Policy Officer

NSW Health; St Leonards; On-site; AUD 117,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Diversity & Inclusion

Benefits handbook

Job summary

NSW Health in NSW seeks a Policy Officer to join the Community Engagement Team within the Mental Health Branch. This ongoing role involves policy, program and grant management across consumer and community sectors, with a focus on engagement of peak bodies, local health districts and government collaboration.

You will develop partnerships, manage grants, and contribute to policy development, while working in a hybrid, inclusive environment that supports professional growth and work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and the community managed mental health sector including the application of legislation and policies.
• Experience in the provision of policy advice and analysis in a complex and multi-disciplinary environment.
• A growth mindset and commitment to continuous learning and personal development.
• Communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to build effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining partnerships with peak bodies, community managed organisations and other stakeholders in the mental health sector.
• Managing grants and programs, including program design, approval, implementation, evaluation and review.
• Contributing to the development of mental health policy and projects to achieve Ministry and government objectives.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

Policy Officer, Community Engagement Team, Mental Health Branch
Employment Type:Permanent Full Time
Position Classification:Crown Clerk Grade 7/8
Remuneration:$116,981 - $129,492, plus Superannuation
Location: 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards NSW
Hours Per Week:35 hours
Requisition ID:REQ689044
Closing Date: 11:59pm Friday 23 October 2026

Join the Community Engagement Team at Ministry of Health for an exciting ongoing opportunity and be part of a team helping to shape the future of health in NSW.

About us

We offer robust development and growth support to all employees, ensuring you have the resources and opportunities to thrive in your career

Embrace a healthy work-life balance with our flexible hybrid working arrangements

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace for all

We work collaboratively with the mental health community managed sector to improve health outcome

Build your career in mental health policy and program management, with a focus on the community managed sector.

To learn more about the Ministry and what benefits we offer, access our Employee Benefits Handbook.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Policy Officer to join the Mental Health Branch to work across a diverse portfolio including policy, program and grant management for:

mental health consumer, carer, and community managed organisation peak bodies

community managed mental health, wellbeing and crisis supports

rural mental health

disaster response and recovery

This is an opportunity to use your engagement expertise and strategic project skills to work closely with stakeholders to support mental health recovery in the community. This is a unique chance to join a team that engages with stakeholders across the sector including the community managed mental health sector, peak bodies for consumers and carers, local health districts and speciality health networks, and other government agencies.

For more information, please read the full Role Description.

What you will be doing

Developing and maintaining partnerships with peak bodies, community managed organisations and other stakeholders in the mental health sector

Managing grants and programs, including program design, approval, implementation, evaluation and review

Contributing to the development of mental health policy and projects, in order to achieve Ministry and government objectives

Writing briefs, discussion papers, circulars, communication plans, media releases, policies and reports to senior executives and Ministers.

About you

We are seeking motivated and committed individuals who can support the work of NSW Health with:

Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and the community managed mental health sector including the application of legislation and policies

Experience in the provision of policy advice and analysis in a complex and multi-disciplinary environment

Tertiary qualifications and/or demonstrated relevant, equivalent professional experience

A growth mindset, and commitment to continuous learning and personal development

Communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships

• Organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work within deadlines
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex information into practical advice and actions
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

As an organisation we are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Lisa Byrne on **********@health.nsw.gov.au

For more information about adjustments for individual needs, please visit the

Adjustments for individual needs | I Work For NSW and Inclusive recruitment of people with disability | NSW Government

Closing Date: 11:59pm Friday 23 October 2026

Our commitment to diversity and Inclusion
At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For more information, please visit Diversity Inclusion Belonging

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

Additional information

This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.

For more information on applying visit our career portal

Please note that the selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.