The Employee Safety and Wellbeing Division (ESW Division) is committed to the department's vision to create safe, healthy, respectful and inclusive working environments for Department employees to thrive and succeed.

The ESW Division performs it functions through six teams that span from prevention, through to response and recovery, along with strategy, advice and support, and diversity and inclusion. These teams adopt a holistic approach for supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce across schools, central and regional offices. This includes Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers' Compensation policy advice and support, for both physical and mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion initiatives. The objectives of the Division are to:

• promote positive wellbeing in working environments
• prevent against known and expected risks to health, safety and wellbeing
• respond swiftly and effectively to manage potential issues as they emerge and prevent injuries
• support employees to recover from injury and illness, and return to work
• promote respectful and inclusive workplaces that upholds equal opportunity and prevents discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• promote human rights and workforce diversity and inclusion.

About the role

The Senior OHS Policy Advisor role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Department of Education's health and safety culture and to make a meaningful difference to the Victorian community. This role is responsible for providing high level expertise and effective OHS advice to develop and deliver high quality policies and programs to support the health and wellbeing of all department employees, and support workplace managers to create safe and healthy workplaces across Victoria.

Located within the OHS Policy and Engagement Team in the Health and Safety Systems and Compliances Branch, this role will contribute to the implementation of evidence-based, data driven policy and programs.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• contributing to current priorities (that may evolve over time), including review of the OHS management systems for the Corporate, School and Early Learning Victoria workforces
• leading strategic policy projects, including co-designing, writing, and consulting on policy and programs that are practical, clearly written, reduce OHS administrative workload and improve the OHS and wellbeing of employees, including influencing program design and implementation and informing decision making
• analysing and interpreting data to inform the elimination and prevention of health and safety risk
• leading policy consultation working groups and discussion with key stakeholders across all workforces
• evaluating the effectiveness of OHS systems of work to enable continuous improvement
• developing written communications including detailed briefs, policy proposals, correspondence and other written communications as required
• managing health, safety and wellbeing related contracts, as required
• developing proactive and supportive communications for all department workforces on health, safety and wellbeing risks and supports available.

This role requires:

• strong policy writing and systems thinking skills and the ability to work effectively with other sections of a large and complex organisation to improve employee safety and wellbeing culture
• strong expertise in OHS management systems, programs and project management approaches and disciplines
• strong experience in and understanding of workplace psychological health and safety
• conceptual and analytical skills with the ability to think innovatively to inform future direction
• sound communication skills to work effectively with key internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be passionate about health and safety and experienced in OHS, project management and stakeholder consultation, and the ability to develop practical tools, resources, programs and services.

This role requires experience or qualification in Occupational Health and Safety (including physical and psychological).

If you require any reasonable adjustment through the recruitment process, please contact Carly Monaghan on 03 7022 1062 to enable us to assist you.

How To Apply

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter summarising their skills and experience.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 April 2026.