Policy & Advocacy Officer

Posted: 03/01/2025

Closing Date: 31/01/2025

Job Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sydney CBD

Job Category: Research, Writing & Content Development

**About the RACP**
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) connects, represents, and trains physicians and trainee physicians across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The RACP provides services to support the delivery of training, continuing professional development, and health policy and advocacy to medical health professionals.

**Our Values**
Accountable | Collaborate | Indigenise and Decolonise | Lead the way | Respect

**Why Join Us?**

**Our 3-2-1 Hybrid Working Model**
- 3 days from anywhere in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand per week,
- 2 days from an RACP office location per week,
- 1 of the two days per week in office spent with your team.

**About the Role**
The Policy & Advocacy (P&A) team develops medical and health policies, leads the College’s advocacy initiatives, and provides advice on policy so that the College is actively engaged in health policy debate and is positioned to influence medical and health policy in Australia and New Zealand, as it affects the Fellows and trainees, patients and communities that they serve.

The purpose of this position is to work as part of the P&A team in the research, analysis, development, dissemination and implementation of health policies, positions and projects that reflect the priorities of the College and its members. The Policy & Adovcacy Officer will develop policy responses to the policy, political and professional issues relevant to physicians and trainee physicians. You will also support and work with Fellows and trainees to harness their expertise and experience to develop compelling, relevant and timely health policies.

**Key responsibilities include**:

- Develop policies and position statements, based on input and advice from College Fellow and Trainees
- Develop and implement advocacy strategies to support College policy priorities
- Research the evidence, literature base and external commentary on various health related topics
- Prepare research summaries, correspondence and briefs to inform decision making
- Participate in the provision of rapid responses to health policy issues as they arise
- Develop persuasive and engaging written materials
- Utilise communication channels and social media opportunities
- Project co-ordination to meet project timelines
- Build effective relationships with key stakeholders; across the College and with external organisations

**Desired Skills and Experience**:
**About You**
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in health policy, communications, political science or related disciplines
- Experience in the development of health policies, position statements and briefing papers
- Demonstrated advocacy and communications experience including skills in developing persuasive strategies for change, stakeholder engagement and influencing decision-makers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to adapt writing style to a specific audience and /or purpose and with attention to detail
- Strong analytical skills, political judgement and strategic thinking
- Good project co-ordination skills and ability to meet timelines
- Excellent secondary research skills, including the ability to assess and critically evaluate evidence in the Australian and New Zealand health policy context
- Skills in preparing briefs and background analyses, with strong ability to draw on published research from a diverse range of academic disciplines and effectively organise information for the reader

**Interested?