Come and help strengthen cultural governance across WA Country Health Service.

This is a Fixed Term Part Time appointment until 30 June 2031, with the possibility of extension(s) and/or permanency, at 38 hours per fortnight.

Eligibility to apply

Being an Aboriginal person is a genuine occupational requirement for these positions under Section 50(d) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA). Therefore, only applications from Aboriginal people will be considered. 

Team overview:

Aboriginal Health Strategy is building a dedicated implementation team to support delivery of the WACHS Cultural Governance Implementation Framework 2025-2030.

Working within Aboriginal Health Strategy, this team will help implement cultural governance priorities across WACHS through project delivery, stakeholder engagement, governance support, and reporting.

You will join a supportive team that values cultural authority, collaboration, and learning, with opportunities to build capability, professional networks, and leadership experience.

About the role of Aboriginal Health Program Officer

• The role will help implement cultural governance priorities across WACHS, strengthening cultural safety, Aboriginal leadership, and accountability.
• Coordinate implementation activities across WACHS, including planning, stakeholder engagement, project delivery, monitoring, and reporting.
• Suited to someone with experience in projects, programs, policy, or Aboriginal health initiatives who wants to further develop their coordination and implementation capability.

We recognise people come to this work through many different pathways, including community, cultural, family, study, leadership, and professional experience. You do not need to have worked in the exact same type of role before, or meet every requirement perfectly, to consider applying.

Additional opportunities available

• Level 5 – Aboriginal Health Project Officer (Position No. CH619256)
• Level 7 – Senior Aboriginal Health Program Officer (Position No. CH619257)

Applicants are encouraged to review all advertised positions and apply for any role(s) that align with their skills, knowledge and experience. As the application requirements are the same across these vacancies, applicants may choose to submit the same CV and cover letter when applying for multiple positions.

Level 6 and Level 7 applicants will need demonstrated experience in areas such as program coordination, stakeholder engagement, planning, governance, and leadership.

For further job-related information:

We warmly encourage you to call us for a yarn before applying, especially if you are unsure which level best matches your skills and experience.

We are happy to talk about what the roles involve, what experience may be relevant, which level or levels you may wish to apply for, and how the recruitment process will work. For a confidential yarn, please contact:

Daniella Brown

Consultant Service Planning and Development – Projects

08 65530940

Daniella.Brown@health.wa.gov.au

If you need support to understand the application process or require an adjustment to participate, please contact Natasha Armstrong 0477 466 796.

Application instructions:

Please submit:

1. Your story on paper

This may be your resume / CV. It does not need to look a certain way or be written in a formal style. We want to understand your pathway so far, including your:

• life experience
• cultural responsibilities
• community roles
• work, paid or unpaid
• involvement in committees, advocacy, mentoring, coordination, leadership, and study
• experience with projects, programs, policies, or services.

If you are unsure what to include, please call us for a yarn before applying.

1. A capability statement

In no more than two pages, tell us why you are interested in this opportunity and how your skills, experience and strengths could support the cultural governance team.

Please provide examples of:

• your cultural ways of working
• how you build relationships and work as a team
• how you plan, organise, and keep work moving
• what you could help the cultural governance team deliver.

Applicants seeking consideration for Level 6 and/or Level 7 roles may also wish to include examples of coordinating work, engaging stakeholders, solving problems, providing leadership, or helping turn plans into practical action.

You do not need to address each selection criterion separately.

Tips

• Your story on paper and capability statement can be written in plain language. Dot points are fine.
• You can use examples from work, community, family, cultural, study or life experience.
• You can use voice-to-text or other tools to help prepare your application.
• If invited to interview, you can take time to think, ask clarifying questions, and draw on examples from individual or shared work.
• Please ensure your application is complete and submitted online before the closing time. Applications submitted after the closing time cannot be accepted.
• Applicants will be assessed against the relevant Job Description Form criteria across the advertised levels to determine suitability. 

Other Conditions:   WA Health engages staff in positions of trust and responsibility. WA Health policies require applicants to undertake a criminal records screening and integrity checking as part of the appointment process. As well as undertaking a criminal record screening and integrity checking, you may also be required to undertake a working with children check (if required for the role) and a pre-employment health assessment. We may ask referees to comment on your integrity and past demonstration of ethical behaviour. Please note that adverse information does not necessarily disqualify an applicant but will be considered as part of the appointment process.

Please note this recruitment process requires completion of satisfactory Pre-Employment Health Assessment (PEHA).  Any offer of employment with WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is conditional on satisfactory PEHA to ensure you are able to perform the inherent requirements of the position. An unsatisfactory PEHA will result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.  Please see the attached WACHS PEHA Policy for further information.

Whilst this selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy, applicants found suitable for this position may be considered for other ‘similar’ vacancies within WACHS and/or the wider WA public sector. In addition to this, should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised vacancy, then the next most suitable applicant may also be selected from this process. Both of these options remain valid for a period of twelve (12) months from when the authorised delegate endorses the recruitment decision.

Area Profile: The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is the largest country health system in Australia and one of the biggest in the world, providing health services to approximately half a million people, including 45,000 Aboriginal people, over a vast two and a half million square kilometre area. The organisation comprises seven regions, with a strong network of public hospitals, health services and health centres located across rural and remote Western Australia. Our core business is the provision of quality, accessible health services to country WA residents and visitors.

Employee benefits

In addition to the salary, WACHS employees may access a range of benefits, including:

• 12% employer contributed superannuation into a fund of your choice. For further information on superannuation click here
• salary packaging arrangements;
• professional development opportunities;
• study leave / assistance where applicable;
• flexible working arrangements, subject to operational requirements;
• flexible leave arrangements;
• cultural leave provisions;
• employee assistance and wellbeing supports; and
• other professional or location-based allowances where applicable.

Application Instructions:  Applicants are requested to apply online (www.jobs.health.wa.gov.au). 

Your application documents should be complete and ready to attach prior to applying online. Please ensure you allow sufficient time to complete the online application process as you will be required to answer various questions and attach your documentation.

If you experience difficulties while applying online, please contact Employee Services on 13 44 77 for immediate assistance during business hours.

Further information about the role, including key duties please see the Job Description Form (available online at www.jobs.health.wa.gov.au).  

WA Health is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of our services. WACHS is committed to growing and supporting a strong Aboriginal workforce and creating a culturally safe workplace.

We value the cultural knowledge, lived experience, community relationships and professional skills Aboriginal people bring to the health system.

New employees will be asked what support would be useful to them, including whether they would like to connect with Aboriginal staff networks, a buddy, mentoring, cultural supervision or other development supports. These supports will be offered without assuming what each person needs or wants.

Lodgement is system generated. Any submissions on, or after, 4:00pm will not be accepted.
 
LATE OR EMAIL APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.