About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Team

The Health Safety and Wellbeing Systems and Compliance Branch comprises three teams:

- OHS Operations and Assurance Team,
- OHS Policy and Engagement Team,
- OHS Performance and Governance Team

The Health and Safety and Systems and Compliance branch support the department to prevent incidents and injuries in schools, Early Learning Victoria Centres and the corporate workforce by providing OHS advice, training, and explicit policies that comply with legislation and OHS standards. The Health and Safety Systems and Compliance Branch also delivers the OHS Assurance Program in schools, provides OHS operational support for ELV Centres and corporate staff, reports to executive committees, provides secretariat support for stakeholder committees and is responsible for monitoring OHS performance and outcomes.

About the Role

The Senior OHS Service Officer is responsible for supporting departmental workforces employees with development, implementation and application of health, safety and wellbeing policies. The role will provide specialist OHS expertise and advice and build capability in others, with the aim of addressing critical safety risks (both psychosocial and physical), and reducing the risk of injury to department staff. The role will support the effective application of safe systems of work. This role delivers consistent, customer focused support, to help achieve safer learning environments.

*Fixed term contract until 30th June 2028

Attributes

Current key responsibilities that may evolve over time include:





- Provision of OHS advice and support in relation to both psychological and physical health, including interpretation of legislation and policies.
- Be a central contact point for leaders, staff, management representatives and Health and Safety Representatives for complex health, safety and wellbeing queries, including psychosocial risks.
- Providing practical advice and hands-on, on the ground OHS services, including support with Regulator interactions
- Co-designing, writing and consulting on psychological and physical safety related policies, programs and training that support the health and safety of staff.
- Leading policy consultation working groups with key stakeholders.
- Using your expertise and skills to identify and solve OHS issues, referring other issues to appropriate areas of the department, and liaising with the OHS Advisory Service or other relevant areas of the Department to ensure timely, consistent resolution and coordinated OHS support
- Liaising with relevant areas/teams to support them to implement and manage safety, health and wellbeing in their workplaces.
- Building positive stakeholder relationships, strategic thinking and skilled problem solving in a complex service delivery environment.
- Triaging incident and injury reports and supporting injury management and return to work processes, including coordination with the Workers' Compensation team to ensure timely and effective claims lodgment, progression and return to work outcomes.
- Supporting strategic OHS and change initiatives and addressing OHS hazards, including assessing and controlling risks.
- Responding to service requests and assisting in the communication and implementation of policy updates or changes




- Promoting and encouraging the use of health, safety, and well-being support services, with a focus on early intervention and reducing the severity of mental injury impacts
- Contributing to the development of local strategies to ensure OHS activities and priorities are aligned to and support the vision and strategic intent of the Department.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

- Essential: Health and safety experience and
- Current employee Working with Children Check Victoria
- Current Victorian driver's license

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact David Marelli, Manager OHS Operations and Assurance via phone: (03) 03 9059 5*** or email: *************@education.vic.gov.au

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 23rd November 2026

📌 Senior OHS Service Officer - Thriving Kids (Melbourne)
🏢 Department of Education Victoria
📍 Melbourne