Join Our Mission
Employment at AAEF
Be part of a national movement creating real, lasting change for Aboriginal Australians through enterprise, culture, and community.
Current Status
Positions Opening as Funding Milestones Are Reached
AAEF's employment network will be built in stages, beginning with our first facilities in Queensland and Victoria.
Initial positions in QLD and VIC will be filled from the general public — these are the founding staff who will establish, build, and operate AAEF's first retreats before any program has run.
Once retreats are open and programs are underway, AAEF will select capable participants from within those programs to fill roles on-site. As each new retreat opens across Australia, the same model applies — growing the employed workforce facility by facility until all retreats are operational.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those with a passion for community-led enterprise, to register their expression of interest now.
How It Works
Two Pathways Into AAEF Employment
General Public Recruitment
Before retreats open, founding positions in QLD and VIC are advertised to the general public. These staff establish and operate AAEF's first facilities, laying the foundation for everything that follows.
Program to Placement
Participants from other states complete the AAEF program at there own state then go to our QLD or VIC facilities. Those who demonstrate capability and are selected will be placed into roles as AAEF expands its national network.
Future Opportunities
The Kinds of Roles We Will Be Hiring For
Beginning in QLD and VIC, and expanding retreat by retreat across Australia, AAEF will hire across the following areas at each facility as it opens.
Life Skills Facilitators
Delivering AAEF's core life skills programs to Aboriginal adults at retreat facilities. Cultural knowledge and lived experience highly valued.
Retreat & Facility Management
Managing the day-to-day operations of AAEF Life Skills Retreats, Safety Houses, and Business Houses — including staff coordination, logistics, and community liaison.
Construction & Trades
Hemp construction, solar installation, rainwater systems, and general building trades for new AAEF facilities and eco-conversion of existing structures.
Administration & Finance
Supporting AAEF's operations, governance, reporting, and financial management from the Head Office and state-based teams.
Community Outreach & Engagement
Building relationships with Aboriginal communities, local organisations, and government bodies to support AAEF's reach and impact.
Health & Wellbeing Support
Providing culturally safe wellbeing support to retreat participants, including mental health, trauma-informed care, and referral pathways.
Executive & Leadership
Senior leadership roles including State Directors, Program Executives, and C-suite positions to guide AAEF's national strategy, partnerships, and organisational growth.
Our Commitment
Our Employment Values
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for all positions.
We value lived experience, cultural knowledge, and community connection alongside formal qualifications.
Founding staff in QLD and VIC are recruited from the general public — they are the people who will build and open AAEF's first retreats.
Once retreats are open, participants who demonstrate capability through the program are selected and placed into roles on-site — employment that grows from within the community AAEF serves.
AAEF is committed to fair pay, safe working conditions, and genuine career development for all staff.
The Bigger Picture
Employment That Reaches Beyond AAEF
AAEF's employment impact doesn't stop at our own facilities. The Business House pathway is designed to send graduates out into the broader economy — as business owners, employers, and contributors to their communities.
Within AAEF
Program graduates who demonstrate capability are selected, trained, and placed into roles at AAEF retreats — from facilitators and facility managers to outreach workers and health support staff. Employment that grows from within the community we serve.
Into the General Economy
Business House graduates leave AAEF as micro-business owners and self-employed operators. Many go on to employ others in their communities — creating jobs, building local supply chains, and contributing to the broader Australian economy.
The Business House is not just a training program — it is a launchpad. Every graduate who starts a business or enters employment represents a direct reduction in welfare dependency and a direct increase in community economic strength.
For employers
Partner With AAEF to Employ Our Graduates
AAEF graduates leave the program with First Aid, CPR, and White Card certifications, practical life skills, and a genuine commitment to work. If your organisation is looking to hire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are work-ready and supported, we want to hear from you.
Register Now
Submit Your Expression of Interest
Tell us about yourself, your state or territory, and the kinds of roles you are interested in. Whether you are interested in a founding position in QLD or VIC, or in future opportunities as retreats open across Australia, we want to hear from you.
Send your expression of interest to
info@aaef.org.auInclude your name, state or territory, areas of interest, and a brief summary of your background. We will be in touch as positions and program intakes become available.
Be the First to Know
Follow AAEF on social media and check back here regularly as new retreat openings and employment opportunities are announced.