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 Position
The Director Finance and Operations (DFO) is a member of the Executive Management Team and is responsible for managing and overseeing the shared support services and finance of the MJDF. The role contributes to, and delivers on, the strategic vision of the MJDF in terms of its financial wellbeing and the provision of resources and services to achieve these outcomes. At an operational level, the DFO reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The DFO is responsible for operational and shared support functions, such as financial management, facilities management and human resource management. Additionally, they play a key role in contributing to the MJDF’s strategic direction and goals as part of the Executive Management Team (EMT), which includes the CEO, Director of Research, Education & Clinical Services and the Director of Community Services.
The DFO will provide direct support to the CEO regarding strategic, operational and financial planning and reporting; stakeholder management; Board and subcommittee reporting and risk management (including incident reporting). The DFO plays a key role leading the service-oriented Operations team to provide facilities, fleet- and administration support across the MJD Foundation.
Please have a look at the position description here. For more information you can contact Jacquie Hatt, Acting CEO, via jacquie.hatt@mjd.org.au or 0499 213 350.
If you have the knowledge and experience we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please submit your CV and a statement (max 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria by Sunday 6 October 2024. You can submit your application here. Applications that don’t address the selection criteria will not be considered.
The Director, Community Services will report to the CEO and lead a multidisciplinary team that supports individuals and their families living with MJD by providing holistic person-centered supports. MJDF works in a relationship-based approach that honours Our Way. ‘Our Way’ values and respects a ‘two-way’ approach which partners Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff to deliver supports that are flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, and reflect the diverse cultural and first language needs of families.
As a key member of the MJDF’s Executive Management Team, you will provide leadership, strategic input, management, oversight and direction to the Community Services and NDIS teams and liaise with other senior staff members.
Please have a look at the position description here. For more information you can contact Jacquie Hatt, Acting CEO, via jacquie.hatt@mjd.org.au or 0499 213 350.
If you have the knowledge and experience we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please apply here with your resume and cover letter. Applications that don’t address the selection criteria will not be considered.
The MJD Foundation has recently established a dedicated therapy program, supporting people living with MJD in the NT access specialist multidisciplinary allied health care. We are an Aboriginal organization, providing flexible and culturally responsive care based on a strong foundation of enduring relationships. We aim to provide families living with MJD specialist care and support, working together to stay stronger for longer.
A central part of the vision of the program is working in partnership with MJDF clients and Aboriginal Community Worker staff to explore opportunities to learn from each other, integrating evidence-based, best practice approaches to rehabilitation with traditional therapies, knowledge and values to work towards clients’ goals.
The Therapy Program Manager provides strategic input, management, oversight and direction for the MJDF’s Therapy program and leadership and guidance to the Therapy Team, in addition to providing a limited amount of clinical support to a small case load of clients. The Therapy Program Manager will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with the broader clinical services team to contribute to the delivery of Ataxia Clinic and support the delivery of key research projects. The position is part of the Management team of the MJDF and incorporates teamwork alongside other senior staff of the MJDF.
Please have a look at the position description here. For more information you can contact Libby Massey, Director Research, Clinical Services & Education, via libby.massey@mjd.org.au or 0417 279 120.
If you have the knowledge and experience we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please apply here with your CV and cover letter addressing the selection criteria. Applications that don’t address the selection criteria will not be considered. We will start interviewing applicant as they apply for the role.
The MJD Foundation has embarked on an exciting journey establishing a dedicated therapy program that supports people living with MJD in the NT access specialist multidisciplinary allied health care. Our vision is that in partnership with families living with MJD and SCA7, the therapy team will work towards providing specialist knowledge and therapeutic supports so that people living with MJD and SCA7 can live stronger for longer and have a hopeful future. We acknowledge the resilience and strength of families living with MJD and SCA7. Our clients are experts in MJD and SCA7 and continue to teach us about their lived experience. We will work in ‘Our way’ – side by side, learning from each other, building our knowledge about best practice based on shared experiences, cultural preferences, personal preferences and robust research. We will use and share this knowledge to provide innovative, flexible, strength based, best practice therapeutic care – growing in capacity together as we support each other to stay strong on the inside and outside.
The Physiotherapist role is an exciting opportunity for a clinician with experience in delivering therapeutic care to clients living with neurological conditions. We are looking for someone who is keen to challenge themselves, learn, is open minded and keen to share their knowledge and experience with others. As the sole Physiotherapist within the therapy team, you will provide leadership and work as a member of the multidisciplinary team to design, deliver and evaluate strength based, evidence informed, holistic, person-centered therapeutic programs. In addition, the role will provide support to the senior management team across core activities of the MJD Foundation (Education, Advocacy, Research, Clinical and Community Services).
You will have the opportunity to work in partnership with Aboriginal Community Specialist staff members, families and carers to help clients living with MJD. The therapy program will deliver support honoring the ‘Our Way’ approach; enabling our clients to be the effective drivers of our service, with their needs and priorities reflected in the programs developed and the way that they are implemented.
This position is based in Darwin and will require travel to remote communities.
Some of our team were recently interviewed for a co-design article, please have a look here if this sparks your interest: APA | Co-design for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare and research (australian.physio)
For more information have a look at the position description here or contact Libby Massey, Director Research, Education & Clinical Services at libby.massey@mjd.org.au or 0417 279 120.
If you have the knowledge and experience we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the selection criteria here.
The Community Services Specialist (CSS) will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that responds to the health and disability needs of our clients and their families by delivering holistic person-centered care in partnership with families living with MJD. A central part of the vision of the program is working in partnership with MJDF clients and Aboriginal Community Worker staff to explore opportunities to learn from each other, integrating biomedical knowledge of rehabilitation with traditional therapies, knowledge and values to work towards clients’ goals. We are recruiting for a fulltime Community Services Specialist to join our Community Services team in Darwin.
The CSS will coordinate, provide, and facilitate access to health and disability care services and support to families including assessing client, family and carer needs; planning and prioritizing interventions, providing information and referral; group work; liaising with and providing access and engagement with community groups, welfare agencies, and government bodies.
The role is greatly varied in its day to day tasks and provides hands on support to MJD clients and their families. (Complex) Case management and assistance navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a large part of the role.
In addition, the role will provide support to the senior management team across all core activities of the MJD Foundation (Clinical Services, Education, Advocacy, Research and Community Services).
Please find the position description here. For more information you can contact Kylie Jackson, Manager Community Services Team, at kylie.jackson@mjd.org.au or 0499 330 207.
If you have the knowledge and experience we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to vanessa.schuurman@mjd.org.au.
info@mjd.org.au
1300 584 122
ABN: 65 159 208 867
MJD Foundation
DARWIN
PO Box 1745
Nightcliff NT 0814
GROOTE EYLANDT
PO Box 85
Alyangula NT 0885
CAIRNS
PO Box 606
North Cairns QLD 4870
MJDF acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.
