Occupational Health and Safety Lead

Cafs; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

3 days Christmas Leave

Job summary

Cafs is seeking an Occupational Health and Safety Lead to drive a proactive safety culture across the organisation. You will develop and maintain the OHS Management System, advise leaders on risk and wellbeing, and coordinate return-to-work processes while aligning with regulatory requirements.

This pivotal role sits within the People & Engagement team in Ballarat, VIC. Join Cafs to contribute to a safe, inclusive workplace with above-award entitlements and a supportive culture that prioritises

Qualifications

• Experience leading occupational health and safety programs.
• Knowledge of OHS legislation and compliance.
• Strong stakeholder coaching and policy development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Cafs' Occupational Health and Safety Management System development and implementation.
• Provide expert OHS advice to leaders and staff on risk management and wellbeing.
• Oversee incident reporting, investigations, and return-to-work processes.
• Coordinate safety audits, inspections and continuous improvement activities.
• Support health monitoring and wellbeing programs for employees.
• Contribute to wellbeing, safety and risk management strategies across the organization.

Job description

Join our People & Engagement team and help create a safe, healthy and supportive workplace where our people can thrive.

Employment Type: Full Time Permanent

Competitive Salary + Super + Salary Packaging

Salary Packaging: Up to $15,900 plus $2,650 meals and entertainment benefits

Location: Ballarat, VIC

Above Award Entitlements: Including 3 days paid Christmas Leave annually

Occupational Health and Safety Lead

Join our People & Engagement team and help create a safe, healthy and supportive workplace where our people can thrive.

Employment Type: Full Time Permanent

Competitive Salary + Super + Salary Packaging

Salary Packaging: Up to $15,900 plus $2,650 meals and entertainment benefits

Location: Ballarat, VIC

Above Award Entitlements: Including 3 days paid Christmas Leave annually

Our Values

At Cafs, our work is guided by the values of:

Respect | Integrity | Collaboration | Kindness | Innovation

About the Program

The People & Engagement Team is responsible for delivering a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace experience for all Cafs team members. The team develops and oversees policies, procedures and programs that support the employee lifecycle, including attraction, development, retention and wellbeing.

The OHS Lead function plays a critical role in embedding a proactive safety culture across Cafs, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety legislation while supporting the physical and psychological wellbeing of employees delivering essential community services across the Central Highlands region.

About the Role

As an OHS Lead, you will play a key leadership role in driving a culture of safety, wellbeing and injury prevention across Cafs. You will be responsible for developing, implementing and continuously improving Cafs' Occupational Health and Safety Management System, while providing specialist advice and support to leaders and employees regarding workplace safety, wellbeing, injury management and return to work practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and deliver workplace health, safety and wellbeing initiatives that build organisational capability and a proactive culture of safety.
• Develop, implement and review Cafs' OHS management system, policies and procedures in line with legislative requirements.
• Provide expert advice and coaching to leaders regarding OHS obligations, risk management and psychosocial hazards.
• Oversee hazard reporting, incident management, workplace inspections, audits and continuous improvement activities.
• Manage all Return to Work processes, including WorkCover claims, return to work planning and liaison with insurers and medical providers.
• Support leaders, employees and Health & Safety Representatives with health, safety, injury and incident management matters.
• Promote a safety-first mindset through education, coaching and organisational engagement initiatives.
• Coordinate employee health monitoring and workplace wellbeing programs.
• Support the OHS Committee through meeting coordination, reporting and action tracking.
• Provide analysis, reporting and recommendations on safety performance, injury trends and organisational risk.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of wellbeing, safety and risk management strategies.
• Embed trauma-informed and family violence-informed approaches into workplace safety practices.

Why Join Cafs?

At Cafs, you'll join a supportive and inclusive organisation where your contribution genuinely matters.

• Salary packaging benefits
• Professional development and career progression opportunities
• Regular supervision and reflective practice support
• A supportive, collaborative and values-based culture
• An organisation committed to child safety, inclusion, diversity and eliminating family violence
• Opportunities to positively influence the lives of young people transitioning from care
• Above-award benefits, including 3 days paid Christmas Leave annually

Applications close 30th October 2026.

All applicants must be eligible to work in Australia, and employment will be subject to satisfactory Police and Victorian Working with Children Checks.

Our Commitment

Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of everything we do at Cafs. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

?To work with people to enable healing, hope and meaningful impact across all generations.?