Deputy Commissioner, Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

About the role: 

Supporting the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner contributes to the delivery of the Commission's statutory functions and strategic priorities. The role exercises powers and responsibilities as delegated by the Commissioner and provides senior leadership across defined areas of the Commission's work. The Deputy Commissioner reports directly to the Commissioner.

The Deputy Commissioner leads priority portfolios and supports the effective performance of the Commission's functions, including monitoring, reporting, complaints management and system improvement activities. The role contributes to organisational leadership, including supporting culture, maintaining key relationships and enabling operational approaches that support the Commission's mandate.

The Deputy Commissioner plays an important role in supporting the Commission to hold government accountable for system performance, quality and safety, and to promote and protect the rights of consumers, families, carers and supporters. A key focus of the role is to champion and embed lived experience leadership across the Commission's work, including maintaining strong connections with lived and living experience communities. 

About you 

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of the Commission's statutory roles and responsibilities, with the ability to contribute to its effective operation and ongoing development. 
• Proven leadership and people management capability, with experience supporting high-performing teams and contributing to organisational culture. 
• Experience working at a complex system level, including contributing to strategic initiatives and governance in senior roles. 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver outcomes within defined areas of responsibility, supporting organisational direction, governance and performance. 
• Capacity to provide well-informed advice to support decision-making, including on complaints management, health privacy, emerging trends and system risks. 
• Highly developed communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working collaboratively across diverse communities and sectors.

Qualifications/requirements 

A relevant tertiary qualification in public policy, health, social sciences or a related discipline is desirable, together with experience in senior roles within complex public, community or human services environments. Familiarity with legislative or regulatory frameworks is advantageous. Candidates with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress, or as a family member, carer or supporter, are strongly encouraged and may be required for this role depending on the final composition of the Commission. Strong connections to lived and living experience communities, along with experience applying lived experience perspectives in leadership, policy or service settings, will be highly regarded. 

About us: 

At the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, we're looking for people who are committed to making the Victorian mental health system the best it can be. 

With a strong focus on lived and living experience, we place the voices of individuals with direct experience of mental health challenges at the core of our work. We hold government accountable for the performance, quality, and safety of Victoria's mental health and wellbeing system, and drive system-wide cultural change, particularly by elevating lived experience leadership and reducing stigma relating to mental health.  

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We want to recruit the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background.  

About the Commission 

The Commission is an independent and impartial statutory body. It is charged with reporting on system performance and overseeing the implementation of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System recommendations. It also holds the authority to initiate its own inquiries and provide independent advice to Ministers. 

With a clear focus on quality and safety, the Commission receives and investigates complaints about service delivery and can require services to make changes in response. This function plays a critical role in driving accountability and continuous improvement across the system. 

The Commission promotes and models the leadership and full participation of people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress, ensuring their voices shape the policies and programs that affect them. The Commission also elevates the role of families, carers, and supporters, recognising and promoting their valued contribution across the mental health and wellbeing system. 

How to apply: 

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats. 

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include an ASIC and AFSA screening check. 

Your application will be provided to a third-party recruiter who may contact you to discuss 

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.