The Policy Officer will play a pivotal role in the Centre’s emerging work in Tasmania. This role involves providing research, policy, and communications advice. You will have experience in writing, preferably delivering policy advice within a social justice, advocacy, or political setting.

As a Policy Officer, you will deliver broad, evidence-based advice and contribute to developing solutions, proposals, and recommendations that drive progress in the child and family services sector. You will leverage your capabilities in policy, research, and evidence to help the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare understand and respond to strategic opportunities and risks, advance our social and systems change agendas, and reinforce our position as a thought leader for Tasmania’s children and families.

The Centre operates a hybrid working model, offering flexibility while ensuring robust engagement and collaboration across our teams. This position is open to candidates who live in Tasmania, in a rural or regional location.

• Reports to: Manager – Executive Strategy & Partnerships
• Reporting to this role: Initially, there are no positions reporting to this role. As the role expands a project or administrative office will report to this role.

Key Accountabilities

• Contribute to the Centre’s understanding of the external environment by monitoring and analysing emerging news, evidence, research, and information from government, peak bodies, academia, the social services sector, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Source and analyse internal and external quantitative and qualitative data for policy submissions, position papers, and other policy and advocacy materials.
• Monitor the regulatory landscape, researching and analysing current and future policy issues. Provide authoritative advice on trends and emerging issues, including news and information that present risks or opportunities for Tasmania’s children, families, and the Centre’s members that support them.
• Contribute expertise to policy and research partnerships and projects, including managing projects as required.
• Engage with members and stakeholders across government, the community sector, and academia to understand opportunities, issues and needs for children, families, and the sector that supports them.
• Tailor documents to respond to the context of different audiences, including senior public servants, Ministers, parliamentarians, and the child and family services sector leadership and workforce.
• Participate in relevant government and community sector networks.

Key Selection Criteria

• Experience working as a research assistant, policy officer, or related role within the public or Not-for-Profit sector.
• Experience conducting desktop research or contributing to primary research processes, preferably in a field related to child and family welfare.
• Well-developed analytical skills, including the ability to source, synthesise, and critically evaluate data and evidence from diverse sources.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written materials and communications in a variety of formats.
• Effective time management skills with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage various tasks across multiple projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a busy, responsive, and close-knit team.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively with stakeholders, including community groups, government agencies, child and family services organisations, and other partners.

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of the community-based child, youth, and family services sector; and
• Experience working in Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector.

About the Centre

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (the Centre) is the peak body for child and family services in Tasmania and Victoria representing over 100 community service organisations (CSOs), students and individuals working across the continuum of child and family services across the two states.

The Centre advocates for the rights of children and young people to be heard, to be safe, to access education and to remain connected to family, community and culture. Our vision is to see a community that is fair, equitable and creates opportunities for children and their families to live happy and healthy lives.

The Centre is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace, and to the health, wellbeing and cultural safety of our staff. We encourage applicants of any background, culture, gender, and experience, strongly encouraging applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Benefits of working at the Centre

• Up to three days additional leave (pro rata) over Christmas/New Year period
• Family friendly flexible working arrangements
• A flexible hybrid work-from-home arrangement
• Paid parental/carer/study leave
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• A supportive and positive work environment
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Leave loading of 17.5%
• Attractive not-for-profit salary packaging (this boosts your income by reducing the amount of tax you pay), with additional Meal/Holiday accommodation benefit

How to Apply

Please click 'Apply Now' to email a cover letter that includes responses to the Key Selection Criteria and should outline a summary of your skills and experience which relate to the role description (maximum 2-pages), along with your CV.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis as we would like to appoint as soon as possible. For any further enquiries please email Imogen Gerraty – [email protected] using the subject line: Policy Officer - Tasmania Based enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.