Advisor [Safety and Wellbeing]

As a department our purpose is to help the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impact of fire and emergency events.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency management programs and services throughout Queensland. The department encompasses Queensland Fire and Rescue, Rural Fire Service Queensland and State Operations, and also supports other volunteer groups providing emergency response to Queenslanders.

QFES is committed to improving the health, Safety and Wellbeing of its people as an integral part of its everyday activities.  The Injury Management team provides advice and support to QFES staff and volunteers who are ill or injured, and supports the wellbeing of QFES workforce, contractors, visitors and members of the public to achieve a healthy and safe work environment. The team helps with extended absences from work, WorkCover and Income Protection insurance claims, rehabilitation and return to work plans, and advises QFES senior management on fitness for duty to ensure a safe and sustainable return to work or volunteering after illness or injury in line with best practice policies and standards and the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

Reporting to the Manager, you will be responsible for providing technical advice, education, coaching and support to managers, staff, volunteers in the areas of health and Wellbeing, health and safety, and injury/illness management. You will work with key stakeholders to identify and manage risks, prevent injuries and dangerous situations through proactive strategies and initiatives, and support those who are ill or injured through rehabilitation and workers compensation processes, and return to work plans. You will contribute to the delivery of services such as monitoring legislative compliance, and development, promotion and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines, conducting risk assessments, inspections, investigations and audits, and case managing injured and ill workers in line with best practice guidelines. 

Highly desirable requirements 

• Holds a current Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) qualification or can obtain the qualification within a mutually agreed timeframe. 
• Holds a current Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator certification or can obtain the skill within a mutually agreed timeframe.
• Experience and/or qualifications in work, health and safety investigation.

Your part in the ongoing success of our department, in supporting frontline services will see you responsible for a variety of work, including, but not limited to:

• Coordinate and manage a broad range of health, Safety and Wellbeing activities throughout business areas including incident and hazard management and recording, workplace inspections, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure a healthy and safe work environment.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure early intervention and optimal return to work outcomes for ill or injured staff and volunteers, including coordination of rehabilitation and workers’ compensation processes. 
• Provide authoritative advice to managers, staff and volunteers relating to health, Safety and Wellbeing to support delivery of services and ensure compliance with organisational priorities, policy, processes and legislation. 
• Undertake case management services and provide advice regarding injury management, rehabilitation, and injury insurance claims processes and ensure return to work plans are developed in consultation with the ill or injured staff or volunteer. 
• Coordinate, identify and assess workplace hazards, conduct risk assessments and develop control strategies to address potential or existing hazards, minimise or eliminate risk to enhance safer workplaces and Wellbeing of QFES workforce.
• Facilitate, lead and review WHS investigations, and preparation of reports, ensuring application of best risk management principles in line with legislation and guidelines. 
• Plan and prepare submissions, reports, briefings and other relevant documentation relating to Safety and Wellbeing, and injury management issues and initiatives, in accordance with departmental requirements.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of relevant training programs and other information products to promote health, Safety and Wellbeing initiatives and strategies in the workplace.

To determine your suitability for the role, you will be assessed on the following Leadership Competencies for Queensland behavioural profiles that link to the “key accountabilities” for this role:

Leadership Competency Stream – Individual Contributor (leading self)

Vision

• Leads change in complex environments
• Makes insightful decisions

Results

• Builds enduring relationships
• Drives accountability and outcomes

Accountability

• Fosters healthy and inclusive workplaces
• Demonstrates sound governance

Once you join us we will want you to exemplify the QFES shared values of:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Courage
• Loyaly