Work Safety and Wellness Officer

About Apunipima

Apunipima Cape York Health Council is a community controlled Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health service. Servicing the communities of Cape York, with the main office is located in Cairns, Apunipima delivers public health care, and social and emotional well-being care, to community members. Being a part of the team at Apunipima means helping us deliver essential services as well as building capacity in communities to manage their own health care needs.

Work Safety and Wellness Officer, 12 month contract

A practical, people focused role supporting safe, healthy and engaged workplaces across Cairns and Cape York.

About the role

We are looking for a Work Safety and Wellness Officer who can bring together practical safety knowledge, clear communication and a genuine commitment to staff wellbeing.

In this role, you will support workplace health and safety systems, incident and hazard processes, staff wellness activities and internal safety messaging. You will work with managers and teams across Cairns and Cape York to help make safety practical, visible and easy to engage with.

What you will do

• Maintain and support workplace health and safety systems in line with relevant legislation, standards and organisational requirements.
• Support incident reporting, hazard identification, risk assessment and practical safety improvements.
• Develop clear safety messaging, wellness initiatives and staff awareness activities.
• Work with managers to support injury management, return to work coordination and suitable duties planning.
• Build staff confidence through education, practical guidance and respectful engagement.
• Contribute to safer, healthier and more supportive workplaces across our service locations.

What you will bring

• A tertiary qualification in workplace health and safety, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting workplace health and safety systems, audits, investigations or risk assessments.
• Experience developing or delivering safety training, induction material or awareness activities.
• An understanding of injury management, return to work planning and suitable duties processes.
• Strong written, visual and interpersonal communication skills.
• A practical and empathetic approach to engaging with staff and managers.
• The ability to work respectfully with people, teams and communities from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in health promotion, internal communications or community outreach would be highly regarded.

This position is based in Cairns, Queensland, with regular opportunities to travel to remote Cape York communities.

This is a specified position. Applicants must provide contact details or a written reference from an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is willing to support their application.

Why join us?

• Make a practical contribution to safer and healthier workplaces across Cairns and Cape York.
• Work in a role that combines safety, wellbeing, communication and staff engagement.
• Be part of an organisation delivering primary health care services with and for Cape York communities.
• Access a competitive salary, 5 weeks annual leave and generous salary packaging.

To apply, submit your resume and a short cover letter through SEEK outlining your interest in the role.

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates and people with experience in community health, wellbeing, safety or workforce support.

The closing date for this position is 16 September 2026.