Senior Project Advisor

About the Role

The Respectful and Safe Workplaces team leads policies, supports, training and initiatives that contribute to school and corporate staff feeling safe, respected and included at work. The primary purpose of this role is to develop and deliver high quality policy, projects, strategies and innovative initiatives that improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our principals, school and Department employees.

Current priorities (that may evolve over time) include providing clear policies, resources and capability building on respectful workplaces, bullying, sexual harassment and work-related violence, particularly managing risks to staff safety posed by student challenging behaviours; ensuring that schools have the right systems and processes in place to protect and promote staff safety and wellbeing.

A core part of this role involves providing support to ensure the School Community Safety Order Scheme continues to be implemented across the Victorian school sector, including leading the review of appeals of school community safety orders, actioning system improvements and reporting obligations.

This role requires:

• high level project management skills to plan and deliver projects, identify risks, establish governance, monitor and evaluate performance and ensure continuous improvement
• skills in contract management, including monitoring the performance of training providers against the funding agreement and liaising with training providers
• high level stakeholder management skills including the ability to consult, negotiate and influence key stakeholders.
• strong writing skills and the ability to prepare written briefs, reports and options papers to enable effective decision making

This role would suit a proactive, positive and innovative individual with a passion or interest in health and wellbeing.

Candidates must address the key selection criteria to be considered for this role.

If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please get in touch.

This role requires attendance at the Department of Education Melbourne CBD office.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable: Relevant tertiary qualification in Education, Project Management, Occupational health and safety

About the Department

The Department of Education (DE) leads the delivery of education and development services to children, young people and adults both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services, non-government schools and training programs.

Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division

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

The ESWI Division performs its functions through five branches that span from prevention with a focus on employee mental health, through to response and recovery, along with strategy, advice and support, and diversity and inclusion. 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 mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The objectives of the ESWI Division are to:

• promote positive wellbeing in working environments, including by proactively supporting and protecting employee mental health
• 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
• promote respectful and inclusive workplaces that upholds equal opportunity and prevents discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• promote human rights and workforce diversity and inclusion.

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 Naomi Shimoda, Manager, Respectful and Safe Workplaces Team via

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 Thursday 16 October 2025.