WHS Officer

• A collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.
• The chance to make a significant impact on the safety culture within the College.

Be challenged and imagine with us

The Work, Health and Safety (WHS) Officer will play a pivotal role in managing health and safety projects and processes across the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. This role involves close collaboration with the University's central WHS team, the Research and Innovation precinct management team, laboratory managers, school staff, and other stakeholders to foster a positive safety culture and ensure effective WHS compliance.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Oversight and Compliance, ensuring the College's workplace health and safety requirements are met and compliant with regulations.
• Collaborating with the College WHS Committee on training, reporting, and strategic priorities.
• Risk Management by identifying, reporting, and acting on workplace concerns, ensuring risks are eliminated, isolated, or minimized.
• Overseeing the reporting, investigation, and correction of accidents, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.
• Managing laboratory audits to ensure WHS compliance and monitoring corrective actions.
• Maintaining documentation to support compliance with WHS policies, procedures, and legislation.
• Process Improvement by suggesting and implementing improvements to processes and standard operating procedures.
• Stakeholder Engagement, through the provision of strategic advice to College leaders and engage with stakeholders on WHS matters.

This fixed term position is part time (31.5 hours per week) for 12 months at a HEW 6 Higher Education Level located at Callaghan Campus.

About our University

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision and our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability, the University of Newcastle’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan 2020-2025 outlines the University’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience and serving our communities. 

For more information click here – Our Uni. 

About the Unit  

The College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing is comprised of four Schools: School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy and School of Health Sciences. We are a College that has a strong, clinical-oriented research profile, excellent teaching and innovative learning approaches, and a focus on professional experience. The College operates with an annual budget of c. $174M and delivers quality programs to approximately 6320+ equivalent full-time students, comprising Australian and international undergraduate, post-graduate and research higher degree candidates.

What we offer

In addition to working for a university that is breaking boundaries, discovering new ways of thinking and cementing a place as a global leader, we offer a range of benefits to our employees to ensure you balance your commitments, stay healthy and work effectively. 

These include: 

• The remuneration for this position is pro-rated from $90,316 p.a. FTE + superannuation and is commensurate with skills and experience
• Flexible working arrangements (in line with the University’s Flexible Work Policy
• 17% super and salary packaging
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal leave and parental leave, annual leave loading and additional purchased leave scheme
• Discounts in private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more
• Wellbeing programs

Your next steps 

Please visit here for a guide on how to apply for a role. 

If viewing this on a job board other than the University's please click ‘Apply’ to reach the University's website, where a copy of the Position Description can be accessed. Please download a copy before commencing your application. 

Your application must include: 

• Your resume
• A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity
•  A well structured statement addressing the Essential Criteria listed below demonstrating your qualifications and experience with examples.

1. A degree with subsequent relevant experience in WHS; or extensive experience and specialist expertise in laboratory management; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
2. Excellent organisational skills, with demonstrated ability to prioritise, work to deadlines, and manage resources effectively.
3. Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including the capacity to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
4. Ability to take a leading role in the College health and safety portfolio, and help build a positive safety culture.
5. Knowledge of, and experience in adhering to, workplace policies and procedures in the areas of work health safety, equity, diversity and promoting a respectful workplace culture.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration, it's important to structure and address the selection criteria outlined in the application process. This helps us better understand your experience and suitability for the role. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to reviewing your application.

Please upload your Cover Letter and response to the requested Criteria as one PDF document.

Your Cover Letter and Response to the Essential Criteria should not exceed 4 pages (approximately 2,000 words).

For specific position enquiries, please contact Alexandra Day, Operations Manager, on (02) 4921 8949 or via email Alexandra.Day@newcastle.edu.au

Having Difficulties? Please reach out to us: employment@newcastle.edu.au

Closing date: Sunday 19^th January 2025 at 11.59pm AEST

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you!

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