Department of Education Victoria – Ballarat VIC
14d ago , from Department of Education & Training Victoria
Employee Safety, and Wellbeing Division
The ESW Division (ESW Division) vision is to create safe, healthy, respectful and inclusive working environments for Department employees to thrive and succeed in.
The ESW Division performs its functions through teams that span from prevention, through to response and recovery, along with strategy, advice and support, and diversity and inclusion.
These teams adopt a holistic approach to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce across schools, central and regional offices.
This includes providing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers' Compensation policy advice and support for both physical and mental health and wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The objectives of the ESWI Division are to:
promote positive wellbeing in working environments
prevent known and expected risks to health, safety and wellbeing
respond swiftly and effectively to manage potential issues as they emerge and to prevent injuries
support employees to recover from injury and illness, and return to work
promote respectful and inclusive workplaces that uphold equal opportunity and prevent discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
promote human rights and workforce diversity and inclusion
OHS Services Branch
The OHS Services Branch provides Victorian government schools with systems, resources and expertise to support them to manage occupational health, safety and wellbeing.
The objective is to reduce administrative workload for schools by providing targeted service, support and advice.
The Branch includes the operational Statewide OHS Services Team, the OHS Services Statewide Systems and Support Team and the eduSafe Plus Team.
The Statewide OHS Services Team is made up of four regionally based teams that provide on the ground OHS services and support to schools, including:
support with tasks in preparation for OHS Assurance assessments and with completion of post audit actions
support with emergency management planning tasks
proactive regular and risk-based OHS and emergency management planning support through onsite visits
delivery of targeted OHS initiatives
responsive support to service requests
support with building OHS and emergency management planning capability in school leadership.
Key Selection Criteria
'Public Sector Values'
'Specialist Expertise in OHS' as detailed in the Required Capabilities section below
'Customer Focus' as detailed in the Personal Qualities section below
'Relationship Building' as detailed in the Personal Qualities section below
'Planning and Organising' as detailed in the Required Capabilities section below
Key Accountabilities
OHS support services and advice
Provide advice and services to schools about OHS policies, functions and systems, including support for schools to fully utilise eduSafe Plus
Complete agreed emergency management planning tasks for schools
Work with schools to identify and solve OHS issues and refer other issues to appropriate areas of the Department
Provide advice on the appropriate interpretation and implementation of Department OHS management system and policies
OHS policy, procedure and strategy implementation
Implement or support strategic OHS change initiatives
Assist in the implementation of complex safety systems and process changes
Identify opportunities for system improvement and capability building in relation to OHS.
Where possible address these using statewide developed training materials
Expert program advice and support
Prepare reports, briefings and correspondence relating to OHS issues as required
Provide advice and support to schools and service providers about OHS policies, functions and systems (e.g. eduSafe Plus)
Provide OHS services to support high-quality outcomes
Service delivery, quality improvement and integration
Support strategic OHS and change initiatives
Provide feedback to Manager OHS Services on the practical implementation of OHS policies and procedures and system use
Respond to service requests and assist in the communication and implementation of policy updates or changes
Support Department OHS activities and policies with a focus on continuous improvement
Provide information and advice to principals and school leaders on changes to OHS policies and procedures
Contribute to the development of OHS policies that support safety and wellbeing strategies and plans to meet legislative requirements
Emergency management
Provide agreed emergency management planning services
Liaise with Security and Emergency Management Division and Regional emergency management stakeholders to collaborate and resolve complex OHS matters and support the best possible outcomes for schools
Program delivery and digital system use
Deliver the OHS Services Program to schools, with a focus on delivering hands on help to schools to complete OHS and emergency management tasks
Support schools with the effective use of eduSafe Plus,



as the Departments digital OHS system
Demonstrate knowledge base and skills in the use of technology/digital platforms for OHS and emergency management including eduSafe Plus
Required Capabilities
Planning and Organising
Develops and implements systems and procedures to guide work and track progress
Identifies more and less critical activities and operates accordingly, reviewing and adjusting as required
Identifies processes, tasks and resources required to achieve goals
Recognises barriers and finds effective ways to deal with them
Influence and Negotiation
Adapts the content, style, message or tone of a presentation to suit the audience and plans how to tackle objections
Negotiates and implements a well-planned course of action to achieve a specific impact
Sells own ideas by linking them to other values, needs and goals
Specialist Expertise in OHS
Sound technical health, safety and wellbeing knowledge with significant understanding of relevant legislation and codes
Knowledge of contemporary health, safety and wellbeing theory and practice
Ability to support and improve OHS practice, professional development and work effectiveness
Organisational Awareness
Understands issues and pressures to which the Department and schools have to respond
Understands the reasons behind the Departments and school's climate and culture
Personal Qualities
Customer Focus
Actively seeks to meet customer needs
Committed to delivering high-quality outcomes for clients
Listens to customers
Seeks ways to improve services
Flexibility
Accepts changed priorities without undue discomfort
Adaptable
Open to new ideas
Recognises the merits of different options and acts accordingly
Relationship Building
Builds trust through consistent actions, values and communication
Establishes and maintains relationships with people at all levels
Forges useful partnerships with people across the Department and schools
Minimises surprises
Promotes harmony and consensus through diplomatic handling of disagreements
Proven ability to build positive and productive relationships with principals, school leaders and staff in complex areas (or local leaders and staff in other workplaces)
Actively seeks to meet customer needs
Committed to delivering high-quality outcomes for customers
Role
Position title: OHS Service Officer, SWVR - Ballarat
Group:Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division, People and Executive Services Group
Region:South Western Victorian Region
Location:Ballarat
Classification:ES1-4
Employment Status:Ongoing
FTE:1.0
Salary range:$101,037 - $119,131
Note that Salary shown includes 30 days of additional attendance required, as compared to standard Education Support roles under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement ****.
This means the successful candidate will be entitled to four weeks of annual leave, to be taken during periods as agreed with their manager.
Role Purpose
The OHS Service Officer is a key role within the regional OHS Services Team, providing high quality advice and OHS and emergency management services to principals, school leaders and employees.
This role delivers consistent, hands-on service to schools, to help achieve safer school environments and reduce principals¿ OHS & emergency management workload.
The OHS Service Officer partners with schools to complete OHS and emergency management planning tasks, and to provide advice on managing OHS hazards.
The OHS Service Officer works collaboratively as part of the regionally-based OHS Services Team.
The role supports Senior OHS Service Officers and the manager with delivering customer- focused OHS and emergency management planning services to schools, completing tasks for schools.
To view the position description, see: Position Description OHS Services Officer.docx
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities for this role include
providing pre-OHS Assurance Assessment services including reviewing and updating the schools OHS Management System documents and processes and completing tasks for the school
attending OHS Assurance Assessments to assist and support school leaders during the Assessment
providing post-OHS Assurance Assessment services including working with schools to action and close management actions, and completing tasks for the school
providing services to schools with elements of emergency management planning and supporting schools effective use of the Departments digital systems
providing proactive service to schools in non-OHS Assurance years including regular check-ins with schools and help with managing OHS and emergency management planning tasks
responding to service requests and supporting with complex OHS matters




supporting school leaders to effectively use the Departments digital OHS system, eduSafe Plus
coordinating and providing referrals to other department services
leading the implementation and delivery of targeted and intensive OHS initiatives
This role requires travel across the region to undertake school visits, and a current driver's licence is mandatory.
This role will also involve work within regional office locations, including attending the relevant primary office on a regular basis to connect and collaborate with other staff.
Who May Apply
Qualifications
Desirable: Relevant qualification in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent professional experience
Desirable: Relevant qualification in Emergency Management Planning or Risk Management or equivalent professional experience
A current driver's licence is mandatory for this role
Diversity and Inclusion
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service.
We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.
The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces.
It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (seeWorkplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) ******
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction.
Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments.
Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.
All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

DE Values
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees,including those who work in Victorian Government Schools.
Information on the department values is available at:

Other Information
Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.
Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed.
Visit for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.
Visit Disability and Reasonable Adjustments or contact Schools People Services on *********-***).
If you need assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the application or interview process for this role, please contact the person listed under `Position Contact¿
Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment.
Current Department employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
A current employee Working with Children Check Victoria is required for this role.
If appointed from outside the Department, successful applicants may be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
A probationary period of up to 3 months may apply for a person appointed to an ongoing position from outside the Public Service or the Teaching Service.
All Department employees are required to comply with relevant legislation, including the management of Departmental records, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees and Departmental policies and procedures in the conduct of their employment.
Standard public service terms and conditions apply.
Information about the Department¿s operations and employment conditions can be obtained from the following websites: and .
To support the Department¿scommitment to its Environmental Management System, employees are expected to always act in an environmentally responsible manner.
A current driver's licence is mandatory for this role.
Individuals who have previously applied for this opportunity are not required to reapply.
Priority will be given to new applications.
The Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity.
The Department welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds.
It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability.
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📌 Ohs Service Officer, Swvr - Ballarat
🏢 Department of Education & Training, Victoria
📍 Ballarat