• Job no: 0049487
• Work type: Fixed Term
• Location: Other
• Division/Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
• Department/School: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
• Salary: $91,913 - $99,495 (UOM 7)
• Role & Superannuation rate: Professional - Full time - 9.5% super

The Senior Engagement Officer will be responsible for working in partnership with key stakeholders to drive activities that will lead to the sustainable elimination of trachoma by increasing facial cleanliness and improving environmental conditions to facilitate clean faces.

The position will build on existing partnerships to raise awareness about the importance of clean faces and good hygiene. The position will aim to ensure that the sustainable elimination of trachoma remains on stakeholder’s agendas beyond 2020.

The position will be based in Alice Springs and work with partners and remote communities across the tri-state border region of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

The position will work closely with the IEH team including the Senior Manager, Trachoma Program to determine the best strategies for ensuring the elimination of trachoma is sustained beyond 2020. The position will also work closely with Community Engagement Officers based in Alice Springs who will monitor the progress of trachoma elimination in priority communities across Central Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Key tasks will include:

• Engaging a range of people and organisations to build on the momentum and support for the elimination of trachoma in the NT, SA and WA.
• Establishing, maintaining, building and managing relationships and partnerships with stakeholders including:
  • community organisations
  • Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations
  • State/ Territory departments of health, environmental health, education and housing at local, regional and jurisdictional levels
  • health professionals
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet officials
  • local government
  • early childhood and family services
  • non-government organisations.
• Ensuring the prevention of trachoma is included in key stakeholder’s ongoing activities.
• Providing education to key stakeholders about the prevention of trachoma.
• Representing Indigenous Eye Health on key stakeholder committees.

About you

To be successful in this position you will:

• be a self-starter and independent worker
• have high level engagement skills and be able to see, create and utilise opportunities
• have excellent communication and leadership skills to exchange with and advocate to a wide range of people.

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor degree in relevant disciplines and/or extensive experience in related area
• Highly developed understanding of issues related to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Experience and achievement in Education/Health Promotion/Community Development or project management with Aboriginal communities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as presentation skills including the ability to communicate, engage and advocate effectively with a wide range of people.
• Experience and understanding of effective community consultation and involvement to ensure community needs are identified and put into effect.
• Experience and understanding of working effectively with government agencies.
• Self-starter with ability to work at a high level autonomously and remotely and also work collaboratively as part of a team
• High level problem solving skills with the ability to exercise judgement and initiative.
• High level organisational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritise workloads, work well under pressure, and organise own work to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adaptable in a changing environment
• High level of proficiency in the use of standard application software such as the Microsoft Office suite.

Desirable Criteria

• Highly developed understanding and knowledge of issues related to the health, social determinants, environmental health, education, housing and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• An understanding of the public health approach and World Health Organisation’s SAFE Strategy to eliminate trachoma.
• Post-graduate qualification and or experience in Education/Health/Health Promotion/
• Community Development and/or related field.
• Experience working and/or living in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles in remote settings.

Additional information about the role

• This position requires interstate travel.
• This position requires travel to geographically remote communities with overnight stays, sometimes for multiple nights.
• A current Australian driver’s licence is required.
• Working with Children clearance is required in NT, SA and WA.
• Appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency training is required.

For information to assist you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria, please go to: https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria