Assistant Director, Wellbeing

About the team

People Branch supports PM&C in building a workforce with broad skills and varied life experience so the department can deliver for the Australian Government and the community. The branch focuses on maintaining a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace, supported by a modern employment framework and dependable conditions of service. It provides HR advice, services and strategy backed by flexible policies and effective HR and business systems.

The Professional Standards and Wellbeing team partners with areas across PM&C to handle early intervention, rehabilitation and case management matters, both compensation and non-compensation, as well as underperformance, complaints, the Code of Conduct and workplace health and safety. The team takes a collaborative approach and places strong emphasis on stopping harm before it occurs.

About the role

PM&C is seeking an experienced and motivated professional with a strong interest in employee wellbeing, early intervention and rehabilitation case management. In this role, you will oversee a small team of rehabilitation specialists and contribute to a workplace culture built on trust, respect and practical support.

Key responsibilities

• Lead rehabilitation case management practice in line with employment law and legislative obligations.
• Handle complex wellbeing matters, including preparing and lodging Comcare-related documentation.
• Help design and roll out wellbeing initiatives, tools and strategies tailored to the workplace.
• Work with managers and staff at all levels to assess and resolve health-related issues.
• Prepare clear and sensitive written material and presentations such as reports, briefs and policy documents.
• Provide strategic guidance to managers and Senior Executive staff.
• Manage and support a small team.

What you will bring

You should be able to build trust, exercise good judgement and remain steady under pressure. The role requires flexibility, the ability to balance competing demands and confidence working in a fast-moving environment.

• Proven stakeholder management skills, including confident communication and negotiation with senior leaders.
• Deep technical capability in complex case management, including experience with the Comcare scheme.
• Ability to provide advice and deliver projects and activities that meet best-practice standards and relevant legislative requirements.
• Experience managing teams, assurance activities and wellbeing programs, while contributing to broader people initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-developed judgement and risk management capability.
• Experience preparing employer submissions for external review or appeal matters.
• Strong understanding of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.

Identified position

This is an identified role. Although the position has limited contact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, service providers and staff, the successful candidate must be willing to build the necessary capability and knowledge.

The role requires completion of cultural awareness training to strengthen your knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures, your ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and your commitment to ongoing learning in this area. You will also need to become familiar with the PM&C Cultural Protocol Guide, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment guide and the CORE Learning training course.

Flexible work

PM&C supports flexibility in how, when and where work is done. The department starts from a position of finding workable arrangements and considers individual needs alongside operational requirements. Options may include part-time arrangements, variable start and finish times, or working from home, depending on suitability.

Eligibility

• Under the Public Service Act 1999, Australian citizenship is generally required for APS employment unless an exception has been approved in writing. For this role, applicants should be Australian citizens by the end of the recruitment process except in exceptional circumstances.
• The successful applicant must be able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance, or already hold an appropriate current clearance.
• Pre-employment screening will be completed, including an Australian Criminal History Check.
• If the person is new to the APS, or has not yet finished probation elsewhere in the APS, a six-month probation period will usually apply.

Security clearance

The required clearance level is Baseline Vetting (Protected).

Application information

Applications must be submitted online by 11:30pm AEST on Sunday, 12 July 2026.