Mary MacKillop Today walks alongside communities experiencing injustice and poverty to create lasting, locally led change. Inspired by the courage and compassion of Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop, we believe that hope is not passive, it is something we act on.
We partner with communities to strengthen dignity and self-determination through education, financial inclusion and life skills programs. Our approach is grounded in respect, collaboration and a commitment to long-term impact, ensuring solutions are shaped by the people they are designed to serve.
Through our partnerships, we help turn opportunity into reality over time, enabling individuals, families and communities to build
resilient futures defined not by circumstance, but by possibility.
Mary MacKillop Today is a signatory of the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct and is accredited with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Consequently, we have a high degree of accountability and transparency. Mary MacKillop Today is committed to protecting the rights of children and vulnerable adults everywhere we work, and preferred candidates are subject to child safe recruitment screening.
Please see our current vacancies below:
Australian Programs Coordinator
Permanent, part time position (0.6 FTE, 3 days per week) | Based in North Sydney (hybrid working arrangements available)
The Australian Programs Coordinator will support the smooth running of Mary MacKillop Today’s Australian Programs, including administering our First Nations Scholarships Program and Community Grants across Australia, as well as supporting strategic partner relationships.
This will include establishing positive and mutually respectful relationships with Mary MacKillop Today’s Australian partners, coordinating project management and administration tasks for our Australian programs, and supporting effective monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). In addition, this role will contribute to wider team project management support and system improvement initiatives, as well as undertake any other duties as directed from time to time.
Key Responsibilities
Administering the First Nations Scholarships and Community Grants programs
- Coordinate First Nations Tertiary Scholarship partners, including payments, student reporting, and regular connection with partners.
- Administer Community Grant programs, including application process, assessments and disbursements across Australia, including eligibility checks, correspondence with assessment committees, applicants and final grantees, ensuring accurate and effective record-keeping.
- Coordinate all aspects of the project cycle for both programs, including assisting with the development and appraisal of applications, submission of program reports, and preparation of funds transfers.
- Manage financial and narrative reporting for both programs, liaising with partners and grantees to ensure deadlines are met.
Support strategic partner relationships
- Maintain positive, day-to-day relationships with Mary MacKillop Today’s Australian partners, such as Free2b, Yawarda Services, Highways and Byways, etc. and other relevant community actors.
- Support the Australian Programs Senior Manager in maintaining an alert system for forthcoming proposals, reports and funding opportunities.
- Assist with the timely lodgment of tenders or funding submissions and provide administrative and logistical support to strategic partnership conversations led by the Australian Programs Senior Manager.
- Escalate partner queries, issues or opportunities that require strategic input in a timely way
Coordinate project management and administration across Australian Programs
- Coordinate and maintain program records to strengthen quality control and consistency of outputs, in line with relevant compliance standards.
- Coordinate and maintain financial records and undertake financial administration tasks, including monitoring against budgets and flagging variances to the Australian Programs Senior Manager.
- Contribute to Mary MacKillop Today’s cross-team processes, process improvements and information management systems, including archiving.
- Support team-wide program learning and development.
Manage program data and reporting
- Enter and maintain accurate program data in Salesforce, and generate reports as required
- Identify opportunities to improve data entry, workflows or reporting processes.
- Work with Mary MacKillop Today’s Salesforce Administrator to scope and implement changes.
Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL)
- Coordinate project monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, including data capture, quality control of information management and reporting in order to measure and evaluate program outcomes and effectiveness.
- Participate in field visits as required.
- Support the documenting of stories and lessons learned through the program to contribute to program development, organisational learning and Mary MacKillop Today communications and fundraising.
- Develop and maintain knowledge of current and relevant needs in the Australian community and remain abreast of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and issues.
Key Competencies
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Ability to work within and contribute to the Mission and Values of Mary MacKillop Today.
- Tertiary qualification in Community Development, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Studies, Social Work or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Experience working within the community development or not-for-profit sector in a program coordination or administration role is highly regarded.
- Strong understanding of, and ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures and issues.
- Demonstrated experience maintaining administration, data and tracking systems, including CRM platforms such as Salesforce, preferably in support of project management.
- Well-developed financial acumen, including experience monitoring budgets and administering payments or grants.
- Strong written communication skills, including the ability to adapt writing and presentation style for correspondence, reporting and stakeholder communication.
- High level of computer proficiency, including Excel and CRM/database systems such as Salesforce.
- Ability to travel domestically as required.
- Adherence to Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding Policy and willingness to undergo a criminal record check or equivalent statutory declaration.
General Information
This position is a permanent, part-time (0.6 FTE, 3 days per week) role, based in North Sydney (with hybrid opportunities), and reports to the Australian Programs Senior Manager of Mary MacKillop Today. The working environment is informal but professional, with very high standards of output and delivery. We are a happy, enthusiastic and energy-filled group, with a positive value-driven culture
How to Apply
Please email your application to [email protected] including:
- a cover letter responding to the selection criteria and,
- your CV.
Applications close Friday 31 July 2026
The successful applicant must be willing to undergo a criminal record check or obtain a statutory declaration of local legal equivalent where criminal records checks are unavailable or unreliable. Where possible and as required by Mary MacKillop Today the applicant must also be willing to undergo a Working with Children check. This position requires the applicant to have the right to work in Australia.
Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Safeguarding Commitment
Mary MacKillop Today is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all people who come into contact with our organisation and our programs, especially children and vulnerable adults. Mary MacKillop Today is committed to the rights and protection of all people regardless of their age, gender, nationality, religion or political beliefs.
We explicitly prohibit all forms of harmful behaviour including sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment of any kind against any persons, adult or child. We also prohibit exploitative, neglectful or emotionally abusive treatment of children. Mary MacKillop Today recognises our duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure people are safe from harm (including victims/survivors and whistle-blowers).
We are committed to demonstrating ongoing and effective leadership, communication, and to providing ongoing training and guidance to all persons within the scope of this Policy in the promotion and implementation of this policy.
Mary MacKillop Today is committed to creating an open and aware environment where concerns for the safety of children and vulnerable adults can be raised and managed in a fair and just manner to protect the rights of all.
