Policy Officer

**Who are Uniting?**

At Uniting, we believe in taking real steps to make the world a better place. We work to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

Our services cover aged care, community services, disability, early learning and chaplaincy and we get involved in social justice and advocacy issues that impact the people we serve. As an organisation we walk alongside Aboriginal people and communities and celebrate diversity and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.

**About The Role**:
Uniting's Research and Social Policy team is recruiting a Policy Officer to join us on a full-time ongoing basis. The role sits within Uniting's Social Impact and Advocacy directorate, alongside the Advocacy/Government Relations team and the Innovation Team. Our work aims to disrupt entrenched disadvantage by informing practice improvement, innovation and advocacy.

This is a broad and varied role with interactions with programs, practitioners, and sector peers, with opportunities to engage with university partners and government agencies. You will build your knowledge of a wide variety of practical social policy issues by consulting our services and preparing submissions. You'll build your theoretical knowledge and critical ability by contributing to the development of position papers. And you'll build your networks by supporting our Principal Policy Officers to engage and influence sector peers, policymakers, and others.

Day to day responsibilities are set out in the Position Description.

**About You**

This role would suit an emerging policy analyst looking to gain experience and develop their skills in a practical environment. We are particularly interested in applicants who will be able to contribute to the full policy analysis life-cycle from issue identification, through consultation and analysis, to disseminating results to diverse audiences and translating them into practice.

**Your skill set will include**:

- An ability to translate findings into submissions, policy papers and briefing notes
- An ability to consult and cultivate productive working relationships with practitioners and other colleagues
- A firm commitment to social justice and interest in the research and policy areas covered by Uniting's services

**Your Qualifications and Experience**:

- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline (e.g. social science, public health or social work)
- Experience in social policy development and analysis, including qualitative consultations and documentary research

**Even Better**:

- Knowledge of government bodies and of social policy relating to the areas in which Uniting offers services. Knowledge or an interest in housing and homelessness would be a particular strength.
- Experience and skills in using social policy analysis to influence discourse and policy change.
- Experience and skills in dissemination and knowledge translation, particularly influencing policy discourse or government policy decisions.
- Interest in either quantitative or qualitative research methodologies, sufficient to undertake small ad-hoc analyses

**What next?**

Please submit a cover letter and CV, showing how you meet the criteria described above under "Your skill set will include", "Your qualifications and experience" and "Even better".

**_ At Uniting we believe vaccination to be the best way to keep our employees and clients safe from COVID-19. We require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (3 doses) as a condition of employment._**
- At Uniting, we welcome and celebrate everyone regardless of lifestyle, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity and proudly create a safe and inclusive environment for staff and clients._