Role Title: Director, Patient Safety First

Employment Type: Full Time Ongoing

Position Classification: Health Manager Level 6

Remuneration: $197,473 - $215,676 plus Superannuation

Location: 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards NSW

Hours Per Week: 40

Requisition ID: REQ698849

Closing Date: 18 October 2026 (11:59PM)

Join the System Management Branch at Ministry of Health for an exciting ongoing opportunity and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.

About us

- Our core values of collaboration, openness, respect, and empowerment are more than just words – they are the guiding principles that shape every aspect of our work.
- While regular office presence is essential, we offer flexible work arrangements to support your needs.
- Committed to fostering diverse and inclusive workplace for all.

To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.

About the role

With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we are enhancing health and wellness while developing your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.

The Director, Patient Safety First leads the development and implementation of governance frameworks that strengthen safety and quality across NSW Health. The Director plays a critical role in delivering the NSW Health Future Health Strategy by supporting safe, high-quality care and improved health outcomes for patients, families and carers. The role provides expert leadership, strategic advice and guidance on clinical safety and quality matters, and leads the coordination of rapid, system-wide responses to emerging risks, patient safety concerns and critical incidents.

For more information, please read the full Role Description.

What you will be doing

Reporting to the Executive Director, System Management Branch, the Director, Patient Safety First fosters strong partnerships with the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission, the Agency for Clinical Innovation, and key areas within the Ministry of Health to;

- Lead initiatives to improve safety and quality across the NSW Health system, informed by data, evidence and consultation with key stakeholders.
- Lead the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies and priorities under the Patient Safety First program of work.
- Ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory obligations, and alignment with Ministry of Health, Local Health District (LHD) and Specialty Health Network (SHN) strategic priorities and collaborative goals.




- Convene the daily RIB Huddle and oversee the coordination, management and analysis of incident, RIB and Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER) data in accordance with the SAER Framework.
- Provide high level leadership and support for patient safety and quality improvement committees, working groups, clinical reviews, confidential matters and other activities as directed.

About you

We are seeking motivated and committed individuals who can support the work of NSW Health with:

- Relevant tertiary qualifications or demonstrated equivalent professional experience in safety and quality
- Strong leadership skills and demonstrated advanced critical thinking skills including knowledge and experience in strategic decision making
- Excellent interpersonal communication, consultation and negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to prepare and present high-quality reports, presentations and briefings.
- Demonstrated experience developing and managing a high-performance team and fostering a collegial, professional work workplace.

How to apply

At The Ministry of Health, we want you to make the most of the opportunities you will get to grow your skills and your career, surrounded by authentic, smart people and leaders.

Please review the role description and submit your up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages) and cover letter (1-2 pages) and demonstrate your ability by attaching a response to the two target questions below.

Target Questions (1-2 pages)

- The Director is required to make operational and strategic decisions to support the delivery of Patient Safety First priorities. Describe a time you led a statewide response for Patient Safety. What was the situation, how did you assess and manage risks, engage stakeholders, coordinate actions, and what were the outcomes for patient safety and statewide service delivery?
- Describe a time when you demonstrated executive leadership to achieve a significant strategic outcome. How did you provide direction, influence senior decision-makers, align stakeholders, manage competing priorities and risks, and ensure successful delivery of outcomes in a complex environment?





Use the link below to access our Capability Application tool, designed to help you excel in the recruitment process. Practice your responses with the example questions provided to effectively highlight your achievements and the strategies you used to accomplish them.

Capability application tool | NSW Public Service Commission

Candidates may use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. However, the information provided should be authentic, accurate and genuinely represent your skills, experience, and capabilities, as these will be assessed when determining your suitability for the role.

For role related queries or questions contact Joanne Edwards on [email protected] and quote REQ698849.

As an organisation we are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Khloe Yang on [email protected] For more information about adjustments for individual needs, please visit the

Adjustments for individual needs | I Work For NSW and Inclusive recruitment of people with disability | NSW Government

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For more information, please visit Diversity Inclusion Belonging

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

Additional information

- This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.
- For more information on applying visit our career portal
- Please note that the selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

Do not miss your chance to embark on this fulfilling journey! Apply now!

Applications Close: 18 October 2026 (11:59PM)

📌 Director, Patient Safety First (Australia)
🏢 NSW Health
📍 Australia