Public Health Officer

**Work in an environment that offers**:

- Support for career progression and development
- An ability to live and work in a vibrant regional setting
- A strong attitude to teaching and learning

**The Position**

**Job Reference**: 1712

**Position Title**:Public Health Officer
**Classification**:Registered Nurse Gr 3A Y1-2 or Allied Health Professional Gr 2 Y1-4 or Allied Services Managers & Administration HS5 or equivalent
**Salary per hour (exc. super)**:As per award
**Hours per fortnight**:76
**Employment Status**:Ongoing Full Time

**Closing date**:**27/12/2024

**The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit**

The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) works to keep our regional community healthy, safe and well. We use local knowledge, community-based relationships and direct engagement to effectively tailor and deliver public health initiatives and respond to incidents and issues within the Loddon Mallee region.

First established in 2020 to manage local cases and outbreaks of COVID-19, LMPHU now has a wider range of responsibility for the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and health threats. LMPHU works in partnership with primary, acute and community health services, state government agencies, local governments and local communities to promote health and wellbeing, and tackle inequalities in health, for all those living in the Loddon Mallee region.

**The Position**

The Public Health Officer (PHO) protects public health by helping prevent, investigate, respond and manage cases, incidents and communicable disease outbreaks in the community.

Reporting to the Manager Health Protection, and supervised by a Team Leader (Health Protection), the PHO provides the LMPHU operational response to notifiable conditions under the Public Health & Wellbeing Act 2008, including COVID-19 disease, and provide operational support in response to other health protection incidents and emergencies as directed.

They conduct investigations, including case and contact interviews establishing infectious disease acquisition links, identify high risk individuals, groups and facilities, and provide public health advice, recommendations and referrals to other service providers. The PHO enables effective outbreak and incident management through collaborative engagement with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and agencies.

**Responsibilities and Accountabilities**

**Key Responsibilities**

The Public Health Officer (PHO) will:

- Undertake case interviews and contact tracing for people identified as confirmed or suspected cases and contacts of conditions notifiable under the Public Health & Wellbeing Act 2008
- Provide public health advice, recommendations and education to cases, close contacts, clinicians, service providers and other stakeholders according to agreed service protocols, standards, legislative and regulatory requirements
- Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge and comprehension of current public health policy, legislation and procedures to provide the most up-to-date relevant public health advice
- Maintain accurate and complete records of work activities in accordance with legislative requirements, information security and relevant policy requirements
- Appropriately obtain, document and review case demographic, location, pathology, clinical, and risk information available in Department of Health and other data and surveillance systems
- Employ dynamic communication and interpersonal skills, cultural competency, tactful language, and empathetic interviewing skills to build rapport and maintain trust with people from diverse backgrounds
- Provide appropriate advice to protect public health and assess the feasibility of implementing necessary actions
- Escalate novel, complex or high-risk situations and concerns to a Team Leader (Health Protection) and/or other senior LMPHU staff
- Participate in requisite training, regular program meetings, and quality monitoring improvement activities to ensure and enhance the quality of case, contact and outbreak management services
- Adhere to privacy and confidentiality protocols
- Write reports on public health information, actions and activities
- Develop strategies and work plans to support the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Contribute to planning and management of portfolios of work within the public health team
- Support health protection operational requirements after hours by participating in a rotating on-call roster as required
- Able to travel regionally as required
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the leadership team as appropriate

**Working with Bendigo Health**

Bendigo Health are a leader in regional health care, combining outstanding services with a strong education, training and personal development culture. Created by our community in the 1850s, we have a long, proud history of delivering excellent care to our community.

Our organisation is diverse, welcomi