A Cultural Advisor provides guidance and expertise on cultural matters relating to people who identify with particular ethnic groups or subgroups; often within a specific context like a workplace, community, or organisation. Cultural Advisors help bridge cultural gaps, promote understanding, advise about customs and protocols, and ensure cultural sensitivity in various situations.

Cultural Advisors may: help individuals and groups from different cultural backgrounds communicate effectively and respectfully with people of particular ethnic groups or subgroups; educate others about their values, beliefs, and practices to foster understanding and reduce misunderstandings; ensure cultural sensitivity; advise on how to adapt practices, policies, or programmes to be culturally appropriate and inclusive; assist in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with people of those groups or subgroups; offer specialist knowledge on the specific traditions, protocols, and perspectives of ethnic subgroups; integrate customs and protocols into various sectors such as local or central government, architecture and environmental design, tourism and hospitality, exporting, education, social services, and health and death care; and engage, consult, and liaise with the appropriate people within an ethnic group or subgroup in a range of circumstances.

• Works indoors in office or meeting room settings but frequently drives a vehicle to attend meetings or events in other settings, which may involve spending time outdoors.
• Usually works in adequately heated and ventilated offices, but conditions at off-site locations may vary greatly.
• May be required to work flexibly in terms of location and hours, to meet the ethnic group’s or employer’s or client’s needs.

• Sedentary to light physical demand levels.
• Frequently sits when having meetings or attending to enquiries and correspondence. Stands and walks to attend some meetings. However, some roles may be suitable for people who mobilise via a wheelchair or similar aid.
• Stretching up and reaching across, bending, squatting, crouching, and kneeling are not significant requirements of the job. Twisting of the body or neck, or lifting, carrying, and holding are not a significant feature of the job. Contact with skin irritants or water is not a significant feature of the job.
• Repetitive hand and finger movements are likely when using ICT devices or keeping written notes. Use of hand-held objects includes ICT devices, record-keeping items such as pens and notebooks, and office equipment.
• Driving is likely to be required on an occasional to frequent basis.
• Mental skills or qualities necessary include: excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills with cultural sensitivity and knowledge of customs and protocols; knowledge of any legislation/regulations of relevance to the context; decision-making; and literacy and digital literacy.

A relevant tertiary qualification is valued, but relevant experience within or with ethnic group/s or subgroup/s (e.g. speaking and understanding associated languages or dialects and knowledge of customs and protocols), and/or on-the-job training is also valued. A Class 1 Driver Licence will generally be required.

• There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.
• May sometimes work with people in very stressful and distressing personal situations depending on the context in which the Advisor works.