Job Details
| **Job Title:** | Community Cultural Connector |
| **Job Category:** | Community services / mental health and wellbeing |
| **Department/ Group:** | AAFRO Circles Program, in partnership with headspace National |
| **Job Code/ Req#:** | AAFRO-XX-2026-XXX |
| **State:** | Victoria (with a primary focus on Melbourne's western suburbs) |
| **Travel Required:** | XXX |
| **Level/ Salary Range:** | SCHADS Award Level 5; salary packaging up to $15,000 per financial year |
| **Position Type:** | 12-month role, with potential for extension. Project duration depends on funding; delivery methods may change |
| **Contact:** | Jiress Musafiri (General Manager) | jobs@aafro.com.au | M: 0428 338 634 |
| **Date Posted:** | 04/11/2026 |
| **Reports To:** | General Manager |
| **Application Expiry:** | XX/XX/2026 |
About the Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO)
The Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO) exists primarily to build a bridge between children, young people, and families of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, especially those of African descent and the wider Australian community.
Our Vision
All children, young people, and families have access to the opportunities they need to thrive independently and achieve their full potential.
Our Mission
To promote social justice by becoming a trusted hub of children, young people, and family services, providing specialist support and leadership to ensure African and multicultural communities feel trusted, welcomed, and understood.
AAFRO Values
Safety: We create safety
Culture: We are cultural champions
Empathy: We act with empathy and understanding
Leadership: We demonstrate truthful, courageous leadership
Transparency: We tell you what we can and can’t do
Advocacy: We advocate for those we work with and the community
Child Safety
AAFRO is a child-safe organisation, and we have zero tolerance for all forms of abuse and neglect towards all children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse children, and children with disabilities. Our organisation is committed to ensuring Aboriginal children and their families can express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.
AAFRO Model of Care
The AAFRO Model of Care is grounded in community restorative and healing practices, drawing from a variety of traditional justice systems that emphasise collectivism over individualism. These include Indigenous justice circles, the African philosophy of Ubuntu, and contemporary restorative justice approaches. Moreover, AAFRO’s Model of Care philosophy is built on the principles of shared humanity and traditional moral values such as respect, integrity, togetherness, compassion, fairness, and dignity. This Model of Care is used in programs that are designed to address community-wide issues such as early intervention for children and young people, education support, family engagement, unemployment, crime prevention, community safety, wellbeing, social justice and cultural training. It works with individuals and groups to help them reach their full potential while remaining connected to their community, including taking full responsibility for their actions. It supports the restoration of family relationships, assists incarcerated individuals to reintegrate into their communities, promotes women’s empowerment and fosters community harmony.
About headspace
headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing early intervention mental health and wellbeing services to young people aged 12-25.
Each year, headspace helps thousands of young people access vital support through headspace centres in communities across Australia, online and phone counselling services, vocational services, and a presence in schools. headspace helps young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.
The headspace Multicultural Practice Team aims to:
Build a culturally responsive workplace to better support multicultural staff, young people and their families and communities.
Strengthen the skills and capacity of the headspace centre workforce to meet the needs of multicultural young people, their families and communities.
Background: AAFRO Circle Community Cultural Connector Role — headspace
AAFRO is seeking a Community Cultural Connector in partnership with headspace National. The aim is to support young African people and families by bridging community knowledge with mental health and wellbeing practice and embedding cultural perspectives into everyday service delivery.
The Community Cultural Connector role sits within the AAFRO Circles Program. The AAFRO Circles are a central hub for a range of programs offering wrap-around and culturally responsive support for children, young people, and families, including those involved in the justice system, to reach their full potential. The Circles promote peace and coexistence. The Community Cultural Connector will work within the AAFRO Model of Care.
The AAFRO Circle Community Cultural Connector role is for 12 months, with potential for extension. The project duration is dependent on funding, and the method of delivery may change from time to time. The Community Cultural Connector is required to adapt to these changes as they arise.
The role will work closely with the headspace National Multicultural Practice Team to lead and advance headspace engagement with African communities and strengthen cultural safety and inclusion practices.
The key benefits of the role include classification at Level 5 under the SCHADS Award and salary packaging of up to $15,000 per financial year.
Role Overview
The AAFRO Circle Community Cultural Connector role is a unique interlink position jointly embedded within the Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO) and headspace National. The role is designed to help bridge the gap between African Australian communities and headspace services. It will strengthen cultural understanding of the needs of young Africans and their families who require mental health and wellbeing support.
Working closely with two headspace centres, the role will work at the intersection of community and services, supporting young people and families to engage meaningfully with mental health and wellbeing services in ways that are culturally reflective and informed.
A key function of the role is to actively contribute to building strong, sustainable relationships among services, community members, and individuals who directly engage with young people from African backgrounds through culturally responsive methods using the AAFRO framework and ways of working.
The position will be employed and managed by AAFRO and will report to AAFRO Managers for employment matters, cultural governance, professional development, performance and alignment with AAFRO’s values and community frameworks. The position will also report to the headspace National Manager of Clinical Practice - Multicultural & Family Inclusion for coordination of its work within headspace.
The headspace National Manager will coordinate tasks and priorities in collaboration with senior headspace centre staff. Senior centre staff will provide day-to-day operational supervision and support the position to meet local centre operational requirements. These arrangements do not replace AAFRO’s responsibility for employment management and cultural governance.
The role will work closely with AAFRO Managers to support embedding a cultural way of working with African young people, families, and the wider community within the headspace setting. This will help to strengthen service accessibility, trust, and outcomes for African young people and families.
Key Responsibilities
Act as a key representative and link between African Australian young people, families, and communities, AAFRO, and headspace
Engage and provide support for young people and families accessing mental health services using the AAFRO Model of Care and a culturally responsive way of working with African Australians.
Provide cultural support to headspace Clinicians and staff when needed.
Strengthen relationships between the African Australian community and headspace mental health services and enhance cultural safety and inclusion practices at headspace.
Actively build partnerships with other service providers and stakeholders.
Conduct outreach and group activities, and promote headspace programs to families, young people, and the wider community.
At the end of the pilot, prepare and present key insights and learnings, with support from AAFRO and headspace National, to inform recommendations in ways to strengthen engagement with African young people and family, arising from the pilot.
Management & Reporting
Employed and line managed by AAFRO, with reporting to AAFRO Managers for employment matters, professional development and performance.
Reports to the headspace National Manager of Clinical Practice — Multicultural & Family Inclusion for coordination of headspace tasks and priorities, in collaboration with senior centre staff.
Reports to senior headspace centre staff for day-to-day operational supervision and local centre operational requirements.
AAFRO retains responsibility for cultural governance and alignment with its values and community frameworks. headspace coordination and operational supervision do not replace AAFRO’s employment management responsibilities.
About You
Strong understanding of African Australian communities and the barriers they face when accessing mental health and counselling support services.
Have professional experience in mental health (e.g. counselling, youth work, family support or a related field).
Strong community engagement skills and ability to conduct group activity sessions with young people and families.
Ability to create and build safe spaces that are culturally responsive to all African Australian young people and their families
Be able to provide cultural support to staff and volunteers when needed.
Have a good understanding of therapeutic approaches when engaging with vulnerable African Australian young people and their families.
Commitment to culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.
Be able to work independently and professionally when representing the partnership between AAFRO and headspace.
Have strong written and spoken communication skills in the English language, including a high level of case note recording skills.
Be able to prepare and present written updates or reports to leadership when needed.
Be flexible in the role, especially when adjustments are made or needed to meet the needs of participants or clients, AAFRO and headspace.
Be a collaborative team member.
Communication
Be able to communicate clearly and respectfully with colleagues, young people, families and partners both verbally and in writing, in all circumstances, including when issues arise.
Work Ethic
Model’s behaviours consistent with AAFRO’s values and mission, particularly those aligned with the AAFRO Model of Care philosophy.
Demonstrates headspace’s values of inclusion, collaboration, agility and excellence by respecting different perspectives, working in partnership, adapting to young people’s needs and contributing to high-quality support for young people and families.
Actively promotes, encourages, and demonstrates a strong participant-focused ethic.
Contributes ideas and works collaboratively with the broader AAFRO and headspace team.
Supports AAFRO’s and headspace's vision and direction in all communications.
Embraces change positively and professionally.
Respects and values diversity in all interactions.
Ensures compliance with relevant statutory requirements.
Discloses all current and potential conflicts of interest.
Complies with AAFRO’s and headspace’s Statements of Commitment and Child Safe policies.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
A tertiary qualification in social work, community services, mental health, psychology, youth and family services, or a related discipline.
Experience in providing culturally appropriate wellbeing support.
Experience in and knowledge of developing and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders and consultants.
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with both clinical and non-clinical professionals.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a productive team member.
Desirable
Understanding of, or experience working with, CALD communities, especially those of African Australian background.
Experience in the not-for-profit and/or public health sector.
Knowledge and understanding of current health/mental health policy issues in Australia, including their impact on service system reform and the establishment of integrated and coordinated service delivery.
Mandatory Requirements
Current National Police Check — agree to AAFRO and headspace conducting a National Police Check through the Australian National Character Check (ANCC).
Working with Children Check.
Valid driver’s licence.
Work Right
You are required to have the right to work in Australia to be considered for this role.
Please email your application to jobs@aafro.com.au