El 1 Assistant Director

Salary Range: $122,949 - $135,013 + Attractive Superannuation

The Mental and Social Health Policy Section sits within the Health and Wellbeing Policy Branch in the Policy Division. The Section is responsible for undertaking analysis of new and emerging policy issues, and designing strategic policy options to improve the mental health and wellbeing of veterans and their families. The section has a high profile within the Department, works with a range of Government agencies and collaborates with DVA Executives, other DVA business areas, ex-service organisations, representatives of state and territory governments, international counterparts, and corporate and not-for-profit organisations.

Mental and Social Health Policy are seeking an EL1 Assistant Director to provide leadership in key areas of policy management including researching, developing and advising on New Policy Proposals and Budget submissions, implementing Government-directed initiatives, and analysis of key long term trends that will shape the future of veteran mental health.

As part of the Mental and Social Health Policy team, you will be instrumental in driving change across DVA. Successful applicants will be passionate about improving services, experiences and outcomes for veterans, will bring strong oral and written communication skills, be curious and operate with agility and creativity, and be a team player with the ability to support productive working relationships to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes with both internal and external stakeholders. To succeed in this role, you will draw on a sound understanding of policy development and how it applies to veteran issues, or be able to quickly acquire this understanding. Experience of the veteran support system as it sits as part of broader government services would be an advantage, as would experience in costing new policy proposals.

**Duties**
- Provide advice on relevant policy issues within the areas of mental and social health and suicide prevention.
- Prepare papers for relevant committees, including developing discussion papers, planning meetings, and other responsibilities.
- Draft ministerial and senior executive briefings, reports, Ministerial correspondence, meeting papers and discussion papers.
- Gather and analyse data and research to formulate and review technical advice in specific areas of policy.
- Support the team with requests for information, administration, media monitoring and coordination.
- Build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to seek feedback on, or contributions to, policy development projects.
- Support the Department's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, including providing input to Notices issued by the Royal Commission
- Support the development of a new joint Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy with the Department of Defence. This will include undertaking research, developing drafts, and supporting stakeholder consultation.

**Eligibility**
- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).
- All applicants external to DVA offered employment will be required to successfully undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.

**Notes**

Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for an initial specified term of up to18 months.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

DVA is committed to improving the data skills and capability of our workforce to underpin our goal of becoming a leading data-driven organisation.