Policy & Advocacy Officer

Posted: 10/10/2024

Closing Date: 30/10/2024

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Sydney CBD

Job Category: Education & Training

**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.
- **Sydney CBD location**:

- **Hybrid setup with flexible working hours**:

- **Fixed term contract (parental leave cover) till 5 September 2025**

Are you interested in working on climate change and health and other healthcare policy issues for physicians? Do you have expertise or experience in addressing the social and environmental determinants of health? If so, we have an exciting maternity backfill opportunity till 5 September 2025 that may be for you

It is an exciting time to join the RACP to work with Fellows and other members of the College, particularly to advocate on climate change and health and other key health reform priorities, particularly health workforce, both nationally and at the state and territory levels.

**About the Role**

The Policy & Advocacy (P&A) team develops health related 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.

You will 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. You will also 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, position statements, advocacy materials (including submissions and letters), briefs, background papers and advice based on input and advice from College Fellow and Trainees and other stakeholder engagement
- Develop and implement policy, advocacy and communication strategies to support College priorities
- Monitoring key policy & advocacy issues and developments within areas of responsibility including climate change and health
- Research the evidence, literature base and external commentary on various health related topics
- Participate in the provision of rapid responses to health policy issues as they arise including on climate change and heath
- Develop persuasive and engaging written materials
- Project co-ordination to meet project timelines
- Build effective relationships with key stakeholders; across the College and with external organisations
- Provide advice to Policy and Advocacy Managers and staff, and senior management as required
- Remain up-to-date and well informed on policy matters that might affect the College or its members
- Other tasks required by the Policy and Advocacy Department as identified by Managers, GM or EGM of Policy & Advocacy

**Desired Skills and Experience**:
**About You**
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in health, policy, communications, sciences, political science public health, law or related disciplines
- Experience in the development of policies, position statements, submissions, briefing papers and other advocacy materials
- Knowledge and understanding of medical and health policy issues
- 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 style to a specific audience and /or purpose and with attention to detail
- Strong analytical skills, political judgement and strategic thinking
- Quantitative and/or qualitative research skills or experience
- 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 Aotearoa 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
- Skills in stakeholder eng