EL1 - Senior Governance and Policy Officer

The AIHW’s APS employee census results reflect the strength of our positive and supportive workplace culture. We continue to foster an inclusive, flexible and high-performing organisation where people are treated with respect and courtesy, and where diversity is recognised, valued, and celebrated.  

The results are a testament to the professionalism, commitment, and dedication of our staff, highlighting the strong connection they have to our purpose, our flexible ways of working, and the contribution we make to improving the health and welfare of Australians. We are also proud to be ranked among the top ten APS agencies, out of 112, for employee engagement, enabling innovation and wellbeing, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to creating a workplace where people can thrive and perform at their best. 

We offer a range of benefits including: 

• access to flexible working arrangements to support your work/life balance 
• attractive remuneration packages including generous superannuation and leave provisions 
• challenging and fulfilling work where you can use your skills and expertise 
• opportunities for professional development. 

We are committed to creating genuine opportunities for everyone and we welcome applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTIQA+, neurodiverse people and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. 

The AIHW has offices in Canberra and Sydney and offers remote work opportunities for many roles.  

For more information, visit the Benefits of working for the AIHW page of our website.

The Data Governance and Integration Group (DGIG) delivers on a wide variety of important health and welfare data linkage projects and infrastructure, with the aim of achieving better outcomes and supporting informed policy decisions by Government for these sectors. The core functions of DGIG include leading the development of the Institute’s strategies for acquiring, managing and integrating various data sources relating to health and community services. This furthers the AIHW's strategic goals of being trusted leaders in health and welfare data, innovative producers of data sets and a strong strategic partner. 

The work of the Data Governance and Integration Group (DGIG) includes: building and implementing the 

Institute's data integration strategies including the delivery of the National Health Data Hub; protecting the confidentiality and privacy of Institute data holdings through data governance leadership and the supporting the work of the AIHW Ethics Committee; and managing key relationships across government in support of the public sector data agenda. 

The Ethics and Privacy Unit (EPU) provides support to the activities of the AIHW by: 

• ensuring the Institute’s compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Privacy (Australian Government Agencies — Governance) APP Code 2017 obligations, 
• coordinating key Institute data governance activities and policies, including the Data Governance Framework, Data Catalogue and our accreditation with the Office of the National Data Commissioner and
• providing advice and secretariat support to the AIHW Ethics Committee. 

The EPU is looking for an enthusiastic person with excellent policy, governance and, secretariat skills to support the work of the AIHW Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee is a human research ethics committee (HREC) registered with the National Health Medical and Research Council (NHMRC) and plays a key role in the Institute’s governance arrangements. 

Immediate Supervisor: EL2 Unit Head  

Supervisory Responsibilities: APS6 

Under general direction you will: 

• Undertake research, interpret and apply policies and instruments including guidelines and standards issued by the NHMRC and other key requirements and guidance relevant to the ethical conduct of research, as they relate to the Ethics Committee’s work. Prepare advice, reports and submissions to the Committee and other stakeholders on these matters and the committee’s operations 
• Provide detailed advice to the committee and the Institute on a wide range of complex ethical matters relating to the committee’s work 
• Identify, propose and implement business improvement activities designed to support the committee’s consideration of matters requiring ethical review by statute and NHMRC guidelines and standards, and improving the timeliness and efficiency of related processes and procedures. 
• Provide efficient and effective secretariate and governance support to the Ethics Committee 
• Manage complex projects and activities and provide professional and/or administrative support 
• Work collaboratively with the Unit Head and other EL1 officers withing the Unit to provide leadership, direction, performance management of staff, the effective management of allocated resources and contribute to unit priorities, objectives and deliverables.

To be eligible to apply for this vacancy, you must: 

• be an Australian citizen
• undergo any required pre-employment checks, including a police records check
• obtain and maintain a valid Security Clearance if required by the institute

A probationary period of six (6) months will apply to any new engagement to the APS. 

Please submit your application online via the AIHW e-Recruit system. When applying online for the first time, you will need to register and provide a valid email address.

Please provide:

1. A summary of your relevant skills and experience and explain how your skills, experience and capabilities make you suitable for the role. Your response should clearly detail which classification you are applying for and align with the position summary and key duties of the position information above, and must be no more than 750 words.
2. Your current CV and the names of two referees and their contact details.

Please note, late applications will not be accepted.

Candidates applying for APS vacancies should follow the principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.