Media and Campaigns Advisor

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Overview

Gellung Warl – meaning ‘tip of the spear’ in Gunaikurnai language – is a First Peoples’ representative and deliberative body, underpinned by Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority. 

Gellung Warl is established as a statutory corporation under the Treaty Act. It is made up of three arms that work together:  

• the First Peoples’ Assembly, the political decision-making arm 
• Nginma Ngainga Wara, an independent government oversight and accountability arm and
• Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna, an independent mechanism for ongoing truth-telling. 

Gellung Warl is guided by the Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (Community Vision) and is answerable to Community through the Larbargirrar Gnuurtak Tulkuuk (Community Governance and Answerability Framework), which sets out how Gellung Warl engages with and is answerable to First Peoples in Victoria.

Gellung Warl’s underlying purpose is to promote collective self-government, self-determination and empowerment of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, including:

• representing First Peoples in Victoria and exercising decision making powers in relation to First Peoples in Victoria
• representing First Peoples in Statewide Treaty negotiations with the State, including undertaking ongoing Statewide Treaty negotiations, and supporting Traditional Owner treatymaking
• providing for ongoing truth-telling and healing
• advising the Parliament and the State government in relation to matters that affect First Peoples and holding the State government to account in relation to its commitments to, and the impact of its actions on, First Peoples.

Walk with us and make history!

The role

The purpose of this role is to generate and manage media coverage and campaign communications that advance Gellung Warl’s organisational priorities, public messaging and Treaty outcomes. The role supports the effective delivery of media and campaign activity by developing media materials, monitoring and responding to news, supporting Co-Chairs and Members in public appearances, and contributing to broader communications outputs that build public awareness and support for Treaty.

This role requires the ability to navigate a complex and politically sensitive environment, ensuring media engagement, messaging, campaign communications and public content uphold Gellung Warl’s cultural authority, priorities and values while maintaining constructive relationships with colleagues, Traditional Owners, communities, stakeholders, journalists and relevant internal and external partners.

As part of the Campaigns & Communications function, the Media & Campaigns Advisor provides practical and strategic support across earned media, media monitoring, public messaging, briefing preparation, social media and supporter communications, working closely with the Campaigns & Communications Manager and relevant internal stakeholders to ensure campaign and media activity is timely, coordinated and aligned with organisational priorities. The role helps ensure Gellung Warl’s public narrative, campaign work and media presence are delivered in support of broader organisational and Treaty objectives.

Key duties

• Work with the Campaigns & Communications Manager to develop and deliver Gellung Warl’s earned media strategy.  
• Monitor the media and prepare short media summaries for staff and Assembly Members.  
• Write media releases, proactive pitches and reactive responses to news, events and media requests.  
• Support Co-Chairs and Assembly Members to speak with and appear in media, including preparation of briefs, key messages, talking points and media support materials.  
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists across Victorian, federal and First Nations media, maintain media lists and administer distribution tools.  
• Support the broader Campaigns & Communications team in other duties as required, including creating social media content, speech writing, copy writing, posting content to the website, preparing email communications and maintaining CRM records.  
• Assist to develop messaging strategies and creative tactics to generate public awareness and support for Treaty, including enrolment.  
• Contribute to campaign and promotional activities that strengthen public engagement and support organisational priorities.  
• Track media activity and provide timely reporting on coverage, emerging issues and progress against agreed priorities.  
• Support mitigation of negative coverage through timely, strategic and values-aligned responses.
• Undertake other miscellaneous communications and promotional duties consistent with the role’s classification and purpose, as directed.  
• Promote and support the achievement of Gellung Warl’s core values and contribute positively to its reputation through high-quality media and campaign communications practice.
• Undertake other duties consistent with the role’s classification and purpose as directed.

Required skills and experience

Skills, Competencies & Knowledge

• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to adapt writing across different platforms, audiences and objectives.  
• In-depth understanding of news media.  
• Skilled at navigating contested or politically sensitive spaces with nuanced but strategic messaging.  
• Ability to multitask across a range of projects and events and maintain momentum.  
• Highly competent with web and email publishing applications and backend administration tools.  
• Skilled in the use of web-based content platforms such as WordPress, Campaign Monitor or SurveyMonkey.  
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with journalists, producers and internal stakeholders.  
• Demonstrated skill and capacity to work effectively and with integrity in the context of a Victorian First Peoples’ Representative Body.

Experience & Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience writing copy for speeches, reports, media releases, web pages, eDMs and a range of communications and marketing collateral.  
• Demonstrated experience managing the production of various communication products.  
• Experience in the creation and publishing of content for websites and other digital tools.  
• Experience in media relations, media monitoring, journalist liaison or reactive and proactive media work is highly desirable.  
• Experience supporting public messaging, campaign communications or supporter engagement activity is desirable.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of Aboriginal communities and organisations within Victoria.  
• Demonstrated skill and capacity to work effectively and with integrity in the context of a Victorian First Peoples’ Representative Body.  
• Degree qualified, or equivalent experience.
• As part of our commitment to child safety and in line with the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic), all roles within Gellung Warl require a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• Current full Victorian Driver Licence.

Salary and terms

Ongoing

Salary from $113,022 per annum (full-time equivalent) plus superannuation, based on experience and expertise.

Location

This role extends its reach across the Melbourne region with some regional travel as required. 

How to apply

If you are ready to take on a challenging role and make a significant impact, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any other supporting documents to [email protected] or follow the prompts to Apply Now!  

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Note that interviews may commence prior to application close dates as suitable applications come through so job may be filled before close date. 

Applications close:  3 June 2026