Assistant Director

Executive Level 1 Canberra, ACT; Melbourne, VIC; Sydney, NSW; Brisbane, QLD; Adelaide, SA; Perth, WA; Hobart, TAS; Darwin, NT $115,996 - $128,200 About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations We enable access to quality skills, training and employment services to support Australians find secure work in fair, productive and safe workplaces – supporting individuals and our nation to prosper. The Role We have a number of opportunities available across the Work Health and Safety Policy and Workers’ Compensation Policy Branch in the Workplace Relations Group.  These branches are responsible for shaping work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation policy in the Commonwealth jurisdiction, as well as driving national policy through tripartite forums such as Safe Work Australia.  Work Health and Safety Policy Branch  As the Assistant Director, you will play a crucial role in providing advice to the Minister and Senior Executives and influencing policies to address a range of WHS issues affecting workers across Australia. You will contribute to complex policy considerations, drive legislative projects, engage with internal and external stakeholders, and manage projects to implement policy reforms. The WHS Policy Branch has responsibility for a number of ongoing projects, including:  Measures to address silicosis and silica-related diseases, a serious occupational lung disease affecting workers across Australia. This includes working with state and territory governments, industry and unions to implement a prohibition of the use of engineered stone; implementing a silica grant program to deliver national awareness and behaviour change initiatives relating to silica dust in the workplace; and supporting development of a Silica National Strategic Plan aimed at eliminating silicosis in Australia.  Leading the development of Commonwealth actions on the Asbestos National Strategic Plan, aimed at eliminating asbestos-related diseases in Australia. Establishing the Family and Injured Workers Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Minister and Commonwealth WHS regulators about the needs of persons affected by a workplace fatality or serious workplace incident.  This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work with Commonwealth, state and territory government officials, employer groups and unions to drive reforms and engage on national policy that will have a meaningful impact to ensure the safety of workers across Australia.  Workers’ Compensation Policy Branch  The Workers’ Compensation Policy Branch leads the development and delivery of workers’ compensation policy initiatives. This includes new initiatives announced in the 2023-2024 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, including:  A comprehensive review of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, the legislation underpinning the Comcare workers’ compensation scheme. The review will address all aspects of the scheme, including governance, usability and entitlements, and provide recommendations to modernise and futureproof the scheme.   Stakeholder consultation on reforms of the Seacare scheme, a workers’ compensation scheme for seafarers employed on vessels engaged in overseas or interstate trade.   As an Assistant Director, you will play a crucial role in shaping and supporting policy that underpins the Comcare scheme which covers approximately 500,000 workers of Commonwealth agencies and authorities, the ACT Government, and national corporations who self-insure under the Comcare scheme. The branch also provides briefings and support to the Commonwealth member of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, which regulates corporations who self-insure under the Comcare scheme. The branch will also be responsible for a significant number of ongoing projects, including:  Updates to the Commonwealth Deemed Diseases Instruments to ensure alignment with current epidemiological expertise and Government reviews. Development of a Commonwealth Code of Practice on sexual and gender-based harassment. Implementation of the Health and Safety Representative training 2023-24 Budget measure which will support implementation of the psychosocial amendments to the model Work Health and Safety laws in the Commonwealth. Leading Commonwealth input on workers’ compensation projects undertaken through national forums. This is an exciting time to join the branch. Workers’ compensation is a complex and interesting policy area which draws on expertise in many other fields, including insurance, government administration, user experience, occupational medicine, rehabilitation and return to work, and psychological safety.  Team members can expect to engage with stakeholders with a range of backgrounds, including claimants with experience of the scheme, regulators, union and industry groups, and medical and legal groups.  Duties and Responsibilities Reporting to the Director, the EL1 Assistant Director is responsible for:  Building and sustaining productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to develop considered policy positions.  Developing government submissions, including Cabinet briefings and associated briefings for the Minister and Senior Executive, as well as other policy and briefing products.  Managing one or more projects using well-developed strategic planning and organisational skills to deliver results to a high standard and in a timely manner.  Supervising staff, including managing performance. Qualifications and Education Experience in WHS or workers’ compensation policy development and implementation will be highly regarded. Relevant tertiary qualifications are desirable but not essential.   How to Apply Applicants are required to provide up to a one-page summary (no more than 500 words) that outlines skills, knowledge, and experience and why you should be considered for this vacancy. You should take into consideration the position overview (including any detailed position specific requirements) when drafting your response. Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work. The APS work level standards accommodate the diversity of roles across the APS and are structured to clearly differentiate between the work expected (i.e. responsibilities and duties) at each classification level. In the eRecruit (the department’s online recruitment system) you will also need to: upload a Curriculum Vitae provide contact details for 2 Referees. Eligibility   Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it. Security Clearance - our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance. Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role. How to apply for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APSC Guide) Opens in new window Job Information Pack Opens in new window