Senior WHS Partner

Job Description:Serve Something Greater; See Something Greater; Strive for Something Greater Join Us and Make an ImpactDrive real safety culture transformation across one of Australia's largest not-for-profit health networks.Collaborate nationally with passionate leaders shaping a safer, more connected, and values-led workplace.About St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA)St Vincent's Health Australia (SVHA) is a non-profit health organisation founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857. We are renowned for industry-leading research, education, and the delivery of exceptional and compassionate care.We're shaping the future of health and aged care—supporting people with life-changing care, wherever and whoever they are. With more than 30,000 dedicated staff across NSW, QLD, and Victoria, we deliver on our vision that every person is served with excellence, compassion, and dignity.Our SVHA 2030 Strategy focuses on:Enhance Impact – continuously improving care and outcomes for patients, people, and our planet.Connect Care – working together to build "One St Vincent's" for an integrated future.Transform the System – partnering to shape a fairer and more sustainable health and aged care system.About the RoleThe Senior Work Health & Safety Partner plays a key role in supporting the delivery of our safety strategy across St Vincent's diverse portfolio.This hands-on and strategic position partners with operational leaders to ensure the effective implementation of our WHS Management System. The role provides expert advice on WHS legislation, policies, and programs—driving safety excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement.You'll work closely with the National Director, WHS & Wellbeing, and local WHS teams to strengthen safety culture and enable our people to deliver outstanding care in a safe, supportive, and values-driven environment.Key ResponsibilitiesProvide expert advice on WHS legislation, policies, and best practice standards.Lead WHS audits, incident investigations (including ICAM), and gap analyses.Identify and drive safety initiatives that improve compliance and risk mitigation.Deliver competency-based WHS training and capability development programs.Partner with leaders to embed proactive risk management and safety culture.Review hazard and incident data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.Build strong relationships with HSRs, Committees, and regulatory stakeholders.Support sites with accreditation readiness, safety assurance, and governance activities.About YouYou are an experienced and confident WHS professional who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven organisation. You combine strong technical capability with the ability to influence, coach, and drive change at all levels.You will bring:Minimum Diploma in Work Health & Safety (Degree highly regarded).5+ years' experience in WHS leadership within healthcare, aged care, or complex multi-site environments.In-depth knowledge of WHS legislation, codes, and standards.Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results.Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and coaching skills.ICAM Lead Investigator qualification and valid driver's licence.Desirable:WHS Auditor qualification or Cert IV Training & Assessment.Experience managing WHS in large-scale health or community service organisations.Why Choose St Vincent'sAt St Vincent's, we recognise that our people are our greatest strength. You'll join a workplace built on trust, respect, and genuine care — where every voice matters and every contribution counts.We offer:Competitive remuneration and salary packaging benefits up to $15,900 p.a.Flexible work options and national exposure across multiple facilitiesA supportive, high-performing team and leadership committed to wellbeingCareer growth through learning and professional development programsA meaningful role in an organisation driven by compassion and purposeOur ValuesCompassion | Justice | Integrity | ExcellenceOur values guide every decision, every action, and every interaction — ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standard of care to our patients, residents, and people.Equal OpportunityWe celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone.For a confidential chat or to know more about the role, please contact James Tamblyn- National Director, Work Health Safety and Wellbeing via email at  or Joshua-Talent Partner on How To ApplyPlease submit your application via the Apply button, include your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and suitability. We will be assessing applications as they are received and may close the advert earlier than the listed closing date. Mandatory Application RequirementsPlease upload your responses to the Targeted Application Questions as a separate document in addition to your cover letter. Applications without completed responses will be considered incomplete and will not be progressed. Limit each response to 500 words.1.Describe a time you led or supported the implementation of a Work Health & Safety initiative that significantly improved risk management or safety culture.What was your role, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome?2.How have you built effective relationships with senior leaders and operational teams to influence positive safety outcomes across multiple sites or departments?Provide specific examples of strategies you used to gain engagement and drive change.3.St Vincent's Health Australia is a mission-led organisation grounded in compassion, integrity, and excellence.How would you apply these values in your approach to Work Health & Safety leadership and decision-making?Respectfully, no recruitment agencies.Please see below for position description ROLE IMPACTThe primary purpose of this role is to work within the WHS Team in supporting the organisation to ensure the ongoing effective implementation of WHS management systems and processes. This role provides specialist advice on WHS legislation, relevant policies and programs and efficient service delivery to support better work practices, the highest standards of WHS performance and regulatory compliance. They provide technical support for health and safety matters across the diverse work areas at St Vincent's workplaces.The Senior WHS Partner provides a hands on approach in supporting the strategic and operational direction for St Vincent's to continually improve our safety maturity.MANAGING TODAYResponsibilities Proactively identify opportunities for improving WHS processes and risk mitigation controls.Providing ongoing, timely and accurate WHS support and advice to St Vincent's facilities.Identifying and implementing WHS initiatives in order to meet strategic objectives.Driving engagement with key decision makers to ensure that effective processes are in place to provide and maintain high levels of safety.Contribute to the design and implementation of the WHS Management System.Delivery of competency based WHS related education programs.  Conducting WHS audits and gap analysis and identify required improvement actions.Preparing facilities for WHS and accreditation audits.Provide expert advice on risk management activities in line WHS legislation and industry best practice.Visit workplaces across the portfolio to gain insight on safety issues faced by our frontline workers. Undertake and/or facilitate investigations for significant WHS incidents.  Foster a positive and collaborative relationship with HSRs and WHS Committee members.Provide advice and information as requested executive teams in a timely and objective manner.Conduct periodic and planned assurance activities including inspections, audits and other governance activities.Support sites through WHS issues raised by consultation forums, industrial representative bodies including unions and safety regulators.Review hazard, incident & injury data on ongoing basis for the purpose of generating determining incident and risk trends.Promote safety processes across the organisation and encourage consistency and standardisation of safe practices where applicable.Maintain site WHS Risk Registers ensuring corrective actions are progressed, and follow up reviews are conducted ensuring effectiveness of control measures implemented.Monitoring the incident and hazard reporting system, updating and correcting data, and ensuring investigations are completed by managers within assigned timelines.Provide expert WHS advice across all levels of the organisation and departments.Provide guidance to ensure the WHS consultation arrangements including designated work groups, health and safety representatives and WHS Committees are maintained.Develop safety work instructions and guidance material.Undertake and facilitate operational and task risk assessments.  Provide WHS training and information, as required, across all levels of the organisation.Any other duties as assigned that are relevant to the role and within capability.Work Health & Safety (WHS) ComplianceTake reasonable care of your own health and safety and the health and safety of others in the workplace.Comply with St Vincent's WHS policies, protocols, procedures, and instructions.Report any workplace injury, incident, or unsafe conditions which come to your attention.CAPABILITYPersonalPersonal effectivenessExecutes Results – Sets and measures team goals, driving pursuit of higher standards of practiceLearning AgilityFlexibility – Responds to new and complex situations by adjusting behaviour appropriatelyOutcomesPerson-centredPatient Excellence – Monitors satisfaction levels and proactively addresses issuesInnovation and ImprovementContinuous Improvement – Anticipates problems and continuously improves systems and processesStrategyDriving ResultsDrives For Results – Takes ownership for performance of team resultsOrganisational AcumenShort Term Planning – Uses information and organisational knowledge to make decisions and achieve resultsPeopleWorking with othersLeads Others – Shares responsibilities, providing support and effective communicationCollaborationOperates Cross Functionally – Develops constructive relationships across the organisationOUR VALUESCompassionOur care is an act of love. We are present as they are, and as they needJusticeOur pursuit of what is right and just empowers us to speak and act with courage on behalf of those in needIntegrityOur actions and decisions are transparent and aligned with our valuesExcellenceOur services are safe and evidence-based, and we continually seek to improve in everything we doKEY STAKEHOLDERSINTERNAL:Executives and senior leadersManagersWHS, injury management and wellbeing colleaguesPeople Partners, P&C TeamHSRs and WHS Committee membersEXTERNAL:WHS RegulatorDepartment of HealthCo-located and partner businessesUnionsVendorsQUALIFICATIONSMUST HAVE EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTSEssentialAbility to identify and foster productive, professional relationships with key stakeholders.Change management and communication skills and ability to empower individuals through an adaptive and flexible leadership style to enhance the culture of safety in the organisation.Demonstrated ability to deliver results and capture opportunities efficiently whilst upholding professional, ethical and legal standards.Ability to proactively identify and evaluate issues, use sound judgement and expertise to implement practical solutions.Expert knowledge of WHS legislation, and related codes, standards, and industry practice.  Highly developed communication and conflict resolution skills that have delivered successful outcomes.Expert in relationship management, fostering partnerships and working with others to achieve organisational objectives.Customer focus with a highly developed ability to engage, maintain collaborative and effective relationships in order to facilitate change and improve processes and systems to achieve measurable outcomes.High level computer literacy.A minimum 5 years' experience in a WHS role.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and actions at the one time.Ability and flexibility to work across multiple work sites.High level written communication skills.Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor.DesirableDemonstrated ability to manage the WHS function across a health service or similar industryExperience in a WHS role within a large, complex organisationsMINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTSEssentialMinimum Diploma of WHSWHS Incident Investigation qualification (e.g. ICAM Lead Investigator)  Driver's licenceDesirableWHS Internal AuditorDegree in WHS or related fieldCert IV Training & AssessmentClosing Date:9 November :59pmReconciliation Action Plan:At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.For further information, visit or get in contact at View Reconciliation Action PlanCode of Conduct:View Code of Conduct