Principal Aboriginal Staff Engagement Officer

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Health

**Salary**: $134,593 - $180,115

Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services

Reference: VG/1818095

The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.

**About the role**:

- This position is accountable for overseeing the continued development and implementation of a range of initiatives, strategies and programs under the _Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2021 - 2026_, and internal implementation of the department's _Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety Framework_.
- The Principal Aboriginal Staff Engagement Officer works with a range of internal and external stakeholders to continuously improve the department's programs to attract increasing numbers of Aboriginal employees into career pathways that are diverse and inclusive.
- The Principal Aboriginal Staff Engagement Officer will provide strategic leadership to deliver strategies to create a culturally safe employee experience, where individuals are valued for their cultural knowledge and lived experience.
- The Aboriginal staff engagement function strives to build a culturally safe workplace to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal people. A core function is to attract increasing numbers of Aboriginal employees into career pathways that are diverse, inclusive and include caring for Aboriginal people, families and communities.
- The role involves developing effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders including other government agencies, health services and key Aboriginal health organisation and a range of program and policy areas within the department.

**About us**:
At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.

We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.

**How you'll make a difference**:

- Strategically design, develop and deliver departmental objectives that positively impact outcomes to increase the Aboriginal workforce participation and improve Aboriginal cultural safety as outlined in the department's Aboriginal Workforce Strategy and the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework.
- Effectively supervise and provide leadership to an Aboriginal team of employees by:

- leading and supporting individuals to achieve their potential and contributing to organisational goals and outcomes.
- modelling behaviours integral to good people management and departmental values.
- where relevant, managing and monitoring specific improvement objectives in annual improvement plans relating to the area of responsibility.
- Extensive experience coaching, developing and managing a team
- Extensive experience in change management and providing positive and constructive leadership during and following change management periods
- Take a lead role in providing advice and recommendations and building the capability of others to create a culturally safe working environment for Aboriginal people.
- Proven ability to operate in accordance with delegated authority, consistent with departmental and government policies.
- Provide strategic thinking and future planning and oversee change management initiatives and integrated approaches to enhance compliance with department-wide policies.
- Strong critical analysis and reporting skills, high attention to detail, excellent writing skills and experience in managing stakeholder relationships.
- Forge strong connections across the department and with external stakeholders to facilitate a partnership approach to achieve outcomes in the Aboriginal Workforce Strategy and the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework.
- Where responsible for overseeing, monitoring or delivering projects, ensure they are delivered in alignment with the principles of self-determination and accordance with relevant legislation and government regulations and guidelines.

**Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate**:

- Demonstrated high level experience and understanding of working collaboratively with Aboriginal organisations and communities.