Principal Public Health Medical Officer Communicable Disease

The successful applicant will play a key role in relation to developing, delivering and improving investigation and control activities in Victoria's health protection activities.

This position will be responsible for providing authoritative Public Health advice, information and direction to departmental officers, management, key stakeholders and members of the community. This job offers an excellent opportunity for those wishing to develop skills in health protection (Communicable Disease) policy and planning, and Public Health emergency management and would be suitable for someone undertaking advanced training in Public Health medicine.

This position is required to participate in an on-call roster and provide response outside of standard business hours and as such the position is expected to be available to contribute to the branch response, including after-hours work and stand-by duties.

• A Medical Practitioner registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority with an interest in Public Health?
• A Public Health medicine advanced trainee?
• Skilled and experienced in developing and leading Public Health and health protection activities?
• Proactive in taking the initiative with a commitment to continuous improvement?

About us: 

At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.  

We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all. 

How you'll make a difference:

Victoria's Chief Health Officer is responsible for the provision of Public Health advice to the Minister for Health, the Department of Health, other government stakeholders and the Victorian community, including the exercise of statutory powers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. The Office of the Chief Health Officer works with a range of internal and external stakeholders in relation to the statutory, policy, administrative and strategic priorities of the Chief Health Officer.  

Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate:

• Provide expert Public Health Medical, technical and strategic advice and input to policy development, review and reporting on significant issues pertaining to Public Health issues.
• Provide Public Health Medical advice and information to respond to incidents and emergencies in the range of environmental health and Communicable Diseases.
• Improve Public Health outcomes by working collaboratively with Communicable Disease experts on the development of standards, procedures, guidelines and policies.
• Rapidly identify and characterise Public Health risks allowing interpretation of implications for policy, practice and being able to appropriately prioritise a response.
• Provide timely expert advice and develop open and effective communication strategies including collection of highly complex, contentious, or sensitive information on matters of Public Health.
• Provide high quality business intelligence, authoritative advice and sound policy recommendations to senior management and government based on comprehensive research.
• Oversee the development of policy and initiatives that meet government and departmental objectives within resourcing, timeline, and budget parameters.
• Review and report on high priority issues, risks and trends and prepare and present comprehensive reports, ministerial briefs and cabinet and agency submissions on complex issues.
• Pro-actively build and maintain effective working relationships and facilitate the flow of information across the department and with key external stakeholders.
• Maintain an understanding of Commonwealth and State legislative and policy reform directions to influence policy development.
• Represent the department on committees and community-based forums concerned with achieving government and departmental objectives.
• Keep accurate and complete records of your work activities in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's records, information security and privacy policies and requirements.
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and for that of others in the workplace by working in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's occupational health and safety (OHS) policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate how the actions and outcomes of this role and work unit impact clients and the department's ability to deliver, or facilitate the delivery of, effective support and services.

To learn more please click ‘Apply' to view the Position Description on the Careers.vic website. 

What we offer: 

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.

How to apply: 

Applications should include a resume and a cover letter. Click the ‘Apply' button to view further information about the role including key contact details and the advertisement closing date. 

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians. 

All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at *********@health.vic.gov.au. Please view our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion here.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks including proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence, in line with our Privacy Policy. 

The Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) Recruitment Policy allows for priority consideration for Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform. As such, these employees are strongly encouraged to submit their application through JSE rather than via external advertisement.