Frequently Asked Questions

The Ulare Secondment Program is delivered by MTL Consulting Services in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment (OCPSE). The program connects South Australian Government agencies and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) through structured, project-based placements aligned to organisational priorities. It supports Action 2.06 of South Australia's Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2024–2026, creating opportunities for shared learning, practical collaboration and stronger cross-sector relationships.

Below are answers to the questions we're asked most often, grouped by audience. Start with Program FAQs for an overview of how Ulare works, then find the section that applies to you.

Program FAQs

Start here for an overview of how the program works, who it's for and what to expect.

The Ulare Secondment Program connects Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and South Australian Government agencies through structured, project-based placements. It is delivered by MTL Consulting Services in partnership with OCPSE and supports reciprocal learning, practical collaboration and stronger cross-sector relationships through real work aligned to organisational priorities. It is open to ACCOs, South Australian public sector agencies and their employees.
Ulare is a two-way secondment model built specifically around shared learning between ACCOs and the South Australian public sector. Placements are shaped around each organisation's priorities and supported through clear workplans, structured onboarding and ongoing support from our program team.
The program is open to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and to South Australian public sector employees, including those working full-time, part-time, casually or on fixed-term contracts. External contractors to the public sector are not eligible to apply. Eligibility also depends on organisational suitability and a readiness assessment during the intake process.
If you are unsure, contact the project team and we can support you.
No. The program runs across South Australia, not only in metropolitan areas. Placement arrangements are flexible and can be shaped to suit regional and remote contexts.
There are no direct costs for eligible ACCOs or participating public sector employees. We deliver the program through a partnership between MTL Consulting Services and OCPSE, with public sector agencies contributing to delivery through agreed arrangements.
Placement length and participation arrangements are flexible and are agreed between the participant and the host organisation, based on the scope of the project. As a guide, most placements run for a minimum of four weeks and can extend up to six months.
No. Submitting an application does not guarantee a placement. Applications are assessed on:
- Eligibility and readiness
- Whether a suitable host organisation or participant is available
- Home agency or organisation approval
Not every applicant is matched in the same intake. Some may be considered again in a later intake to get the strongest fit for everyone involved.
Our program team manages the matching process together with host organisations and participants. Matches are based on:
• The host organisation’s stated priorities and project needs
• The participant’s skills, experience, availability and readiness
• Cultural safety considerations and organisational fit
Host organisations always have the chance to confirm they are comfortable with a proposed match before a placement goes ahead.
Participants should expect a different way of working shaped by the host organisation's priorities and context. This can include:
- Different organisational cultures and decision-making styles
- A strong focus on relationships and trust-building
- Timelines and priorities that shift as the project develops
- Time spent listening and observing before taking action
Host organisations provide day-to-day supervision and guidance in line with the agreed Placement Workplan, matched to the scope of the placement and agreed upfront. Participants remain employed by and accountable to their home agency throughout.
ACCOs stay in control of how they take part. This includes:
- Choosing whether and how to participate
- Setting the scope, priorities and pace of the placement
- Setting cultural protocols and ways of working
The program does not require host organisations to take on government ways of working.
Cultural safety is supported through clear expectations, culturally informed onboarding and ongoing support from our program team. If a concern comes up, we address it early through respectful discussion, working with the participant and host organisation to understand the context and agree on next steps. Where needed, matters can be escalated through the program's support pathways.
Hosts and participants are supported throughout the placement through onboarding, regular check-ins and access to our program team. Support includes practical guidance, resources and clear pathways to raise and resolve issues early.
Participation in the Ulare Secondment Program does not create any ongoing obligation between the host organisation and government.
It does not:
• Create a funding obligation
• Commit the organisation to future partnerships
• Require ongoing engagement after the placement
Any future engagement occurs only by mutual agreement.
The Ulare Privacy Policy outlines how MTL Consulting Services collects, manages and uses data throughout the program.
Information is collected to support program delivery, participant support, reporting and continuous improvement. De-identified data, website analytics and feedback may be shared with OCPSE through regular program reporting to monitor outcomes and ensure program objectives are met.

Secondees

Considering applying for a placement?

Here's what to expect, from applying through to your responsibilities as a participant, whether you work for a South Australian public sector agency or an ACCO.

Yes, at both stages. Speak with your line manager about your interest when you register your Expression of Interest (EOI). Then, when you apply, you'll need their formal approval to be considered. If you have questions along the way, reach out to your agency's program contact or our program team.
You do not require this to register an EOI. However, you may need a police clearance or a Working with Children Check, depending on the placement. We will confirm what applies to you during the application process.
Participants remain employees of, and formally report to, their home public sector agency or Aboriginal organisation employer.
Day-to-day work direction is provided by the host organisation, in line with the agreed Placement Workplan.
You are expected to contribute in a professional and proactive way. This includes:
- Working within your agreed Placement Workplan
- Engaging well with the people and stakeholders around you
- Helping deliver the agreed project activities and outcomes
You also need to follow the policies of both your home organisation and the host organisation. Where these differ, the host organisation's policies apply for the length of the placement.
Raise it early. Speak with your host supervisor first. Contact our program team if you need further support. Placements are designed to stay within the agreed Placement Workplan and should not create unreasonable workload. If the scope needs to change, for example because the host organisation's priorities shift, this should be discussed and agreed between you, the host organisation and our program team.
Flexible arrangements may be possible. They depend on the host organisation's needs, your home agency's approval and a clear agreement upfront. Any change to your working arrangements should be discussed and agreed in advance.
Travel arrangements and any costs are agreed in advance between you, your home organisation and the host organisation. Our program team can help with these arrangements if needed.
Who you need to tell depends on what stage you're at.
If you're registering an Expression of Interest (EOI), you don't need to include leave details at this stage.
If you're completing your application, let us know about any planned leave in the application form.
If you're already on an active placement, tell your line manager and our program team as early as possible. This gives everyone time to plan around your leave and adjust placement activities if needed.
No, not directly. Your placement is a development opportunity focused on learning and growth, not a formal performance assessment. Feedback from your placement supports your own reflection and helps us improve the program, but it doesn't automatically feed into your performance review unless your home agency decides otherwise.
A successful placement looks different for everyone, but a few things generally hold true. You're contributing to the host organisation's priorities and the outcomes you agreed to. You're building strong, respectful working relationships and working in a way that respects cultural protocols. And you're taking what you've learned with you well after the placement ends.

ACCO and Public Sector Host FAQs

Considering hosting a participant? Here's what to expect, from matching through to your responsibilities as a host, whether you're an ACCO or a South Australian public sector agency.

Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), Aboriginal Peak Bodies and other Aboriginal-led organisations that align with the program's intent and eligibility requirements can host a participant. South Australian public sector agencies can also host a participant as part of a reciprocal placement. If you're not sure whether your organisation is eligible, speak with our program team.
Yes. You don't need every policy or process finalised to take part. Our program team works with you to understand what's already in place and agree what additional support looks like for your placement. Many host organisations continue developing their internal frameworks while hosting a participant.
Host organisations play a key role in a successful placement. This includes:
- Day-to-day supervision and guidance aligned to the Placement Workplan
- Clear direction, communication and on-the-job support
- A culturally safe and respectful working environment
- Staying engaged with our program team to address issues early
- Escalating concerns through the program's support pathways where needed
Host organisations also need to hold standard insurance cover, including Employers Liability and Public Liability Insurance, confirmed as part of onboarding.
Host organisations are closely involved in matching.
You can:
- review information about proposed participants
- ask questions or request more detail
- raise concerns about a proposed match
Your input is a core part of confirming whether a match goes ahead.
Projects are defined by the host organisation and aligned to its priorities. Examples may include:
- Contributing to an existing strategic planning or governance process, rather than developing a new strategy from the ground up
- Developing or improving systems, processes or operational workflows
- Contributing to policy, program or service design
- Supporting data collection, analysis or reporting
- Assisting with community engagement or stakeholder coordination
- Delivering a project-based initiative aligned to organisational goals
A good project is a defined piece of work a participant can realistically complete within the placement timeframe, not the creation of an entire strategy, system or program from scratch. The program team works with host organisations to shape a project that fits organisational priorities, placement objectives and the participant's skills and experience.
This is agreed case by case, depending on what the placement needs. Where something is required, expectations are clarified upfront with support from our program team. Hybrid or flexible arrangements may be considered. Host organisations are not expected to cover unreasonable costs.
This depends on the host organisation's preference, the nature of the project and cultural and community considerations. Any direct engagement with community members needs the host organisation's explicit consent and guidance.
Host organisations are expected to meet standard workplace health and safety obligations for the duration of the placement.
This includes:
- Providing a safe and appropriate working environment
- Supporting general wellbeing through regular check-ins and day-to-day supervision
- Raising any concerns with the program team where additional support may be required
Participants are also encouraged to access support through their home agency where needed. Host organisations are not expected to manage government employee wellbeing systems.
The host organisation owns the work produced during the placement, unless otherwise agreed. This includes any documents, data, tools or materials developed as part of it. These stay with the host organisation and should not be reused or shared without their permission.
No. Host organisations are not required to complete additional formal reporting as part of the program. We value all feedback because it's an important part of the program's ongoing success. Regular feedback sessions are built into the program lifecycle, giving hosts, supporting agencies and participants the opportunity to share their views and experiences. This is optional and kept simple.

Home Agency or Organisation

Thinking about releasing a staff member on secondment? Find out about approvals, backfill and what to expect while they're away, whether your organisation is a South Australian Government agency or an ACCO.

Hosting or releasing staff into the Ulare Secondment Program builds stronger relationships between South Australian Government agencies and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). It's a two-way exchange. Staff bring back new skills, relationships and ways of working that strengthen your own organisation's practice over time. For government agencies, this also supports Closing the Gap and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) commitments.
As their manager, this is your decision to make. Before you consider the placement, have a discussion with your team member. Talk through what the role will involve, the personal development it offers them and what it could mean for your organisation. Think about what support would look like, what it means for your team's day-to-day and whether their current workload can be covered. Approval isn't automatic. If you don't approve, they can't move forward in the program. If you do approve, they're put forward for consideration, though a placement still isn't guaranteed and depends on the conditions set out in the Manager Approval form.
No, a replacement is not automatic. If you would like to host a participant yourself, you can apply. We will let you know if a suitable participant is identified.
Backfill remains your organisation's responsibility, in line with your usual workforce arrangements. It is planned around what works for both your organisation and your employee's placement.
Your organisation continues to pay your employee's usual wage and entitlements throughout the placement, as confirmed in the Secondee FAQ. OCPSE supports the program more broadly, but wages stay with the home agency.
A conflict isn't always obvious upfront, so our program team reviews this as a standard part of every application, working with both the home agency and the host organisation to identify and manage any potential conflicts. If you're aware of an existing relationship that might be relevant, flag it on the Manager Approval form so it can be discussed early.
That's great to hear. We'd encourage you to actively promote the Ulare Secondment Program with the ACCOs and organisations you already work with. Share the Ulare website with them or introduce them directly to our program team. We're happy to talk them through what taking part could look like. Strong existing relationships like yours are often how the best matches come about.
That's great to hear. Feel free to share the Ulare website with them or introduce them directly to our program team. We're happy to talk them through what taking part could look like.
Not automatically. Every application is matched against host availability, so your approval is the first step rather than a guarantee of placement. We'll keep your employee informed at each key point of the process and let them know what's relevant to share with you as their manager along the way.