Senior WHS Advisor

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is an independent statutory office established to protect the rights and interests of adults with impaired decision-making capacity, and children and young people in the child protection system and other visitable sites. Join us as we protect, support, advocate, educate and empower, to build a Queensland where our most vulnerable community members can live with dignity. Please visit the OPG website to learn more.

• Fixed-term temporary until 30 June 2027, flexible full-time
• Collaborative, supportive team environment
• CBD location, close to public transport

about the role

The Senior WHS Advisor delivers strategic and preventative health and safety outcomes for the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Reporting directly to the Corporate Services Manager, you will uplift OPG’s systemic management of physical and psychosocial risks. You will drive key safety initiatives, build leadership capability, and ensure OPG meets its positive obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act.

key responsibilities:

• Research, design, and refine operational policies, guidelines, and procedures to address critical safety gaps, focusing on systemic physical and psychosocial risks, critical incident responses, and travel protocols.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders and managers on complex health and safety matters, including legislative obligations, risk assessment, and preventative mitigation strategies.
• Upskill workforce leaders and provide ongoing development and support to the Trained Safety Advisor (TSA) network to enhance internal hazard management capabilities.
• Lead the establishment and coordination of the OPG Health and Safety Committee and other worker consultation forums to strengthen stakeholder and union engagement.
• Coordinate and participate in complex incident investigations alongside Department of Justice partners, ensuring thorough reporting, data analysis, and system-wide improvement.
• Develop high-level, complex documentation, including submissions, briefing notes, and reports on health and safety trends, metrics, and risk mitigation activities.
• Lead, implement, and evaluate targeted health, safety, and wellbeing projects that align with the OPG Workforce Strategy 2024–2029 to improve staff recruitment and retention.

Qualifications and conditions:

Experience: Experience working in a Work Health and Safety (WHS) role within the Queensland Public Service or a broader Australian public sector agency is desirable. 

Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in Human Resources, Work Health and Safety (WHS), or a related discipline are highly regarded. 

Pre-employment Checks: Appointment is subject to a criminal history check and compliance with standard public sector disciplinary history declarations.

A position description is attached.