Senior Policy and Program Officer

About the Role

The Employee Mental Health Reform Team is responsible for implementation of the Employee Mental Health Reform. The Reform aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of government school employees, reduce mental injuries and to sustain and build upon improvements in the department's return to work performance.

The Employee Mental Health Reform Senior Policy and Program Officer will play a lead role in the management of the formal evaluation of the Reform and the management of the Peer Group Support component, including facilitating effective engagement with key stakeholders involved in the program implementation. They will play a lead role in developing policy options, recommendations and solutions to support the Employee Mental Health Reform. The role will also support the overall governance, stakeholder engagement and project management of the Reform. This role will require:

• Strategic guidance and support throughout the program lifecycle, the ability to formulate and communicate policy options and recommendations, as well as defining problems, establishing objectives, and developing solutions that align with the objectives of the Branch and Division.
• Excellent program management skills involving planning, evaluation, reporting and delivery of the Peer Group Support program.

The Employee Mental Health Reform Senior Policy and Program Officer will:

• have well developed policy skills, including the ability to analyse issues and develop written briefings and options papers to inform decision makers.
• have strong written communication skills, developing papers and presentations for the Working Group as well as support the project management and evaluation of the Employee Mental Health Reform.
• apply high-level stakeholder management skills, including the ability to consult with key individuals in their decision-making processes, considering their priorities and interests, and ensuring that solutions align with departmental values, ethics, responsibilities, and legal obligations.
• support the achievement of outcomes by anticipating and resolving issues, recognising the performance of others and maintaining a high standard of work. They will hold both themselves and the team accountable to public sector values and agreed performance standards.
• build and sustain strong relationships within the Branch and across the department to foster collaboration, facilitate effective communication and negotiation, and ensure engagement with key teams involved in the implementation of reform components.

The position will report to the Manager, Employee Mental Health Reform team.

Attributes

The required capabilities for the role are set out in the position description (see attachment).

Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Relevant tertiary qualification in project or program management, education or a related field.

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

The Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division (ESWID) is committed to the Department's vision to create healthy and safe working and learning environments for Department employees to thrive and succeed.

ESWID performs its functions through five Branches that span prevention, response and recovery, as well as strategy, advice and support. These teams adopt a holistic approach for supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce across schools, central and regional offices. This includes Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers' Compensation policy advice and support, for both physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The objectives of the Division are to:

• promote positive wellbeing in learning and working environments
• prevent against known and expected risks to health, safety and wellbeing
• respond swiftly and effectively to manage potential issues as they emerge and prevent injuries
• support employees to recover from injury and illness, and return to work.

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to provide a statement of no more than two pages against the Key Selection Criteria including addressing the essential qualifications and experience listed.

Further Information:

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Myra White - Manager Employee Mental Health Reform via or

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11.59pm on Sunday 19 October 2025.