We know that Nurses and Midwives provide great care when they are safe and feel supported in their practice, and their work is respected.

Do you have experience working in development, leadership or policy areas of nursing? e.g. Clinical Development Nurse, Nurse Educator, Clinical Team Leader, Policy or Quality and Safety.

The Professional Officer is a senior role which supports the working lives of Canberra’s Nurses and Midwives and the nursing and midwifery professions more broadly. Working directly to the Director of Organising and Membership, the Professional Officer is responsible for leading the delivery of significant aspects of the Branch’s ambitious strategic plan.

Your Scope of Practice

The Professional Officer enjoys a high degree of autonomy and provides comprehensive, authoritative advice to the Secretary on a broad range of professional issues. The Professional Officer also works collaboratively with the Branch’s Director of Organising and Membership and Director of Industrial and Legal to build capacity and influence across the Branch’s professional, industrial and organising functions. Working closely with the Midwifery Professional Officer, the Professional Officer will work jointly on matters that relate to the nursing and midwifery profession.

Research, submission and report writing and presentation

• Maintain awareness of current nursing and midwifery practice issues and promote evidence-based practice.
• Prepare submissions to the ACT Government and ACT Legislative Assembly Committees.
• Identify professional issues which may impact upon Nurses and Midwives and develop strategies and papers to address issues.

• Lead the development and implementation of high-level projects e.g. ratios, Nurse/Midwife safety.

ANMF ACT nursing and midwifery policy and professional information

• Identify areas for ANMF ACT policy development and develop ANMF ACT position statements.
• Review government policy documents and research reports related to nursing and midwifery/or health care issues of strategic importance to the ANMF.
• Respond to requests for consultation by employers on a range of professional issues e.g. changes to model of care or service profiles, establishment of new health services.

Professional advocacy of nursing and midwifery at a high level

• Negotiate at senior levels of ACT Government including the relevant Directorates and Government agencies e.g. ACT Human Rights Commission & Public Advocate, regulatory bodies e.g. NMBA & AHPRA, and employers.
• Develop comprehensive briefing materials for the Secretary e.g. briefings to support discussions with Ministers, media statements, etc.

Representation and advisory role on professional nursing and midwifery matters

• Represent the ANMF ACT on national ANMF committees including the ANMF Federal Professional Advisory Committee and Vocational & Educational Training Committee.
• Deliver presentations at external conferences, forums and workshops.
• Consult and negotiate with employers about nursing and midwifery practice issues in collaboration with Workplace Delegates and members.
• Support and advise individual members in relation to professional practice e.g. AHPRA/NMBA.

Selection Criteria

• Must be a Registered Nurse or Registered Nurse/Midwife (dual registration) on the AHPRA register of practitioners.
• Demonstrated analytical and research skills and experience in the preparation of submissions and high-level reports and/or policies.
• High level/well developed writing, influencing, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate at senior levels.
• The ability to work autonomously as well as in a team with an ability to meet deadlines and manage several deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of unionism.

Highly Regarded

Relevant post-graduate qualification e.g. clinical practice and/or management, education, law.

A Great Place to Work

Apart from the reward of influencing the future of nursing and midwifery in Canberra, we offer:

• Competitive salary and superannuation

• Strong Professional Development Program
• Option to accrue and bank ADOs
• Salary sacrifice available
• Flexible work arrangements to support a good work/life balance including possible part-time hours
• Occasional interstate travel may be required

A position description is attached.