Position Number20021618

Position TitleSenior Advisor

ClassificationExecutive Level 2

Salary$119,896 - $141,952plus 15.4% superannuation

REFERENCE NUMBER18-0001

LocationSydney

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Contact Officer:Kathy Meleady

Phone number:(02) 9126 3640

Submission Details:Applications are to be submitted via email to

Should you experience any difficulties with submitting your application please phone (02) 9126 3681

Closing Date: 7 March 2018, midnight AEST

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Please read the following information to assist you in preparing an application.

Application package

The application pack is made up of two parts:

  1. Job description and selection criteria.
  2. Application cover sheet "Personal Particulars Form".

Preparing your application

You should include in your application:

  • personal details to assist in identifying your application (you should use the Personal Particulars Form) including a clear indication of which position(s) you are applying for
  • a summary of your work experience
  • a summary of educational qualifications/academic achievements
  • a statement in support of your application, describing how you consider yourself suitable against each of the selection criteria (400 word limit per criteria)
  • any other relevant information which would support your claim to the position.

You should frame your statement in terms of the selection criteria, and you should address each criterion in sufficient detail to enable the Selection Committee to make an informed assessment.

Selection process

The selection process is commonly made up of several forms of assessment, such as review of written applications, interviews, work sample tests, and referees checks. However appointments may be made based on assessment of written applications and referee checks only.You may be asked to provide the names of two referees, one of these should be your current supervisor.

About the Commission

The Commission’s role is to lead and coordinate national improvements in the safety and quality of health care. The Commission works in partnership with the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the private sector to achieve a safe, high-quality and sustainable health system. In doing so, the Commission also works closely with patients, carers, clinicians, managers, policymakers and healthcare organisations.

Key functions of the Commission include developing national safety and quality standards, developing clinical care standards to improve the implementation of evidence-based health care, coordinating work in specific areas to improve outcomes for patients, and providing information, publications and resources about safety and quality.

The Commission works in four priority areas:

  1. Patient safety
  2. Partnering with patients, consumers and communities
  3. Quality, cost and value
  4. Supporting health professionals to provide care that is informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality health care.

For more information please visit

Position description

Position Number: / 20021618
Position Title: / Senior Advisor Infection Prevention and Control
Position Level: / EL 2
Employment Type: / Ongoing
Reporting To: / Director, AURA, and IPC/HAI
Location: / Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Overview of the position

The Senior Advisor Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) has a leadership role in the Commission’s multi-disciplinary approach to safety and quality improvement strategies for Healthcare Associated Infection.

The position will lead the development of a number of national policies, guidelines and strategies to respond to healthcare associated infections and the development and support of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs.

The Senior Advisor will work as part of a high level multidisciplinary team to provide expert clinical and technical advice, experience and leadership to develop Commission’s strategies to: promote effective infection control practice; reduce the impact of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs); promote and improve antimicrobial stewardship; and prevent and contain antimicrobial resistance.

As part of this team, the position will also provide advice on the use of data from the AURA Surveillance System to inform strategies to support implementation of the National Quality and Safety Health Service (NSQHS) Standard and prevent and control healthcare-associated infection.

The Senior Advisor supports the Commission to build and maintain strategic and effective linkages across Commonwealth, state and territory governments, the private sector and a range of health service organisations.

The Senior Advisor will contribute to the planning, work and operations of projects in relation to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies, and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in consultation with the Director AURA and IPC/HAI and Executive Director, AURA and IPC/HAI and Emerging Issues.

This position will be responsible for leading a number of priority projects for the Commission, working with the broader team, and ensuring engagement and collaborative relationships with a range of clinical and technical experts, including infectious disease physicians, microbiologists, public health physicians, epidemiologists, pharmacists, and medical scientists.

The Senior Advisor will also lead the development of policy, guidelines and strategies to effect changes in clinical practice in relation to transmission and the prevention of HAIs, identification of infection risks and achievement of national safety and quality outcomes.

Position duties and responsibilities

  1. Provide leadership by planning, managing and coordinating the development and implementation of priority activities as they relate to HAI and IPC and the NSQHS Standard: Preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infection as part of the Commission’s work plan.
  2. Work with the Director, AURA, IPC/HAI and Executive Director to achieve the Commission’s priorities; identify challenges and propose possible solutions; and develop and manage effective and productive relations with the Australian Government Department of Health, the states and territories and other key stakeholders.
  3. Promote the Commission’s priorities and its work through the development of a range of communications, publications and attendance at key events, as required.
  4. Maintain current knowledge of the scientific literature, policy and programs in Australia and internationally, in relation to AMS, AMR, IPC and HAI to enable development of appropriate national policies and programs.
  5. Prepare written reports, briefs and other publications for a range of audiences, to a high standard.
  6. Review and analyse data related to AMS, AMR and HAI.
  7. Provide advice and coordinate the Commission’s involvement in relevant inter-government committees, working groups and projects at a national level, including undertaking representational activities for the Commission as required.
  8. Advise on matters relevant to AMS, AMR, IPC and HAI.
  9. Ensure appropriate consultation and communication with, and information to, the Director AURA, and IPC/HAI about the planning, implementation and progress on, program projects and strategic implications.
  10. Manage and supervise staff involved in identified projects within the program including ensuring that timeframes are met.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Extensive clinical experience and leadership of IPC and HAI programs at organization and network or system-wide levels
  • Sound decision making skills, incorporating initiative and the ability to exercise professional judgement, as appropriate
  • Demonstrated high level skills in program and project planning, and management in health
  • Excellent liaison, communication and interpersonal skills, in particular, the ability to consult, negotiate and develop productive working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, including committees
  • High level demonstrated verbal and written communication, presentation and report writing skills
  • High level analytical and research skills
  • Commitment to, and demonstrated capacity to lead quality improvement, in line with the NSQHS Standards
  • Demonstrated resource and time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
  • Extensive knowledge and understanding of the Australian healthcare system and its stakeholders
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of government processes
  • Qualifications and experience relevant to the position in a health related field
  • Demonstrated ability to work autonomously.

Selection criteria

  1. Appropriate health related and or IPC qualifications and demonstrated knowledge and extensive experience in leadership, development, implementation and evaluation of IPC/HAI programs.
  1. Demonstrated performance in the use of evidence and data analyses in combination with conceptual ability to inform policy and program development.
  1. Demonstrated capacity for sound judgement and innovative problem-solving.
  1. Demonstrated ability to liaise and work collaboratively with clinicians and healthcare managers in the public and private hospital sectors, jurisdictional health departments, clinical and research communities.
  1. Demonstrated ability to lead, liaise and work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, with strong inter-personal skills.
  1. Highly developed oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to prepare high quality reports and high level briefing documents, present publicly to large audiences, and explain complex technical issues simply.

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