Position Description

Title:Practice and Population Health Support Program Officer

Unit:Public Health and Research

Reports To:Director, Public Health and Research

Time Fraction:1.0 EFT (Fulltime)

Employment Status:3 months qualifying period and 12 months fixed term

Location:17-23 Sackville Street, Collingwood 3066

Organisational Overview

VACCHO is Victoria’s peak representative Aboriginal health body and champions community control and health equality for Aboriginal communities. We are a centre of expertise, policy advice, training, innovation and leadership in Aboriginal health. VACCHO advocates for the health equality and optimum health of all Aboriginal people in Victoria.

VACCHO was established in 1996 and represents 27 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) that make up our Membership. ACCHOs have a proud history as sustainable, democratic, grassroots organisations that assist in building community capacity for self-determination and direct provision of community services. ACCHOs view cultural identity as part of their strength as representatives of the Aboriginal community. ACCHOs seek to assist every Aboriginal person realise their full potential as a human being and as a member of their community.

VACCHO builds upon the capacity of Members and advocates on their behalf to ensure the sustainability of Aboriginal community controlled health services. Membership capacity is built through strengthening support networks and partnerships, increasing professional development opportunities and developing leadership capability and good governance. Advocacy is carried out at state and national levels within the public, private and community sectors, on all issues relating to Aboriginal health, with the aim of improving services to Aboriginal people and achieving health equality.

VACCHO Strategic Goals

  • Aboriginal Cultural Qualities;
  • Quality Workforce;
  • Quality Services;
  • Quality Infrastructure;
  • Quality policy development and advocacy; and
  • Quality Partnership & Networks.

Public Health and Research Unit

The Public Health & Research Unit’s (PHRU) vision is to empower Victorian Aboriginal people to redress health inequities through the use of culturally appropriate evidence based public health research and practice.

The Unit’s goals are to:

  1. Strengthen and support Members’ programs using evidence based models that incorporate the unique cultural values and priorities of Victorian Aboriginal communities;
  2. Assess and reflect on the effectiveness and impact of our work through culturally appropriate planning, implementation and evaluation;
  3. Identify and develop translational research models that address Aboriginal health and social inequity;
  4. Provide leadership in building community cross-sectoral partnerships that address Aboriginal population health priorities;
  5. Support our Members’ workforce to continuously improve services to their communities.

Role Overview

This role sits within the Health Evidence team of the PHRU and will support ACCHO practice staff (Practice Managers, Nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers and GPs) across Victoria to improve services and population health outcomes. The role will provide support with data analysis and data management, clinical software, MBS billing, quality improvement and other general practice support. The role shares responsibility for the management of a statewide ACCHO primary health care data repository and applying it as a monitoring and evaluation framework for quality improvement programs. The position will support the Health Evidence Team’s focus on supporting our Members to improve the quality of primary health services to Aboriginal Victorians with a balanced approach that combines our statewide ACCHO-specific primary health care data repository with our Members’ on the ground expertise and insights to improve population health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Provide support and build capacity of ACCHO staff through training and resources on population health planning and reporting, quality improvement, electronic medical records, and MBS billing;
  2. Develop, coordinate and deliver VACCHO Improvement Cycles (quality improvement program) with other Health Evidence Team staff;
  3. Prepare clear, timely, and relevant reports at local, regional and statewide levels based on topics chosen by Members, the Data Advisory Group, and VACCHO management;
  4. Maintain a list of databases and data sources relevant to Victorian ACCHOs and periodically review the potential for additional data to be systematically collected alongside primary health care data;
  5. Build strong relationships with Members, VACCHO staff, and other key stakeholders to ensure VACCHO responds to the needs of its Members and can support data and clinical quality improvement activities;
  6. Undertake other duties which are appropriate to the level of the position, as directed by the Team Leader and PHRU Management staff to meet unit objectives.

Key Standards Required Within VACCHO

OHS

VACCHO requires all employees to comply with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and all the rules, regulations and relevant Codes of Practice.

VACCHO is a Smoke Free Workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity

VACCHO is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply. Selection will be based on assessing an employee’s future capabilities alongside the skills, knowledge, past performance and other personal qualities relevant to the initial work assignment.

Quality

VACCHO has adopted the ISO 9001 quality improvement standard as its accreditation benchmark and is committed to maintaining ISO 9001 accreditation as its benchmark for quality systems.

All Employees are required to participate in the continuous improvement at VACCHO and are required to understand and perform their responsibilities in relation to quality in their daily work and to ensure compliance with statutory and quality related requirements.

Statement of Principles, Values and Ethics

All employees are expected to adhere to VACCHO’s core values and principles:

  • Empowerment;
  • Respect;
  • Confidentiality;
  • Teamwork/collaboration;
  • Integrity;
  • Commitment;
  • Compassion; and
  • Optimism.

Other Employment Related Information

  • A National Police Records Check is required as a condition of employment;
  • A Victorian Drivers Licence is required; and
  • Must be able to travel within Victoria and/or interstate as required.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

  • Understanding and commitment to Victorian Aboriginal health, Aboriginal culture, and the philosophy and practice of Aboriginal Community Control;
  • Good knowledge and experience of primary health care systems – especially general practice and/or Aboriginal health service;
  • Proven experience working as part of a cohesive team;
  • Experience in the delivery of support programs or similar;
  • Demonstrated ability to develop rapport and build relationships with various stakeholders;
  • Demonstrated interpersonal, communication (oral and written) and negotiation skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritise and meet deadlines;
  • Demonstrated skills in dealing with confidential and sensitive information in a professional manner;
  • Demonstrated experience using Patient Information and Recall Systems (e.g. Medical Director, Best Practice, Communicare) and population health analysis tools (e.g. Pen’s CAT4, Canning Tool) or ability to learn quickly;
  • Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable

  • Practice Management Diploma (or currently studying or have equivalent industry experience) or tertiary qualifications in a health related or human services discipline;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting the health of Aboriginal Australians, particularly public and primary health;
  • Experience in primary health care data collection, collations and analysis;
  • Experience in primary health care quality improvement activities;
  • Established networks among ACCHOs in Victoria.

Position Description Acceptance

I ______(Incumbent Name) have read and, understood the above Position Description and agree to carry out the duties listed in my position description

SIGNED by the EMPLOYEE

...... /...... /…....

Signature: Name:Date:

SIGNED by the MANAGER

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Signature: Name:Date:

Health Data Improvement Officer/Health Information Analyst1