Principal Policy Officer

**About NAATSIHWP**_

The National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) is the peak workforce organisation with responsibility for ensuring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners, the only culturally based health workforce underpinned by national training and registration in the world, are embedded as a vital, valued and professional part of Australia’s health care system.

We play a key role in the delivery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, education and employment outcomes; support a large and growing national network of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners; and work in partnership with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations, governments and a broad range of stakeholders to:

- address the under representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed within Australia’s health care system.
- expand and strengthen the professional capability of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner professions across all health service types (Aboriginal Community Control, Government and Private Practice)
- promote the delivery of culturally safe and effective evidence-based models of care and
- affect the self-determined development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the transformation of policy and practice at the national level.
- **Position Summary**_

The Principal Policy Officer leads and mentors’ staff, supports the work of the Policy, Projects and Research Team, and contributes to the delivery of NAATSIHWP’s key policy and research priorities. The role involves:

- Undertaking research and analysis; and reviewing health, health workforce, and social policies to inform decision-making
- Contributing to the development, design and delivery of policies, programs and research
- Leading and coordinating projects, preparing discussion papers, briefs, submissions, communications content, reports and other written materials
- Collaborating on the development and delivery of policy positions, priorities and strategic directions
- Working in partnership with other key stakeholders; and participating on working groups, committee meetings, and stakeholder consultations
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress of activities
- Coaching and mentoring staff
- **Primary Responsibilities**_
- Examine, interpret and prepare responses to health, health workforce and social policy related enquiries and prepare policy responses and positions
- Promote the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner workforce
- Guide the development of NAATSIHWP position statements and other key documents as required
- Manage the development, implementation and evaluation of key projects that contribute to the delivery of NAATSIHWPs policy and research priorities
- Identify and pursue opportunities for cooperation and collaboration to achieve NAATSIHWP’s strategic priorities
- Represent NAATSIHWP on external working groups, committees, forums, or, at events as delegated, carry out related work and report on outcomes
- Support the development of the NAATSIHWP Annual Report and achieve the priorities as identified in our Annual Activity Plan and three-year Strategic Plan
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support NAATSIHWP’s autonomy and sustainability into the future
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress of activities
- Lead projects/pieces of work and coach and mentor staff
- Foster culturally safe and healthy workplace environments
- Undertake any other relevant duties as directed
- **Line management**_

The Principal Policy Officer reports directly to the Manager of Policy, Projects and Research and indirectly through to the Chief Executive Officer.
- **Special conditions**_
- May occasionally be required to travel interstate.
- **Skills knowledge and experience**_
- The ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their leaders, respecting cultural values and ways of doing business.
- The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to a wide range of audiences on a range of sensitive and complex issues. This includes the ability to:

- develop accurate content for publications, reports, reviews, submissions, our website, annual reports, speeches, and other materials and
- effectively represent and promote NAATSIHWP and the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner Workforce
- The ability to interpret and analyse information and to think and work independently and as part of a team to influence change for our organisation, workforce and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more broadly.
- The ability to exercise initiative and sound judgement, including the ability to recognise, mitigate and resolve minor problems and es