Heatwave HELP Coordinator

About the Role

Established in late 2020, the Grampians Public Health Unit provides and supports health protection, prevention and population health, and health emergency management services to people living in 11 local government areas, on the lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadwadjaili, Eastern Maar, Dja DJa Wurrung, Djab Wurrung, Wergaia, Jupagalk and Wadawurrung peoples.  Our catchment spans from the outskirts of Melbourne to the South Australian Border, reaching either side of the Western Highway for its entire length, across a range of landscapes and climate zones.  The GPHU Climate Change and Health program is one of the Grampians Region Population Health Plan's nine priority areas for action. 

Working with many stakeholder organisations and individuals across numerous sectors, Heatwave HELP (HwH) Co-ordinators implement the Heatwave HELP program in one or more local government areas (LGAs) in the Grampians region of Victoria. The program, part of the Grampians Public Health Unit's (GPHU) climate change and health program,  aims to mobilise community leaders and service providers to identify, reach, support and assist those at most risk from severe harm from heatwave to prepare for heatwave and reduce the risk of heatwave-related health impacts. To achieve this the program seeks to develop and use community-led strategies that have measurable outcomes (including reduction in requirement for ambulance or hospital attendance during a heatwave event), are sustained beyond the end of the program and are potentially scalable.     

The GPHU will consider applications from people who wish to work full-time or part-time 

Key Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate and report the local implementation and evaluation of the Heatwave HELP program 
• Working with local leadership in each local government area (LGA) and beyond as required to 
• establish and support LGA HwH Coordinating Committee in its functions overseeing the LGA implementation of the HwH program
• develop and implement an LGA-based HwH project plan
• Reduce vulnerability and build adaptive capacity in target LGAs by mobilising existing structures, resources, knowledge and Indigenous knowledge and culture about and for community resilience
• Working with colleague HwH coordinators to
• Develop training and resource materials needed to assist local leaders and service providers in identifying, reaching and supporting heatwave preparations by those they know to be at high risk of severe harm from extreme heat
• Deliver HwH-related training to local leaders and service providers as needed
• develop a strategy for enacting local HwH support structures ahead of a forecast heatwave
• Working with the GPHU to undertake other HwH/ climate change and health program tasks as required

Skills & Experience
The role will need someone who has

• Extensive, relevant and successful project co-ordination with experience working directly with a community of diverse stakeholders to achieve a measurable outcome
• Solid understanding of the health impacts of climate change
• Excellent capacity to plan, problem solve, implement and evaluate a project including regarding process, impact and outcome evaluation
• Excellent experience with data collection processes, practices and technologies and ability to analyse and use data to inform decisions
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including strong relationship management, emotional and social awareness and ability to manage sensitive and complex issues
• Excellent written and verbal and communication skills
• Driver’s Licence

And if possible also has

• the ability to have health-related conversations with general public and health care providers
• Qualification and/or extensive experience in a clinical discipline or public health or community development or emergency management

Culture & Benefits
At Grampians Health, we recognise our staff are our greatest asset.  We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our staff, patients, residents, visitors, volunteers and contractors at all sites.

• Flexible work arrangements and purchase leave opportunities
• Salary packaging for living expenses such as rent/mortgage plus meals, entertainment & holidays
• Access to discounted health club membership
• Staff rewards and recognition programs

About Grampians Health
Grampians Health provides healthcare to a large region at our campuses based in Ballarat, Dimboola, Edenhope, Horsham and Stawell. 

Our mission is to deliver sustainable healthcare tailored to evolving community and workforce needs. We strive to enhance services and careers, providing quality healthcare to rural and regional communities. Joining Grampians Health means being part of a diverse team, with a variety of career opportunities in acute, maternity, mental health, allied health, aged care and support services.

How to apply
Click APPLY or if you wish to discuss the role prior to applying, contact Rosemary Aldrich, Director Population and Public Health - GPHU on 0428176*** for a confidential discussion.

All appointments are subject to a satisfactory police records check, immunisation clearance and Working with Children check and/or NDIS Worker Screening Check.

All employees must be willing and able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when required, which at a minimum is a surgical mask.  Additional PPE requirements are role-dependent.

Grampians Health is a child safe organisation, committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.

Grampians Health is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex and asexual LGBTQIA+.