Position overview

The People and Culture Division is responsible for providing strategic leadership, advice and operational implementation of human resource strategies relating to a diverse range of human resource and industrial relations functions across CHS.

Working closely with CHS Divisions, the People and Culture portfolio delivers strategically-aligned workforce solutions in areas including people policy and strategies, change management, human resource management, organisational development, diversity and inclusion, general clinical and leadership training, workforce planning, industrial and employee relations, pay and benefits, rewards and recruitment. The Division also plans, designs, communicates and monitors CHS Workforce Strategy with a focus on building organisation and change management capability, and providing workforce data to support strategic decision-making to enable CHS to deliver on its strategic agenda.

The Work Health Safety Unit provides strategic leadership, advice and effective coordination and implementation of work health safety (WHS) management strategies, frameworks and activities. The unit provides WHS advisory and support services and oversees the implementation of systems and processes that assist Canberra Health Services to become a safe and accountable healthcare environment.

Canberra Health Services staff, people who use our services and visitors have the right to feel safe and be safe in Canberra Health Services workplaces.

One of the key focus of the role will be to strengthen CHS’s system‑wide approach to Occupational Violence (OV) through a review of the existing operating model and contribution to the design of a contemporary structure that enables appropriate coverage, capability and governance for sustainable OV prevention and response.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Under the direction of the Senior Director WHS, you will play a lead role in ensuring that Canberra Health Services provides a safe working environment for staff, clients and others. You will:

• Review the current CHS Occupational Violence (OV) model and design a contemporary, fit‑for‑purpose OV model that provides sufficient coverage, operational support, and governance oversight. This work includes assessing organisational need, specifying role profiles, and defining future clinical lead positions to support the sustained implementation of the model.
• Manage end-to-end project lifecycles, including scoping, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and evaluation to ensure timely and effective delivery of initiatives.
• Oversee project reporting, including preparation of briefs, submissions, and progress updates for Executive and senior stakeholders.
• Drive change management and workforce engagement strategies to embed project outcomes and enhance organisational capability.
• Lead the development, consultation, and implementation of evidence-based OV prevention and management projects and initiatives in alignment with the CHS OV Action Plan 2024-28.
• Analyse OV quality indicators (Safety, Effectiveness, and Patient-centred outcomes) to inform decisions, prioritise work, advance OV initiatives, and allocate finite resources.
• Coordinate and manage the development and implementation of assessments interventions, initiatives and projects for the prevention and management of occupational violence.
• Foster positive workforce engagement and collaboration to: enhance visibility of OV projects, advance OV initiatives, maintain positive reporting culture, and ensure adherence to OV Procedure.
• Establish and maintain stakeholder relationships through effective tracking and management of occupational violence incidents, issues and through appropriate liaison, communication, negotiation with stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice, reports and submissions to Executive and Management to support the delivery of assessments, interventions, initiatives and projects for the prevention and management of occupational violence.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the section and the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee preparation and draft of CEO and Ministerial briefs, or Minutes for the executive.
• Represent the directorate to external agencies.
• Develop, maintain and monitor project plans to align with the organisational strategy.
• Provide advice to employees, managers and the executive across the Directorate.
• Lead and direct others, with or without direct supervisory responsibilities, in order to drive the occupational violence strategy.
• Undertake the analytical and research activities to ensure that our occupational violence approach is grounded in contemporary practice.
• Monitor the appropriateness of the organisational response to Occupational violence, and where necessary use this analysis to improve systems and processes.

Qualifications

Essential

• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role as detailed in the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks

Desirable

• WHS tertiary qualifications and/or substantial experience in WHS in a healthcare setting.
• Tertiary qualification and registration in a health-related field such as Bachelor of Nursing, Psychology or Social Work.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates and contingencies.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Experience in a tertiary healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated project management skills supporting effective delivery of organisational initiatives.
• Current driver’s licence.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy, as a Category B role.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven experience in project governance, stakeholder engagement, and change management in a healthcare or similar environment.
2. Strong analytical skills to assess organisational needs, interpret data, and inform project decisions.
3. Knowledge of Occupational Violence risk factors and prevention strategies, with the ability to integrate this expertise into project design.
4. High-level communication and influencing skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, briefs, and presentations for senior stakeholders.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.