Project Officer Mental Health Reform (Lived Experience)

Part time position, fixed term contract till 30 June 2024 (subject to funding).

WHO WE ARE:

Gippsland PHN is a not for profit charity that works to achieve improved system health care. Our vision is for a Measurably Healthier Gippsland.

We work with the primary health care system, identifying opportunities to improve health outcomes in Gippsland communities. We do this in two ways; firstly, by improving programs, and secondly by funding health services to meet local health needs.

We aim to:

• ensure health issues are prioritised and invested in; 
• build local capability in primary health care professionals;
• enable transparent communication across the primary health care sector; and
• improve access in primary health services.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Project Officer Mental Health Reform (Lived Experience)

We have two part time (0.5FTE) opportunities available as a Project Officer Mental Health Reform (Lived Experience) reporting to the Project Coordinator Mental Health Reform. The Project Officers will help increase lived experience perspectives in the activities of Gippsland PHN. They will ensure activities match up with Gippsland priorities and support improvement of procedures and how Gippsland PHN funds health services to meet local health needs.

Definitions of lived experience

1. Personal experience of mental health challenges, service use, periods of healing/personal recovery [consumer].
2. Experience of supporting someone through mental health challenges, service use, periods of healing/personal recovery [family / carer].
3. Black Dog Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre definition: Lived Experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: A lived experience recognises the effects of ongoing negative historical impacts and or specific events on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It encompasses the cultural, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual, family or community. People with lived or living experience of suicide are those who have experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, cared for someone through a suicidal crisis, been bereaved by suicide or having a loved one who has died by suicide, acknowledging that this experience is significantly different and takes into consideration Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ ways of understanding social and emotional wellbeing.

We are looking for an astute, outcomes focused team member. Use your skills to complete work including but not limited to:

• Help improve the ways lived experience perspectives are included within both (a) the PHN commissioning setting, and (b) PHN-commissioned services;
• Provide lived experience input on mental health activities;
• Help increase the involvement of consumers and carers in mental health reform activity within the PHN or with relevant stakeholders;
• Explore ways to include the perspectives of individuals with lived experience in aspects of the workplace (including policies and procedures), funding practices (including health needs assessment and service planning), procurement practices, contract management, education and training;
• Show leadership by including the perspectives of those with lived experience across the Gippsland primary health care sector;
• Participate in learning opportunities to improve personal skills and contribute to Gippsland PHN incorporating lived experience perspectives;
• Support the System Reform team in their various activities; and
• Help with internal evaluations to measure the success of activities and find ways to improve.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• attractive remuneration;
• salary packaging;
• flexible working environments with a choice of three office locations (Traralgon, Wonthaggi or Bairnsdale) and a mix of working from home environments by agreement;
• a great organisational culture; and
• the chance for you to make a real difference to the health outcomes in our community.

HOW TO APPLY:

If this sounds like you – Apply Today!

To be considered for this position applications must include a covering letter, a resume, and an addressed key selection criteria document.

To view the position description, which contains the key selection criteria, please visit our careers page at https://gphn.org.au/career/ and click on the position description.

Please email all applications with your three attached documents to [email protected].

Any queries are welcome. If you would like to chat about this role, ask any questions, learn more about Gippsland PHN or the System Reform team, please reach out to: Michaela O’Regan, Manager System Reform, 0498 824 438, [email protected]. Happy to arrange an office walkthrough for those interested.

Queries regarding Human Resources can be directed to 0428 521 435.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 20th August 2023.

All enquiries and applications will be handled professionally and with the strictest of confidence.