The Principal Advisor is responsible for advising and responding to workplace health and safety and organisational wellbeing in youth detention centres.

The role provides a high level of specialist advice and support to centre SHW teams, supervisors and managers on work health and safety matters.

The role is responsible for developing and implementing local and departmental policies and procedures on workplace health and safety and organisational wellbeing, as well as designing and implementing specific initiatives in these areas.

This role will include the management of projects.

Job details

Key responsibilities:

• Provide expert advice in the development, implementation and evaluation of staff safety, wellbeing and workers compensation strategies, systems and youth detention centre specific safety management system policies, procedures and local Work Health and Safety initiatives in collaboration with other stakeholders.
• Manage and provide expert advice on matters relating to work health and safety, including the effective management of common law claims, and complex workplace incidents, WorkCover claims, and return to work programs within a complex detention centre environment and work collaboratively to mitigate and/or manage risk, including physical and psychological risk, with an aim of reducing workplace related injuries and/or illness in youth detention centres (YDC).
• Liaise with and support YDCs on complex injury case management, work health and safety matters and the implementation of the Safety Health and Wellbeing Framework.
• Provide support to YDCs in the investigation process for safety incidents.
• Provide expert advice to YDCs in delivering safe systems of work, including case management and safety advice, youth detention centre specific safety management system policies and procedures and local Work Health and Safety initiatives.
• Develop strategies to ensure the delivery of appropriate safety, wellbeing and workers' compensation education and awareness training sessions for service delivery staff, managers and supervisors.
• Provide expert advice to the YDC workplace health and safety committees, managers and teams by promoting and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Monitor trends in injuries, illnesses and occurrences in youth detention centres and prepare detailed reports with recommendations for managing identified staff safety and wellbeing issues.
• Liaise with other government agencies, statutory authorities, professional organisations, unions, and external service providers in the management of issues affecting safety, wellbeing and WorkCover.
• Deliver culturally responsive services and support the development of a culturally capable workforce.
• Contribute to the evaluation of services and initiatives so as to ensure services provided are value-adding and achieving business goals of the agency.

Role specific/technical skills:

• You possess high level knowledge and application with high level outcomes of Workplace Health and Safety, risk assessments, Workers' Compensation and Return to Work in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, and other relevant legislation, codes and standards.
• You possess high level knowledge of issues affecting employee wellbeing (both physical and psychological) in a frontline public service delivery environment.
• You possess highly developed skills and previously demonstrated experience of designing, training and implementing employee safety and wellness initiatives.
• Possession of a Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety or relevant qualification in Health and Safety and experience in managing a safety management system including compliance with ISO 45001:2018 or similar would be highly regarded.

Mandatory requirements:

• Travel is a requirement of this position; therefore, it is a requirement that the applicant hold a current “C” Class Drivers licence.
• This role provides support services to children and young people and therefore will require a valid Blue Card with the organisation. Please refer to the Blue Card Services website (http://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/) for further information.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference:  QLD/636122/25

Closing Date:  Monday, 26^th May 2025

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• 636122-25-Role Profile (Word, 567KB)