Associate Dean

Job Description

• Full-time, Ongoing position at Academic Level D or E with three-year leadership position.
• Penrith campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Lead Indigenous leadership and excellence across the Faculty.

Identified Position
This is an identified position and applicants must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Person. Being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational qualification as authorised under Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

Please refer to the Guidelines for Confirmation of Identity for Indigenous Australians for the requirements of this position.

• Click here to view Confirmation of Identity for Indigenous Australian Staff
• Click here to view the Community Confirmation Template
• Click here to view the Statutory Declaration Form

The Opportunity
You will provide strategic academic leadership to advance Indigenous engagement, education, research and success across the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science. Reporting to the Executive Dean, you will work across the Faculty to implement Western Sydney University’s 2026-2030 Indigenous Strategy and embed Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and participation across teaching, research and governance.

You will lead a Faculty-wide approach to Indigenous leadership and excellence across all the Faculty's Schools, bringing strengths together into a coordinated Faculty-wide direction. Working with senior leaders, Indigenous academics, the Division of Indigenous Leadership, Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, community partners, Elders and University stakeholders, you will align strategy, share best practice and support meaningful impact in Indigenous research, curriculum, student partnership, staff development and cultural capability.

As an anchor institution in Greater Western Sydney, Western Sydney University is committed to Indigenous self-determination, cultural integrity and community partnership, creating opportunities for Indigenous peoples to thrive, lead and succeed.

The Division of Indigenous Leadership provides strategic leadership to advance Indigenous excellence across Western Sydney University. The Division leads a broad range of initiatives including the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, the Ignite Indigenous Traineeship Program, Wumarra Indigenous Mentoring Program, Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, and the development of the Indigenous Centre of Excellence.

This position is an ongoing academic appointment, with the Associate Dean (Indigenous) responsibilities held as a 3-year secondment with a workload allocation of either 0.8 FTE (80%) or 0.6 FTE (60%).

What Success Looks Like:

• Lead Faculty-specific strategies that align with the University’s Indigenous Strategy and strengthen Indigenous participation, success and leadership.
• Advance Indigenous-enriched curriculum, student partnership and support in collaboration with Badanami and faculty stakeholders.
• Strengthen Indigenous-led and Indigenous-engaged research, including ethical and respectful partnerships with communities, Elders and organisations.
• Provide cultural leadership that builds cultural safety, responsiveness and Indigenous voice across faculty governance and academic life.
• Monitor and report on key indicators relating to Indigenous education, research, staffing and engagement.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• You hold a doctoral qualification in a relevant discipline and are appointable at Academic Level D or E (refer to position descriptions for details of academic appointment requirements at Level D and Level E).
• You have a proven record of academic leadership and engagement with Indigenous communities, education or research.
• You bring deep understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contemporary issues.
• You have strong experience in curriculum development and/or research that centres Indigenous knowledge systems and perspectives.

Benefits
We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Beyond a rewarding career, we offer a suite of benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and family wellbeing:

• Fitness Passport: Access hundreds of gyms and pools across the state through salary-packaging options.
• Onsite Childcare: Convenient facilities with exclusive staff discounts and salary packaging options.
• Financial Benefits: Salary sacrifice options for onsite parking and novated motor vehicle leasing,
• Holistic Support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with discounted retail and private health cover.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to Professor Brian Falzon, Executive Dean via [email protected]. Please include the job reference code REF1181Y. 
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 13th September 2026.
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of full-time working rights in Australia at application.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered.

To express your interest in the role, please prepare the following application materials:

• A comprehensive academic CV detailing your positions held (with dates), key achievements, education, professional training, qualifications (including dates of completion), and a summary of your research activity and outputs.
• A candidate statement (maximum five pages) outlining your vision for the role, what you hope to accomplish, and how your experience and skills align with the selection criteria.
• Contact details for three referees, including your relationship to each referee and why you have nominated them. Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with you.
• Your earliest possible start date.

Belonging at Western
We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact [email protected].

About Western
This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.

Qualifications

Additional Information