Assistant Director, Speech Pathologist

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) was formed on 1 January 2019. The role of the Commission is to protect and enhance the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of people receiving aged care.

The Commission is the national end-to-end regulator of aged care services and the primary point of contact for consumers and providers in relation to quality and safety. Our vision is to support a world-class aged care system driven by empowered consumers who enjoy the best possible quality of life.

We aim to build confidence and trust in aged care, empower consumers, promote best practice service provision, promote quality standards and hold providers to account for their performance against the expected standards of care. We seek to promote an aged care system that develops safer systems of care, inculcates a culture of safety and quality, and learns from mistakes, while providing the oversight that can assure the community that aged care services are operating as they should, including working on continuous improvement.

Meet some of our people and learn more about the Commission and our Regulatory Strategy on our website www.agedcarequality.gov.au

About the Position

The Chief Clinical Advisor group protects and enhances the safety, health and well-being and quality of life of people receiving aged care by driving a higher standard of clinical rigour across the aged care sector. Reporting to the Director, Food Nutrition and Dining Unit, you will play an active role in supporting and maintaining the Commission’s regulatory campaign and activities to improve food, dining, and nutrition in aged care.

As Assistant Director (Speech Pathologist), you will provide clinical advice and support to Commission staff to assist them in understanding and interpreting information and identifying risk and appropriate strategies to manage relating to eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties in the context of food, nutrition and the dining experience. You will also engage with key stakeholders (including providers, consumers, representatives and aged care staff) that contact the Commission through the food, nutrition and dining hotline, as well as other regulatory functions, to provide support and advice on food, nutrition and dining related matters.

As a qualified Speech Pathologist, you will bring an understanding of contemporary evidence-based practice regarding eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties and risk identification and management within aged care, together with excellent clinical judgement, analytical and critical thinking skills, and the ability to apply these skills to your role. You will support the Director, Food Nutrition and Dining Unit, as well as other unit staff through the provision of evidence-based information, analysis and advice on key clinical areas and risk. You will bring effective leadership and management skills to establish and maintain the food, nutrition and dining unit to be a responsive, versatile, and high performing team.

This role will require extensive travel which may include interstate, regional and remote areas.

Position Duties

• Support the implementation and key operations of the new Food Nutrition and Dining Unit within the Commission. 
• Analyse and review food, nutrition and dining issues relating to eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties and appropriate risk management strategies to understand where further support and information is needed for Commission staff to support decision making.
• Provide expert speech pathology advice and support to Commission staff in relation to performance of regulatory and other activities, and in response to questions that may relate to food, dining and nutrition matters, specifically eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
• Provide information and guidance within scope of practice as a Speech Pathologist in an aged care context, and from a regulatory perspective, to external stakeholders, including consumers, approved providers and other interested parties through the Commission’s ‘food, nutrition and dining hotline’.
• Participate, where required, both on-site and virtually to approved provider services to support the Commission’s regulatory activities such as targeted assessment monitoring, site audits and performance assessments.
• Collaborate with the Commission’s Clinical Unit and contribute to the Commission’s functions for the provision of clinical advice in relation to eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. 
• Support the food, nutrition and dining unit’s work to promote evidence-based guidance around choice and the provision of food and fluids, and enhancing the dining experience for consumers.
• Develop and or contribute to resources on food and dining experience and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties and their management to drive a higher standard of rigour across the aged care sector, and to support the functions of the Commission.
• Represent the Commission and Chief Clinical Advisor group when required.
• Actively contribute to the Commission’s strategic directions and achievements against our corporate priorities.
• Foster and support staff wellbeing and contribute towards maintaining a positive work culture.
• Maintain own knowledge of contemporary evidence-based, best practice in speech pathology in an aged care setting.
• Commit to working in the office at least three days a week; the Commission’s agile working offer is an opportunity for staff to work a 3/2 day split between any Commission office and working from home.

Position Eligibility Requirements

• A Bachelor in speech pathology (or equivalent) recognized by Speech Pathology Australia. 
• It will be a requirement for any successful candidate to be credentialed as a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist through Speech Pathology Australia.
• Current knowledge and expertise demonstrated by comprehensive experience in residential, community aged care and/or rehabilitative settings, as well as experience within a regulatory environment.
• Ability to maintain work hours that align with the Commission’s ‘Food hotline’ (9am-5pm AEDT Monday to Friday).
• High level skills in critical analysis, clinical judgement and decision-making to make reasoned judgements about care provided (in relation to food and dining experience – specifically eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties and appropriate risk management strategies).
• High level skills in clinical risk management.
• High level ability to adapt and provide guidance and clinical advice within the scope of practice (speech pathology) to a range of audiences, including Commission staff (other clinicians and non-clinical staff), aged care providers and consumers.
• High level report writing (eg. Clinical reports, program evaluation briefs).
• High level ability to prepare and deliver education in multiple forms (including presentations).

Highly Desirable:

• Qualifications and experience in relation to dysphagia (including understanding and use of IDDSI in practice), and the clinical needs and support for people living with dementia.
• Experience in establishing and managing programs and/or campaigns.

Position Notes

Salary offered will be between $109,853 and $125,288 per annum depending on skills and experience. In addition, 15.4% superannuation will be paid.

* Note; these figures do not include the newly agreed APS Enterprise Agreement bargaining pay offer.

Only candidates who hold Australian citizenship can apply. Appointment is conditional on successfully completing a national police check. For more information, please visit www.apsc.gov.au/citizenship-aps

In your online application, you will be asked to provide a statement of claims against the Eligibility Requirements in no more than 600 words.

Non-ongoing opportunity will be offered for an initial term of 12 months with the possibility of extension up to maximum period of two years.

Merit Pool established through this selection process may be used to fill this or future Non-Ongoing vacancies.

How to Apply?

1.    Navigate to ‘Current Vacancies’ section of the careers page and locate the relevant job title. All documentation relating to the role and application process will be located here.

2.    Click on the job title and at the bottom of the Advertisement you will be asked to create an account If you are a first-time user or to sign in to complete your application.

3.    As part of your application you will be requested to complete a statement of claim and attach your Resume. Cover letter is optional

4.    Click ‘Apply Now’ when you are ready to submit your application.

Please complete an online application form by 11:59pm (AEST) on Sunday 28 January 2024.

Only completed applications will be accepted. 

Contact Officer:

Please contact our recruitment team on (02) 9633 3*** or ***********@agedcarequality.gov.au for assistance with accessing our website or with lodging your application.

Specific questions about the role can be directed to Jessica Zilujko by emailing ***************@agedcarequality.gov.au with Position title in the subject line.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Commission is committed to fostering a workplace with flexible work arrangements to support a diverse, respectful and inclusive culture for all staff. 

The Commission recognises the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and is committed to the implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan. The Commission values the unique knowledge and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees which strengthens and supports our focus on protecting and enhancing the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of aged care consumers.

Further information:

For further information about the Quality Commission, office locations and other related resources, please visit https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au

For more information on the Australian Public Service, please visit http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code/factsheet-4 and http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code.