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Home >News >HACSU is hiring: Disability Policy Officer

HACSU is hiring: Disability Policy Officer

2021-02-09

HACSU is hiring a Disability Policy Officer! 

About the role

The Health and Community Services Union [HACSU] is seeking applications for a Disability Policy Officer.

  • You have a high level of experience/background in Disability, 
  • Capable of undertaking complex research, policy and business development, industrial advocacy and strategic political communications and
  • Can contribute to improving the working lives of thousands of HACSU members.

About the conditions

  • Generous annual salary and conditions (5 weeks annual leave, 13 RDOs per year)
  • Carlton South location

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the work and voice of HACSU, representing workers in the mental health, disability and alcohol and other drug sectors. 

The person will drive the Unions policy and organisation response to the workforce challenges that arise from the Disability sector.

Responsibilities:

  • Researching and developing detailed and sustainable policy responses to workforce issues relating to the disability sector that enhance workforce capacity, quality, sustainability and collective organisation.
  • Researching, monitoring, and educating staff on NDIS policy changes and its impact within the disability sector within Victoria and nationally.
  • Writing detailed policy initiatives, undertaking cost and risk analysis and advocating acceptance of those initiatives.
  • Strategically representing the interests of the Union and its members to State Government taskforce, Ministers, Victorian skills commission, ministerial advisors and other influential stakeholders.  
  • Developing policies and initiatives for:

- Workforce Support including Education and Training, and policies around sector paperwork.

- Reorientating the union’s business model to grow collective unionisation and development of workers.

- Supporting the workforce with a focus on recruitment and retention

- Workforce initiatives that build workforce capacity and support collective organisation across the Victorian Disability sector

- Skills training 

  • Strategic relationship building involving State Government Ministers, Peak Employer Groups, CEO’s, Statutory Bodies and Heads of Departments.
  • Participation in strategic policy and decision-making processes including Ministerial and Governmental taskforce, developing strategic and campaign alliances with service advocates.
  • Undertaking high level Political Liaison in conjunction with Senior HACSU Officials 
  • Prepare briefing papers, background reports and position papers on behalf of the union 
  • Researching and developing profitable internal and external alternative business cases and establishment plans that enhance union collective organisation.
  • Working as part of a team in developing and implementing the union’s strategic goals.
  • With the support of other HACSU Officials, producing resource and educational material for staff and members
  • Contributing articles to the union’s publications
  • Writing newsletters on behalf of the union 

The person

  • Qualification or extensive experience in the field of social research and policy, industrial relations or other relevant areas. 
  • Progressive values, commitment to the union movement and collective worker organisation
  • Business and political strategist and analytic thinker
  • Strong research policy development skills
  • Strong communicator
  • Sound understanding of the NDIS
  • Understanding of Education and training models for the disability workforce
  • Understanding of industrial and employment law in state and commonwealth jurisdictions
  • Team player who works collegiately and exhibits leadership qualities 

Hours of work 

This position is 5 days a week (40hours) with a rostered day off accrued every 4 weeks. 

How to apply:

Your application should contain your professional résumé with a cover letter addressing the selection criteria as shown in the Position Description. 

Please email your application to 

Kate Marshall - Assistant Branch Secretary - katem@hacsu.asn.au, using the subject line: Disability Policy Officer application

Closing date: COB 23 February 2021 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION