First Nations Public Health Engagement Officer

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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

About North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU)

The NEPHU is one of nine public health units in Victoria: three in metropolitan Melbourne and six covering regional Victoria. Together these units form a coordinated network, working in partnership with the Department of Health to deliver a comprehensive public health program for Victoria.  The NEPHU is hosted and supported by Austin Health with responsibility spanning approximately 1.81m people living in the northeast of metropolitan Melbourne. We work collaboratively to improve the health and wellbeing of the NEPHU population through health promotion, prevention and protection activity. The NEPHU is proud of its diverse multidisciplinary team who provide a service across extended hours seven days per week. Participation in a 7-day roster during periods of public health emergency may be required of all staff.  

About the role 

The First Nations Public Health Engagement Officer will be responsible for providing cultural guidance to support NEPHU activities and initiatives to be culturally appropriate and responsive to the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The role will build partnerships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and communities to facilitate collaborative work on shared priorities to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the NEPHU catchment.

The role will collaborate with the NEPHU team to implement and guide public health initiatives, contribute to the design and delivery of culturally safe programs across the unit. The role will work to support these activities to be reflective and inclusive of the needs, perspectives and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A regular day will see you:

• Provide cultural guidance within NEPHU to enhance engagement with and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Guide and support the development, implementation and evaluation of public health activities that address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Facilitate engagement processes that include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the creation and adaptation of public health interventions.
• Build and maintain strong, respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, and Elders within the NEPHU catchment area.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations, government bodies, and other relevant stakeholders.

About you

You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care. You’ll bring energy and drive to your work, and have a keen interest in developing your skillset.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring with you:

• Austin Health considers that being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement for this position, therefore applications will only be considered from candidates of these backgrounds, as per the Special Measures Provision, Section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic).
• Post-secondary qualification in a field related to public health, engagement, social science, health, communications, community development or other relevant fields, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Insight and knowledge of health inequities and inequality in health outcomes impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Deep understanding of Aboriginal self-determination and cultural safety.
• Demonstrated capacity to build trust and credibility, developing and maintaining constructive relationships through consistent, values-based, and culturally responsive actions and communications. 

Our benefits 

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including: 

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation. 

• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. 

• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options. 

• Mentoring and career development opportunities. 

Work with us! 

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures. 

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date. 

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager:  Nicole Chatterton, Public Health Engagement Lead - NEPHU at Nicole.CHATTERTON@austin.org.au or Cathryn Baldwin, Deputy Director - NEPHU at Cathryn.Baldwin@austin.org.au

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details. 

Application closing date: 12 October 2025