Principal Advisor Health and Safety

ROBERT WALTERS AUSTRALIA; City of Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected public sector organisation in Brisbane is looking for a Principal Advisor Health and Safety. This role involves implementing a safety management system, prioritizing employee wellbeing, and collaborating with senior leadership. The ideal candidate has significant experience in safety management within the public sector, a solid understanding of legislative requirements, and exceptional communication skills. This role offers hybrid work arrangements and opportunities for meaningful project ownership.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programmes

Qualifications

• Substantial hands-on experience at principal-advisor level in public sector.
• Deep familiarity with legislative requirements governing workplace health and safety.
• Proven ability to audit frameworks and consult across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the review and implementation of safety management systems.
• Conduct audits of existing health, safety, and wellbeing policies.
• Design and implement psychosocial risk management frameworks.

Skills

Health and safety legislation knowledge

Safety management systems implementation

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly knowledgeable Principal Advisor Health and Safety to join a respected public sector organisation in Brisbane on a six-month contract. This pivotal role is designed for someone with deep expertise in safety management systems, particularly within office-based environments, who is ready to review, develop, and implement a comprehensive safety management system tailored to the organisation. You will have flexible working arrangements, including up to four days per week working from home, enabling high-quality outcomes with a healthy work-life balance. The role involves collaboration with senior leadership and staff to drive improvements in health, safety, and wellbeing practices and embed best-practice frameworks that support both physical and psychosocial safety.

What you’ll do will include leading the review, development, and implementation of a holistic safety management system using AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 as a guide, and engaging directly with senior leaders, committees, and staff to shape policy, procedures, training, and reporting frameworks that foster a safe and supportive environment for all employees.

What you'll do

• Conduct a thorough audit of existing health, safety, and wellbeing policies, procedures, guidelines, tools, forms, incident reporting mechanisms, training offerings, and committee governance structures to identify gaps against best-practice standards.
• Develop new or revised elements for the safety management system, ensuring alignment with AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 and tailoring solutions to suit the organisation.
• Lead consultation processes with staff and relevant committees to ensure collaborative input into all aspects of the safety management system’s design and implementation.
• Design and implement a robust psychosocial risk management framework in accordance with current Codes of Practice, focusing on employee mental health and wellbeing within an office environment.
• Define clear accountabilities for work health and safety at all organisational levels to ensure shared responsibility for safe practices.
• Identify key health, safety, and wellbeing risks using the hierarchy of control methodology and recommend effective treatments to mitigate these risks.
• Review current training content for relevance, compliance, and effectiveness; propose enhancements or new modules as required to build capability across the workforce.
• Manage stakeholder relationships by facilitating open communication channels between staff, committees, senior leadership, and external providers such as EAP services.
• Progress intranet (SharePoint) content related to health, safety, and wellbeing so that employees have easy access to up-to-date information and resources.
• Prepare briefing notes for executive approvals by clearly articulating recommendations for improvements or changes within the safety management system.

What you bring

To excel as Principal Advisor Health and Safety you will bring substantial hands-on experience at principal-advisor level or equivalent—ideally within public sector organisations where you have led successful implementations of comprehensive safety management systems. Your background will include deep familiarity with legislative requirements governing workplace health and safety as well as practical application of standards like AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018. You will have demonstrated your ability to audit existing frameworks and consult across teams—translating feedback into pragmatic solutions that address physical risks and psychosocial concerns. Your approach will be grounded in empathy; you understand how important it is for people at every level to feel heard during periods of change. You are adept at managing multiple priorities and progressing project milestones independently while remaining responsive when guidance is needed from HR leadership. Above all you are committed to fostering inclusive environments where everyone feels safe, supported, informed—and able to contribute positively towards shared goals.

• Extensive principal-level experience designing or implementing safety management systems within large organisations—ideally within the Queensland public sector or similar government settings—with proven results in driving positive change.
• In-depth knowledge of contemporary health and safety legislation (including WHS Act), Australian Standards (AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018), Codes of Practice relevant to psychosocial risk management, and best practice approaches for office-based environments.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive audits and translate findings into actionable improvement plans tailored for diverse workplaces.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills enabling you to build trust-based relationships with staff at all levels; facilitate consultations; negotiate consensus; gain stakeholder buy-in; and communicate technical information clearly.
• Experience defining clear accountabilities for work health and safety across organisational roles—ensuring everyone understands their part in creating safer workplaces.
• Proven track record managing projects independently using structured methodologies (e.g., Gantt charts), while also thriving under direction when required by senior managers or HR leaders.
• Strong written communication skills evidenced by preparing briefing notes or reports for executive audiences seeking approval on strategic initiatives.
• Ability to develop engaging intranet content (preferably via SharePoint) that supports ongoing learning about health, safety, wellbeing topics among employees.
• A collaborative mindset with sensitivity towards employee needs, especially when addressing psychosocial hazards or customer-facing challenges within office settings.

What sets this company apart

This organisation is committed to regulatory compliance and genuine care for its people’s wellbeing. Benefits include flexible working arrangements that recognise individual preferences. The culture values open communication, mutual respect, continuous improvement, and access to Employee Assistance Programmes supporting mental health when needed. You’ll have opportunities for meaningful project ownership and to shape frameworks that endure beyond the contract.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply.

To apply, please click "Apply" or contact Ryan McCarthy on 07 3032 2253 or [e-mail] for a confidential discussion.

About the job

Contract Type: Temporary

Specialism: Government

Focus: Human Resources

Industry: Public Sector and Government

Salary: AUD85 - AUD93 per hour

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Experience Level: Mid Management

Location: Brisbane CBD

Contract Type: Temporary

Job Reference: 9JKQ7D-89388001

Date posted: 8 October 2025

Consultant: Ryan McCarthy