Corporate Support Stream
Position Title: WHS Officer, Human Resources
Classification: APS5/6
Reports to:
Director – Human Resource team
Direct Reports: N/A
Agency size:
around 500 FTE at present
Location:
Geelong
Position Overview
Human Resource Team
The Human Resource (HR) team delivers enterprise-wide HR services that make DisabilityCare Australia a
sustainable, open and accountable organisation of high integrity with a skilled and engaged workforce in a safe and
healthy work environment.
Work Health and Safety
Work Health & Safety (WH&S) is an area that sits within the HR team. It supports DisabilityCare Australia business by
developing and implementing integrated people policies, practices and processes in relation to the management of
worker health. WHS includes the areas of Prevention, Early Intervention, Wellbeing and Health Case Management.
We work in partnership with corporate stakeholder forums to build a safe, healthy and productive workforce.
The Work Health and Safety Officer is accountable for undertaking a range of procedural, operational and
administrative activities. They will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the requirements of the WHS position
as well as the legislative, regulatory and compliance frameworks that underpin its activities.
The Work Health and Safety Officer will be responsible for the provision of efficient, timely and accurate advice,
early intervention, employee health, wellbeing and prevention activities. This will include risk assessment and
system accessibility matters relating to injured or ill employees.
The successful candidate will be required to liaise with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including
injured or ill employees, managers, and allied health professionals. Liaise with Comcare on legislative interpretation
and compliance to enable DisabilityCare Australia to meet its obligations. They will also be accountable for the
quality of their work and meeting agreed performance targets and service deliverables.
DisabilityCare Australia welcomes and encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
people with diverse culture and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.
Duties
The duties for the Workplace Health and Safety Officer include:
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Provision of strategic advice on Work Health and Safety (WHS) related policies and risk management.
Be individually accountable for completion of work within timeframes and quality requirements, share own
expertise with others and guide and mentor less experienced employees.
Provide sound advice to clients and stakeholders regarding complex and/or sensitive WHS and related HR
issues.
One big difference to lots of lives.
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Has broad experience and proficiency in information systems to analyse and maintain WHS related data.
Apply knowledge and experience to undertake WHS risk assessments in the work place.
Interpret and apply legislation, policy, agreements and guidelines to recommend solutions to address WHS
issues.
Understand, analyse and interpret business and team plans, key policies, operations and structures.
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to support the Work Health and Safety Management System.
Build and sustain relationships including communicating with others regarding WHS matters.
Resolve problems using knowledge and experience, and take the initiative to identify alternative courses of
action and implications.
Regularly modify local activities and processes affecting how work is performed in compliance with
legislative and policy requirements, and HR, WHS and IT accessibility frameworks.
Take the initiative to identify risks and contribute to the development of strategies to address them.
Personal Attributes
The Workplace Health and Safety Officer will have demonstrated the following attributes:
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Well-developed oral and written communication skills with well-developed interpersonal skills, including the
ability to communicate in a confidential and sensitive manner and excellent stakeholder management skills.
Ability to establish and maintain relationships and to communicate with others regarding WHS matters.
Able to respond to and prioritise competing and often urgent requests in a calm and efficient manner while
maintaining high work standards and attention to detail.
Proven ability to achieve results and manage competing demands within a dynamic environment.
Experience in undertaking WHS risk assessments in the work place.
Understanding of legislation and policies in relation to Workplace Health and Safety – particularly in a
Government Framework.
A high level of proficiency in Office Software particularly with Outlook, Word, Excel and WHS information
systems.
Main Relationships
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DisabilityCare Australia Senior Management.
DisabilityCare Australia Managers and Staff.
Comcare and the Australian Public Service Commission.
Allied health care professionals.
FaHCSIA WHS and Corporate.
Qualifications
Essential:
The successful applicant will be required to obtain a Certificate IV in WHS and/or a Diploma in
Government (Workplace Inspection) within 12 months from the date of appointment and have
experience in the WHS field in an Australian Public Service context.
Desirable:
Formal qualifications in WHS and/or safety-related disciplines, e.g. a degree in WHS or a safetyrelated discipline combined with significant relevant experience in work health and safety matters in
an Australian Public Service context highly desirable.
One big difference to lots of lives.