Policy Advisor, Practice and Research

**About us**

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the leading membership organisation for training, accrediting, and representing psychiatrists across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Through conferences, publications, and initiatives, the College drives evidence-based practices, ensures high-quality, culturally aligned care, and works to enhance healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori communities in alignment with reconciliation and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

**About the Role**

This permanent, part-time role (0.4-0.6 FTE) offers the opportunity to provide high-level policy advice and complex analysis to the Policy, Practice and Research (PPR) Department and RANZCP committees through contributing to the development of RANZCP policy, guidelines, submissions and position statements on matters relevant to the practice of psychiatry and mental health in Australia and New Zealand.

The role provides diverse and interesting work with career development opportunities and supports the RANZCP to contribute to policy for effective and sustainable psychiatric practice, and to improve mental health outcomes across Australia and New Zealand.

**Key responsibilities include**:

- Contribute to the development and strengthening of policy and practice approaches across the RANZCP through the identification of key policy issues and opportunities to proactively influence mental health planning, policy, systems and delivery of care.
- Conduct and present high-level research in mental health policy, health systems and regulations, relevant to the RANZCP across a range of topics, with a focus on legislative and regulatory policy.
- Conduct analysis and interpretation of changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule items related to psychiatric practice (i.e., MBS item numbers).
- Analyse and interpret data from a range of government sources to inform the delivery of RANZCP submissions, policy documents and projects (e.g., data from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).
- Produce written and oral policy briefs to the RANZCP President, CEO and committee members who represent the RANZCP at meetings with external stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively and proactively with committee members, staff and external stakeholders to provide legislative and regulatory policy support relating to professional practice and standards.

Please refer to Position Description (PD) attached for further details.

**What You'll Bring**
- Experience in health or social policy development, with strong analytical and research skills.
- Understanding of key health and regulatory bodies (e.g. MBS, PBS, Pharmac NZ, MSAC, TGA).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailored to diverse audiences.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship-building across platforms.
- Tertiary qualifications in health, public health, social science, or a related field.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office; knowledge of SPSS or Power BI is a bonus.
- Experience in membership or not-for-profit organisations is an advantage.
- Passion for improving mental health outcomes through evidence-based policy.
- Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or the right to work in Australia.

**Some of What’s on Offer**:

- Salary range from $82,896-$103,646 total remuneration package per annum **inclusive** of superannuation and leave loading.
- Hybrid working environment.
- A paid day off each month for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time employees).
- 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave for both primary and secondary caregivers.

**About the Application Process**

**Diversity and Inclusion**

At RANZCP, creating a workplace where diversity, inclusion, and authenticity thrive is a priority. Applications are warmly welcomed from people of all backgrounds, whether you're First Nations, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, or come from a wide range of ages, ethnicities, faiths, and lived and living experiences. We're all about embracing what makes you, you.

**Applications close at 5pm on Thursday, 24 April.