• Community Development (Community Services & Development)
  
• Full time
  
• $83,000 – $93,000 per year

VACCHO promotes substantive equality for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act (2010). This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Policy Officer will have the responsibility for delivering on VACCHO’s policy and advocacy agenda with clear priorities connected to the issues raised in the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum Action Plan. The Policy Officer will contribute to VACCHO being a strong voice for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and influencing policy across the range of health issue areas.

The Officer will also liaise closely with other members of the team to communicate the developments and outcomes of the working groups and action plan implementation process to the Partnership Forum, Member’s forum and through other mechanisms. The role will also support the Policy team in other areas of strategic priority through the development of evidence-based submissions, briefings, policy campaigns and other similar tasks when required.

Benefits

• Working for Community in a culturally safe Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.
• Access to generous Not for Profit salary packaging entitlements, bonus leave, cultural leave.
• Entitlement to leave loading.
• Organisational early finish Fridays and flexible working arrangements considered.
• Work in inner-city Collingwood with wellness spaces and end of trip facilities available.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support the delivery of the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum Action Plan.
• Produce high quality and relevant meeting papers and briefs and review and add value to briefs prepared by other stakeholders, to ensure decision makers are provided with relevant and timely information to enable effective and strategic decision making.
• Develop submissions, briefs, letters and responses to Government processes including Parliamentary or Government enquiries.
• Develop the production of VACCHO’s policy and advocacy documents such as reports and position papers.
• Provide timely, evidence based, strategic advice, reasoned recommendations and innovative solutions to complex and sensitive issues based on research to senior/ management to enable decision-making.
• Support advocacy led by VACCHO’s Executive Directors and staff within their business units.
• Support strategic planning, policy development and implementation for VACCHO.
• Assist VACCHO leaders to build relations with the Victorian Department of Health and other relevant Ministries to advance the provision of health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Assist VACCHO leaders to build relations with Members of Victoria’s Elected Representatives in order to gain their support for VACCHO’s policy work.
• Assist VACCHO leaders to build relations with other organisations in the health sector, gaining support for VACCHO’s objectives.
• Develop plans to assist VACCHO leaders to build strong relationships with VACCHO’s Members and mobilise their involvement in advocacy and campaigning.
• Assist in ensuring that VACCHO Members are informed about government policy and its effect on their delivery of services.

Key Selection Criteria

• Experience working in policy development and implementation.
• Good understanding of legislative and policy making processes and structures within Victoria
• Good knowledge of the health sector and policy in Victoria
• An ability to comprehend and analyse laws, policy and research to inform VACCHO’s advocacy and campaigns.
• Excellent written communication skills and demonstrated experience preparing complex briefs, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language to ensure they contain the information necessary to achieve their purpose and meet audience needs while ensuring appropriate style and formats are used.
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical and research skills with an aptitude for problem solving.
• Ability to understand issues and pressures to which the organisation has to respond and ability to understand the reasons behind the organisational climate and culture.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage sensitive information, maintain confidentiality and always remain impartial.
• Self-motivated and demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and as an effective team member, promoting cooperation and commitment to achieve goals.
• A flexible approach, with strong organisational and planning skills, including the ability to effectively manage time and workload, prioritise tasks, and meet changing circumstances, competing demands, interruptions, and deadlines.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience using Microsoft applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Project Management) combined with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience in housing or family violence or population health or training & skills sector.
• Tertiary qualification in public health, policy or another relevant field.

Highly Regarded

• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and commitment to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, and health.
• Demonstrated understanding of the philosophy and practice of Aboriginal Community Control.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Aboriginal peoples, Communities, and organisations, in a culturally safe, and appropriate, manner.
• Demonstrated understanding of LGBTQIASB+ issues and experience with LGBTQIASB+ people via professional engagement, employment or lived experience.

Get in touch

For more information regarding this role, please contact [email protected], using the subject line: Policy Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Other employment related information

Employment is subject to satisfactory and ongoing police records check (international where relevant), and Working with Children Check.

About Us

We are a centre of expertise, policy advice, training, innovation and leadership in Aboriginal health and wellbeing.

Visit us here for more info: vaccho.org.au.

A position description is attached.

VACCHO is committed to welcoming and embracing the diversity of cultures, identities, gender, sex, and sexually diverse identities and expressions, experiences, beliefs, and values of all people.

We believe in the right for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity at all times, and that all people who work for, govern or undertake work at or visit us should at all times feel safe and included.

About Salary Packaging

As a Public Benevolent Institute (PBI), we are able to offer generous tax concessions to our staff. For further information, please click here: salarypackagingplus.com.au: Categories & Benefits.