidisciplinary Team. How will you ensure the clinicians you work alongside provide culturally responsive care?
- Applicants must possess an Australian C-Class driver's license (including P1 or P2). Those who hold a C class license (P1 or P2 included) from a state other than NSW must obtain a NSW C class (P1 or P2 included) license within three months of appointment. Learner's licenses are not permitted.
Need more information?
1) Click here for the Position Description
2) Find out more about applying for this position
Additional Information
Salary Packaging
South Western Sydney Local Health District employees are able to enjoy the benefits of salary packing. Visit Smart Salary for more details.
Health & Fitness
South Western Sydney Local Health District employees receive discounted Gym Membership/Corporate Wellbeing Programs, including Fitness Passport.
Transforming Your Experience
Transforming Your Experience (TYE) is SWSLHDs key strategy to always positively transform your, our patients, our consumers, our staffs and our communities experiences across our organisation and services. Our vision is that our care is always safe, high quality and personalised and all our staff are supported and empowered to achieve their full potential. SWSLHD upholds the CORE Values – Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment.
To be eligible for permanent appointment to a position in NSW Health, you must have an Australian citizenship or permanent Australian residency.
At South Western Sydney Local Health District we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, where we don’t just accept differences but we honour and support it. Committed to providing a working environment that thrives and values diversity, we encourage people of ⚫️ 🟡 🔴 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ⚫️ 🟡 🔴 background, people with a disability and people from the LGBTQI+ community to apply.
SWSLHD is committed to driving a child safe culture that upholds children and young people’s rights. We strive to ensure children and young people feel safe, supported and included in their care. Existing staff of SWSLHD and those seeking employment are required to take the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people seriously while taking action to keep them safe from harm and abuse.
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