Position Purpose

The Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Project Officer is responsible for providing a high level of program and administration support to Western Health Alliance Ltd (WHAL) trading as Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN), with a focus on improving primary care services in the region.  

The Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Project Officer will collaborate with members of WNSW PHN staff to generate relevant information and data needed to support the improvement, coordination and integration of Culturally Safe Primary Care Services for Aboriginal people living in our region.

The position will engage, and build a relationship with Regional Assemblies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO’s), Aboriginal Communities and the WNSW PHN Aboriginal Health Council to achieve outcomes regarding improving Aboriginal Health in Western NSW.   

WNSW PHN considers that being Aboriginal is a genuine occupational qualification under s14 of the Anti-discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).  

While WNSWPHN recognises that there are people of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent living across the region; reference is being made as Aboriginal in recognition of Aboriginal people being the first people of NSW.  

Selection Criteria

Essential

• Identify as being Aboriginal, be of Aboriginal descent and be accepted in your local community as being Aboriginal (WNSW PHN considers that being Aboriginal is a genuine occupational qualification under Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 NSW).
• Tertiary level qualifications in a relevant field or significant experience in the field required for this role.
• In depth knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and experience working with Aboriginal Health programs or related area.
  Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Cultural Safety.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience engaging with Aboriginal health and community stakeholders.
• Sound computer literacy, including the ability to work with databases.
• Travel, including overnight stays, across the region within the WHAL’s boundary will be necessary.
• Capacity to travel within western NSW; hold a current driver’s licence.

Desirable

• Current networks with Aboriginal health and community stakeholders relevant to portfolio.
• Understanding of commissioning in the healthcare sector.
• Experience working in the health, NGO or community services sectors

About Western Health Alliance Ltd (WHAL)

Trading as Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN)

The Western NSW PHN (WNSW PHN) is one of 31 Primary Health Networks across Australia. We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health, established to support frontline health and wellbeing services. Our focus is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care, ensuring people receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

WNSW PHN is an agile and high performing organisation that responds to the identified needs of the community, Commonwealth and State health policy, and the development needs of primary health care providers.   We work closely with general practice, Aboriginal Medical Services and other health care providers, Local Health Districts, non-government organisations and the broader community to plan and fund programs that support local health services to meet the health needs of our communities.

Benefits to working with WHAL

We pride ourselves on being supportive and flexible and offer a great range of benefits including:

• Generous salary packaging options up to $18,450 per year
• Professional development allowance and leave
• Family friendly and flexible working arrangements (including Hybrid model)
• Collaboration with passionate likeminded professionals
• 5 weeks annual leave
• Option to purchase an additional 2 weeks leave or cash out 2 weeks
• Additional leave between the Christmas and New Year period
• Fitness Passport
• 6 weeks paid parental leave

Applying for a position

• Obtain and carefully read the information pack for the position of interest.
• ​Conduct some initial research on the organisation by browsing the website and reading key resources.
• ​If you need to seek clarification or additional information on the organisation and/or the position, contact the appropriate person identified in the pack.
• Decide whether you possess, and can demonstrate your skills, experience, ​knowledge and ability against the selection criteria.
• When addressing the selection criteria, provide examples to demonstrate and
  substantiate your claims. Examples should outline a situation, identify the action you took and summarise the subsequent result. Keep your response to no more than two pages, plus your Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Be aware of the closing date and where and how to lodge your application. If, for any reason you cannot submit your application by the closing date, you should ring the contact officer to see if a late application will be accepted.
• If you require any special arrangements (e.g. wheelchair access, hearing or visual aids, etc.) to assist you to attend an interview, please discuss these with the contact officer when the interview is being arranged.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Donna Stanley on 0437 227 627.

An Information Pack is attached.