Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor

Government client (agency undisclosed); Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DFP Recruitment is seeking a Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor to join a government department in Cairns. On site at the RAAC facility, you will be the dedicated WHS authority, partnering with management, forepersons and workers to promote a strong safety culture through education, engagement and practical compliance support.

You will lead WHS initiatives, conduct audits, investigate incidents, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and safety management systems, driving a

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
• Construction Industry White Card.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Proven WHS experience in a comparable environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety initiatives across the RAAC facility.
• Partner with site forepersons for daily pre-start meetings.
• Ensure SWMS, hazards and high-risk activities are communicated clearly.
• Facilitate monthly Talksafe meetings and safety engagement activities.
• Conduct site safety audits across construction delivery lines.
• Investigate incidents, hazards and near misses.
• Provide expert WHS advice and guidance to managers and operational teams.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, Codes of Practice and organisational safety management systems.
• Build positive working relationships to drive a proactive safety culture.

Skills

WHS knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Investigation & risk management

Communication skills

Auditing

Education

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

DFP Recruitment is seeking an experienced Principal Workplace Health and Safety Advisor to join this government department in Cairns. This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role at the Rapid Accommodation and Apprentice Centre (RAAC), a specialised facility delivering innovative modular housing solutions across Queensland. This unique environment combines the structured discipline of lean manufacturing with the practical realities of the construction industry, making it ideal for WHS professionals from either sector.

About the Role: Working autonomously on site while remaining connected to a broader regional WHS team, you will become the dedicated WHS authority for the facility. You will partner closely with management, forepersons and workers to promote a strong safety culture through education, engagement and practical compliance support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support workplace health and safety initiatives across the RAAC facility.
• Partner with site forepersons to conduct daily pre-start meetings.
• Ensure Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), hazards and high-risk activities are clearly communicated and understood.
• Facilitate monthly Talksafe meetings and workforce safety engagement activities.
• Conduct comprehensive site safety audits across construction delivery lines.
• Investigate incidents, hazards and near misses.
• Provide expert WHS advice and guidance to managers and operational teams.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Codes of Practice and organisational safety management systems.
• Build positive working relationships that drive a proactive and high-performing safety culture.

About You

• Demonstrated experience in Workplace Health and Safety roles within construction, manufacturing, industrial or similar environments.
• Strong knowledge of WHS legislation and safety management systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to influence and educate teams at all levels.
• Strong investigation, auditing and risk management capabilities.
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Mandatory Requirements

• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
• Construction Industry White Card.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Proven WHS experience in a comparable environment.

If you're a proactive WHS professional looking for your next contract opportunity in Cairns, we'd love to hear from you.

DFP welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability. In addition, DFP will provide reasonable adjustments for individuals with disability throughout the recruitment process. If you identify as a person with disability and require adjustments to the application, recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please advise via [e-mail] or 1300 337 000 and indicate your preferred method of communication (email, phone, text) so we can keep in touch and meet your accessibility needs.

For further information on how DFP process your personal information please review the DFP Information Collection and Privacy Policy via https://www.dfp.com.au/legal_documents/privacy_policy. Do not submit any sensitive personal information in your resume.