Senior Policy Analyst

Thorne Harbour Health; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary above award rates

Salary packaging up to 15900 AUD

Hybrid work arrangements

Job summary

Thorne Harbour Health in Melbourne seeks a Senior Policy Analyst to lead government engagement, policy development, law reform and advocacy on LGBTIQ+ health and human rights, HIV and sexual health. You’ll advise the CEO, drive submissions and policy projects across Victoria, SA and nationally.

The role will monitor legislation and provide evidence-informed briefs, while working with community and government partners to advance priority issues. Hybrid work is available.

Qualifications

• Strong policy analysis and development experience in health or human rights contexts.
• Experience engaging with government, ministers’ offices and peak bodies.
• Ability to produce briefs, submissions, position statements and budget submissions with evidence-informed recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with ministers, MPs, advisers and government departments in Victoria, SA and nationally.
• Collaborate with HIV, LGBTIQ+ and social services organisations, research institutes and peak bodies on policy priorities.
• Represent Thorne Harbour Health on external working groups, advisory groups and committees.
• Lead policy and advocacy initiatives aligned with the strategic plan and priority issues.
• Monitor and analyse legislation, inquiries, strategies and government programs and advise on organisational responses.
• Provide timely, evidence-informed advice to the CEO and senior leadership.
• Prepare briefs, submissions, position statements and budget submissions on HIV, sexual health and LGBTIQ+ health and human rights.

Skills

Government engagement

Policy development

Law reform

Advocacy

Education

Postgraduate qualification in law or public policy

Job description

• Abbotsford location
• Key role within the Health Promotion & Community Engagement directorate.

About the role

As Senior Policy Analyst, you’ll be our lead specialist for government engagement, policy development, law reform and advocacy on LGBTIQ+ health and human rights, HIV and sexual health. Working across Victoria, South Australia and nationally, you’ll give strategic advice to the CEO and senior leadership, lead major submissions and policy projects, and help shape our response to emerging policy, legislative and political developments.

You will:

• Build and maintain relationships with ministers, Members of Parliament, political advisers and government departments in Victoria, South Australia and nationally.
• Work with HIV, LGBTIQ+ and social services organisations, research institutes and peak bodies on shared policy and advocacy priorities.
• Represent Thorne Harbour Health on external working groups, advisory groups and committees.
• Lead policy and advocacy initiatives that advance our strategic plan and priority issues.
• Monitor and analyse legislation, inquiries, strategies and government programs, and recommend organisational responses.
• Give timely, evidence-informed advice to the CEO and senior leadership.
• Prepare briefs, submissions, position statements and budget submissions on HIV, sexual health and LGBTIQ+ health and human rights.

What’s on offer

In addition to a $122k salary (full-time equivalent/pro-rata for 0.8 FTE) + superannuation, Thorne Harbour Health pays above award rates. You will also be able to increase your take-home pay by accessing up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits as well as accessing professional and career development. Hybrid working arrangements are also available.

About you

You will have a post-graduate qualification/s in law, public policy, public health, social sciences or another appropriate discipline, or equivalent work experience. You will also bring:

·A proven ability to influence policy and program outcomes through engagement with government, ministers’ offices, community organisations, peak bodies and research institutes in Victoria, South Australia and nationally.

·Demonstrated experience in policy analysis and development in a health, social policy and/or human rights context, with a sound understanding of (or the ability to quickly learn about) HIV, STIs and other blood-borne viruses, and the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities

·An understanding of the role of community-controlled organisations in responses to HIV and LGBTIQ+ issues, and experience working within or alongside them

·A demonstrated ability to produce high-quality briefs, submissions, position statements and budget submissions with clear, evidence-informed recommendations

·Highly developed written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including the ability to translate complex evidence and policy issues for community, government and sector audiences

About us

Thorne Harbour Health is an LGBTQI+ community-controlled health organisation, governed by our members and working for our sex, sexuality and gender diverse communities. For over 40 years - since our beginnings as the Victorian AIDS Action Committee in 1983 - we've led the community response to HIV and AIDS in Victoria, and since 2015 have extended that work into South Australia.

We're working toward a future where our communities are healthy and live safely, with dignity and wellbeing - free of HIV, stigma and discrimination.

Inclusion Matters

We strongly encourage applications from people who are:

• Part of the LGBTQI+ community
• Living with HIV
• From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with disability

For further enquiries about the role, please contact Caleb Hawk – Deputy Director, Health Promotion & Community Engagement via email – **********@thorneharbour.org

Applications close on Sunday 15 November 2026

Important: it is essential that applicants specifically address the selection criteria. Where selection criteria have not been addressed, applications will not be considered.

Thorne Harbour Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to child safety. We have zero tolerance of child abuse. Our robust human resources, recruitment and vetting practices are strictly adhered to during the application and interviewing process. Applicants should be aware that we carry out working with children, police records and reference checks for all roles.