The MJD Foundation partners with and supports Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families living with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7) to live fulfilling and rewarding lives. We provide specialist supports, engage in research and provide hope for the future. We have staff working for us from a variety of locations, for example in Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Groote Eylandt, Ngukurr and Alice Springs.
How we work
‘Our Way’ is a self-determination approach based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of experiencing the world and preferred practices. These include the centrality of family and kinship
relationships, as well as prioritising collective decision-making and place-based responses. To deliver health and disability services effectively in a non-dominant culture displaced for centuries, we find it is critical to prioritise and genuinely value the cultural and social issues that may constitute barriers to accessing these services. This requires a ‘two-way’ approach, where staff members from different cultures (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) work side-by-side and learn from each other, partnering and sharing skills and knowledge to develop solutions tailored to meet the needs of people living with MJD and SCA7 and minimising workforce power imbalances.
Do you want to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal families living with Machado Joseph disease or SCA7?
It is important that you demonstrate that you are self-motivated and that you will take key tasks through to completion. You will have strong interpersonal skills, work well in a team environment and you have the ability to interact effectively and in a culturally appropriate manner. You will build close relationships with inspiring clients and their families. The expertise that you bring to the role may be varied, including skills that you have developed in your previous roles, your life experience as a member of the community and a user of the service system.
What we offer
Vacancies
The MJD Foundation partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families living with Machado-Joseph Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. Our mission is simple but profound: to help families stay stronger for longer.
What makes us different is Our Way — a model built on trust, family, respect and teamwork, combining best practice Western knowledge with Aboriginal cultural knowledge. We walk alongside families, supporting them with specialist services while ensuring community voices, cultural practices and family priorities lead the way.
This Support Coordinator role sits within MJDF’s NDIS coordination and planning function and plays an important role in helping families access, use and review their NDIS plans.
The role has a strong focus on internal coordination, documentation and NDIA processes. You will work closely with the Community Services Team and Therapy Team to gather participant information, assessments and evidence, and help translate this into clear documentation to support plan reviews, Change of Circumstances requests and other NDIS planning processes.
Participant engagement, where required, is purposeful and targeted. Ongoing relationships with families are led by the Community Services Team, with this role providing support to strengthen planning, coordination, follow-up and documentation behind the scenes.
We are open to considering the right person on a full-time, part-time, fixed-term or casual basis, depending on experience, availability and organisational needs.
How to apply
To view the full position description, please see here – PD – NDIS Support Coordinator 2025 (2)
For more information, contact Tiarna Coogan, HR Lead at Hr@mjd.org.au or alternatively, call for a confidential conversation on 0417478277.
Please submit your CV and a statement (max 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria by Saturday 28th February 2026 5PM (ACST). Applications that don’t address the selection criteria will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as received and the position may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
The MJD Foundation partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families living with Machado-Joseph Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. Our mission is simple but profound: to help families stay stronger for longer.
Through our dedicated Therapy Program, we support people living with MJD in the Northern Territory to access specialist, multidisciplinary allied health care. We also provide advice and occasional support to families living with MJD and SCA7 in Far North Queensland through annual clinics.
What makes our work different is Our Way — a model built on trust, family, respect and teamwork. We bring together best practice Western clinical knowledge with Aboriginal cultural knowledge, traditional therapies, values and family priorities.
A central part of this role is working in partnership with Aboriginal Community Workers, Cultural Advisors, clients and families to learn from each other and support meaningful, strength-based outcomes.
We are looking for a Physiotherapist to join our Therapy Program in a flexible capacity of approximately 10–20 hours per week.
We are open to discussing part-time, fixed-term or casual arrangements depending on your availability, experience and what works best for the program. This could suit someone looking for meaningful part-time work, someone returning to practice, someone wanting flexibility around family or other commitments, or someone with strong clinical experience who wants to contribute to a unique and values-led program.
As the Physiotherapist, you will work as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team to design, deliver and evaluate evidence-informed, holistic therapy programs and assessments for people living with MJD and SCA7.
You will help clients maintain function, build strength, work towards their goals and access the right supports through their NDIS plans. You will also contribute to education and capacity-building with families, community workers and professional care teams to improve the quality of care people receive.
You are a physiotherapist who wants your work to mean something.
You are self-motivated, practical and relationship-focused. You can work independently, but you also enjoy being part of a supportive team that shares knowledge, checks in and works together around client and family priorities.
You do not need to know everything about MJD or SCA7 before you start — we can support you to learn. What matters is that you bring strong clinical judgment, curiosity, humility and a genuine commitment to working respectfully with Aboriginal families, communities and colleagues.
You will have strong communication skills, good documentation habits and the ability to build trust with clients, families, team members and external providers.
To view the full position description, please see here: Physiotherapist
For more information, please contact Tiarna Coogan, HR Lead, at hr@mjd.org.au or call 0417 478 277 for a confidential conversation.
Please submit your resume and a short cover letter addressing the selection criteria to hr@mjd.org.au.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
The MJD Foundation values diversity and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.
The MJD Foundation partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families living with Machado-Joseph Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. Our mission is simple but profound: to help families stay stronger for longer.
Through our dedicated Therapy Program, we support people living with MJD in the Northern Territory to access specialist, multidisciplinary allied health care. We also provide advice and occasional support to families living with MJD and SCA7 in Far North Queensland through annual clinics.
What makes our work different is Our Way — a model built on trust, family, respect and teamwork. We bring together best practice Western clinical knowledge with Aboriginal cultural knowledge, traditional therapies, values and family priorities.
A central part of this role is working in partnership with MJDF clients, families, Aboriginal Community Workers and Cultural Advisors to learn from each other and support meaningful, strengths-based outcomes.
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist to join our Therapy Program in a flexible, Darwin-based capacity.
We are ideally looking for someone to join us on a part-time basis, but we are open to discussing flexible arrangements with the right person, including full-time or casual options depending on your availability, experience and what works best for the program.
This could suit someone looking for meaningful part-time work, someone wanting flexibility around family or other commitments, or someone with strong clinical experience who wants to contribute to a unique and values-led program.
As the Occupational Therapist, you will work as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team to design, deliver and evaluate strengths-based, evidence-informed and holistic therapy programs and assessments for people living with MJD and SCA7.
You will help clients maintain independence, function, participation, safety and quality of life. You will also support NDIS plan development and delivery through therapy input, functional assessments, assistive technology recommendations, clinical justification and documentation.
Provide occupational therapy assessment, intervention, review and advice for clients living with MJD and SCA7.
Develop strengths-based, evidence-informed therapy programs that support client goals, independence, function, participation, safety and quality of life.
Prescribe and support access to assistive technology and equipment, including mobility and functional supports.
Work alongside Aboriginal Community Workers, Cultural Advisors, families and multidisciplinary team members in line with MJDF’s Our Way approach.
Support NDIS plan development and delivery through therapy input, reporting and rigorous clinical justification.
Produce clear, high-quality documentation to support clients to access the equipment, therapy and supports they need.
Facilitate meaningful and enjoyable activities that enhance quality of life and independent function.
Build strong relationships with MJDF clients, families, colleagues and external providers.
Contribute to education, training, resource development and capacity-building with families, support workers and professional care teams.
Support flexible, culturally responsive service delivery across urban, regional and remote settings.
Travel to remote communities where required, by light aircraft or 4WD.
You are an Occupational Therapist who wants your work to mean something.
You are self-motivated, practical and relationship-focused. You can work independently, but you also enjoy being part of a supportive team that shares knowledge, checks in and works together around client and family priorities.
You do not need to know everything about MJD or SCA7 before you start — we can support you to learn. What matters is that you bring strong clinical judgment, curiosity, humility and a genuine commitment to working respectfully with Aboriginal families, communities and colleagues.
You will have strong communication skills, good documentation habits and the ability to build trust with clients, families, team members and external providers.
Tertiary qualifications in Occupational Therapy and current registration with AHPRA.
Minimum three years’ experience working as a qualified therapist.
Experience in the prescription of assistive technology, ideally including wheelchairs.
Ability to independently apply professional knowledge and judgment in complex or unfamiliar situations.
Commitment to person-centred, family-centred and culturally responsive practice.
Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective.
Ability to work respectfully with Aboriginal families, communities, Aboriginal Community Workers and Cultural Advisors.
Strong communication, documentation and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Willingness to contribute to NDIS-related documentation, therapy planning, reporting and clinical justification.
Willingness to travel to remote NT and QLD communities by light aircraft or 4WD where required.
Understanding of Machado-Joseph Disease and/or other spinocerebellar ataxias.
Clinical experience in neurological and/or rehabilitation settings.
Knowledge of and/or experience working with the NDIS.
Experience working in remote communities and/or Aboriginal community-controlled or culturally responsive services.
Working knowledge of NT Government and/or NGO services and facilities.
Experience delivering education, training, resource development or capacity-building to families, support workers or care teams.
Good computer skills and confidence using a range of systems.
Flexible Darwin-based role.
Part-time preferred, with full-time or casual arrangements considered for the right person.
Work in a role where your clinical skills directly support families living with MJD and SCA7.
Be part of a close-knit team who genuinely care about each other and the families we serve.
Learn from and work alongside Aboriginal Community Workers and Cultural Advisors.
Contribute to a unique Therapy Program that brings together clinical practice, cultural knowledge, education, advocacy and research.
Ongoing training and development.
Salary packaging benefits may be available for eligible employees.
Opportunity to travel to remote communities where relevant to the role.
To view the full position description, please see here: Occupational Therapist
For more information, please contact Tiarna Coogan, HR Lead, at hr@mjd.org.au or call 0417 478 277 for a confidential conversation.
Please submit your resume and a short cover letter addressing the selection criteria to hr@mjd.org.au.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
The MJD Foundation values diversity and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.
