What policy change do we want?

There are four key areas that must be addressed to resolve the issue of young people in nursing homes in Australia:

1. Ensure that young people in nursing homes (or at risk of entering one) have effective NDIS plans
2. Increase the range and scale of accessible housing and ensure that young people with disability are finding their way into these housing options
3. Improve the interface between the NDIS, health and aged care gateways to prevent young people being discharged from hospitals into nursing homes
4. Increase access to proactive health services that sustain community living for young people with disability

Work With

Our Policy Team and all Summer Foundation teams, funding bodies, community organisations and government stakeholders

Purpose

The purpose of this role is to lead projects, undertake complex policy analysis, develop high quality written materials and represent the organisation to a range of senior government, ministerial and peak body stakeholders.

The role will work with a high degree of autonomy to write papers, undertake research and analysis and engage with senior public servants, parliamentarians, peak bodies and other stakeholders. The candidate will bring a high degree of existing policy expertise in social or health policy.

Position Summary

The Senior Policy Advisor will be responsible for working in the Summer Foundation’s policy team to deliver on key policy projects, undertake analysis and produce policy documents that explain the issue and evidence base for young people being in aged care and develop constructive policy solutions and recommendations to the government.

Responsibilities & Duties

This role has a particular focus on issues and barriers in the health and NDIS systems, including acute hospital settings, rehabilitation, Aged Care and NDIS pathways. Under the direction of the Head of Government Relations and Policy and in consultation with the Policy Manager:

• Lead and deliver complex policy projects around Specialist Disability Accommodation to support the development of the SDA market and opportunities for people with disability to live in the housing of their choice;
• Draft documents to a high standard, explaining the issue of young people in aged care and challenges in the health system for people with disability;
• Deep-dive policy analysis with complex systems, including system mapping, interpreting legislation and analysing statistics and evidence;
• Develop constructive recommendations and policy positions to propose to governments to resolve the issue of young people in aged care and barriers in the health system;
• Manage the Summer Foundation’s relationship with senior public servants, ministerial advisors and parliamentarians in the Commonwealth and in various State governments (especially WA and Queensland);

• Tailor documents to respond to the context of different jurisdictions and audiences, including senior public servants, ministers and parliamentarians;

• Engaging with practitioners to translate operational issues into policy themes and messages, including Summer Foundation’s operational staff and employees of partner organisations.

Skills & Experience

Essential Criteria

• Expertise in social or health policy, excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills;
• At least three years’ experience as a policy adviser, advocate or applied researcher;
• A deep understanding of government policy processes and an understanding about social or health policy issues;
• Experience writing policy briefs, submissions to inquiries or advocacy reports;
• Excellent written communication skills and confidence when briefing and persuading senior public servants, ministerial advisers and parliamentarians;
• Experience in presenting and facilitating workshops, either face to face or webinar;
• Displayed “can-do” attitude and actively contribute to developing a culture of excellence, creativity, responsiveness and flexibility;

• Interstate travel is also likely to be required (2-4 days per month).

Core Competencies

The successful applicant’s values will match those of the Summer Foundation. The Summer Foundation’s values include:

Vision: We are creative, innovative and resourceful. We continually strive to be the best

Integrity: We act with integrity and honesty in everything we do

Communication: We communicate openly by exchanging information and actively listening to all stakeholders

Team Spirit: We value and recognise the contribution of our colleagues, both locally and globally. We enjoy working together to achieve outstanding results and total job satisfaction

Corporate Responsibility: We act responsibly within our community and care for the environment

Other Relevant Information

The position description is indicative of the initial expectation of the role and subject to changes to Summer Foundation goals and priorities, activities or focus of the job.