Senior Rehabilitation Advisor

Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the People, Property and Security Division and the departments’ goal.

We support our people across the employment life cycle, enabling the effective management of people-related risk and building future ready leaders, people and culture. We prevent, detect and respond to misconduct, fraud and corruption, deliver objective and risk-based internal audit, assurance and advisory services, and provide support to our two independent Inspectors-General. We ensure the effective management of our property portfolio, facilities management, security, sustainability, facilities emergency management, and a range of corporate site services and commercial contracts nationwide.

We provide people-focused services that support performance, rehabilitation, workplace relations, and work, health and safety. Our team helps build a positive and inclusive workplace culture by aligning people policies with departmental goals. We support staff throughout their career journey, ensuring they have the tools and guidance needed to succeed. By fostering engagement and wellbeing, we contribute to a resilient and high-performing workforce.

As a Senior Rehabilitation Advisor you will provide specialised rehabilitation and HR advice, manage complex health-related cases, and support early intervention and return-to-work processes. You will work closely with staff and managers to deliver holistic, compliant case management and drive continuous improvement. This role strengthens the section’s ability to support employee wellbeing and deliver effective, best-practice rehabilitation outcomes across the department.

This is where you play an important role.

As the Senior Rehabilitation Advisor, you will:

• Providing advice and support to managers and employees on a wide range of human resource management matters within an Australian Public Service (APS) context ideally with experience with Early Intervention, non-compensable and compensable management of injured workers.
• Delivering injury management initiatives. 
• Dealing with complex and sensitive people issues.
• Developing and maintaining working relationships with people at all levels of the organisation. 
• Identifying competing priorities and working with autonomy and in collaboration with the rest of the team, implementing improvements to work processes and tasks to achieve efficiencies and meet service level standards.
• Case management. 
• Providing written and verbal advice based on regulatory and legislative requirements. 
• Undertaking a voluntary, rotational placement within the Rehabilitation Project team to contribute to the design, tailoring, and implementation of best-practice rehabilitation strategies and operational improvements.
• Other duties as required.  

Note: The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Strong understanding of contemporary case management strategies and how to apply them in the context of health and workers compensation management.
• Demonstrated experience with interpretation and application of relevant legislation including but not limited to the Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988, Commonwealth Work Health & Safety Act 2011, Privacy Act 1988, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and leave, superannuation and employment related provisions of the Public Service Act 1999 or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge.
• The ability to quickly interpret, implement and explain internal rehabilitation, return to work, and leave policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience in health and/or workers compensation case management.
• Allied health experience is an advantage in this role but not required. 
• Strong time management and organisations skills, with high level attention to detail. 
• High level critical-thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills to deal with complex and sensitive issues.
• Well-developed administrative skills, including the ability to effectively prioritise and deliver outcomes.
• Proven organisational skills, including the ability to identify competing priorities and work with autonomy and in collaboration with the rest of the team, implement improvements to work processes and tasks to achieve efficiencies and meet service level standards.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex information and data to inform rehabilitation strategies, assess risk, evaluate outcomes and support evidence-based decision making
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills. 
• High level stakeholder management skills, including the ability to quickly build rapport and establish strong working relationships with staff, managers and treatment providers.
• Resilience and the ability to manage work in the context of rapidly changing and competing priorities.
• Sound judgement and solutions based problem-solving skills to effectively manage complex and sensitive situations.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a large national team. 
• Inclusive, collaborative, and innovative mindset. 
• Holistic approach to case management.