Policy & Legislation Advisor

WorkSafe Victoria; Geelong; Hybrid; AUD 124,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Hybrid work model

Job summary

WorkSafe Victoria is recruiting a Policy & Legislative Services Advisor in Geelong for a full‑time, ongoing role with hybrid working arrangements (3 days in office). Salary is $137,963 per annum plus 12% super.

The LPIS Division seeks an experienced policy professional to formulate legislative solutions and deliver authoritative advice across occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation contexts.

Qualifications

• Experience developing strategic economic or public policy, preferably in government.
• Provide high-quality policy advice under tight deadlines.
• Ability to conduct thorough research and think analytically.
• Deliver advice on complex issues under pressure within timeframes.
• Understand WorkSafe Victoria’s legislative framework and Commonwealth-State processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support development of responses to priority policy issues and legislation.
• Undertake research on policy issues, legal/regulatory developments, and options.
• QA review of guidance materials and policy documents.
• Prepare briefing papers, policy reviews, and government submissions.
• Contribute to briefings for national forums and policy positions.
• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams to operationalise workplace laws.

Skills

Strategic policy development

Government policy experience

Policy advisory under time constraints

Research and analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication and organisation

Commonwealth-State processes

Education

Tertiary qualifications in economics, law, public policy and administration, science or health

Job description

• $137,963.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
• Full time, ongoing opportunity
• Wadawurrung / Geelong based role (hybrid work from home – 3 days a week in office)

About the opportunity

The Policy & Legislative Services Advisor will assist the Legislation, Policy and Information Services (LPIS) Division in formulating effective legislative and statutory solutions and authoritative advice working closely with Senior Policy & Legislative Services Advisors and Senior Economic Policy Advisors. The role will assist in reviewing, analysing, advising, and development of policy and strategy in a range of contexts including strategic, economic, legislation, regulatory and operational.

The Policy & Legislative Services Advisor will work across a broad range of subject matter areas including occupational health and safety and workers compensation and will work in a variety of settings including national, government, and stakeholder forums.

Key accountabilities

• Lead or provide support in the development of WorkSafe Victoria’s responses to key priority and critical issues as they emerge. (e.g. emerging policy issues, analysis, interpretation and review of legislation as well as national developments)
• Undertake critical research and analysis on relevant academic literature, case law, industry trends and research in other jurisdictions both overseas and nationally on best practice approaches for identifying and addressing emerging or significant policy and regulatory issues, including developing options to resolve issues.
• Lead or assist in the development of and/or undertake the quality assurance review of statutory and non-statutory guidance material.
• Undertake the preparation of key legislative and regulatory policy – including preparation of briefing papers, policy review papers, assisting with economic analysis, and submissions to government and parliament.
• Lead or support the preparation of briefings to support WorkSafe’s representation on national forums and formulate policy positions including input into briefings for Safe Work Australia and other national or Victorian forums.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams composed of legal, economic, technical and operational policy expertise; assisting areas of the business with responsibility for operationalising Victoria’s workplace laws.

About you

You are an experienced policy professional who has extensive experience in developing government and strategic policy. Your experience has provided you with a strong understanding of government process and your communication and organisational skills are highly developed. Your stakeholder management skills allow you to negotiate, influence and problem solve with a range of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation.

Additionally, you possess the following skills and experience:

• Experience in developing strategic economic or public policy, preferably in a government environment
• Experience in providing high quality and rigorous policy advice on a range of complex issues within limited time constraints
• Demonstrated abilities to conduct thorough research and to think laterally and analytically
• Proven ability to deliver advice on complex and sensitive issues within critical timeframes and within high pressure environments
• Demonstrated understanding of the regulations writing process and drafting instruction for the development of legislationUnderstanding of WorkSafe Victoria’s legislative framework
• Understanding of Commonwealth-State processes
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in economics, law, public policy and administration, science or health is required

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.

What’s next?

Applications close 11:00pm Friday 2 October 2026.

Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.

Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.

For further enquiries please contact Bianca Stojanovski via email ***************@worksafe.vic.gov.au