The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.
The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.
About the Division
The Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division helps create safe, healthy, respectful, and inclusive working environments to help employees thrive and succeed. The Division's teams span from prevention to response and recovery, strategy, advice and support, and diversity and inclusion. The Division adopts a holistic approach to supporting our workforce's health, safety and wellbeing across schools and central and regional offices. This includes Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers' Compensation policy advice and support for both physical and mental health and wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
The objectives of the Division are to:
- promote positive wellbeing in working environments.
- prevent known and expected risks to health, safety, and wellbeing.
- respond and manage potential issues as they emerge and prevent injuries.
- support employees to recover from injury and illness and return to work.
- promote respectful and inclusive workplaces that uphold equal prospect and prevent discrimination, bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.
- promote human rights and workforce diversity and inclusion
About the Role
The Assistant Director is a critical leadership role leading the enabling teams that support the delivery of the Statewide OHS Services Team by providing strategic leadership, direction setting and people and project management.
Reporting to the Director, OHS Implementation Services Branch, the Assistant Director will lead managers and teams to provide high quality, responsive advice and direction setting on projects. Projects include evaluation of the Statewide OHS Services Program, ensuring sustainability of the eduSafe Plus system, contract management, and development of resources and systems to support the Statewide OHS Services Program.
You will build strong relationships with senior leaders in the Department, both centrally and within regions, resolve complex issues and provide trusted expertise, thought leadership and advice. You will work closely with Emergency Management leaders and the Victorian Schools Building Authority to ensure partnering on the delivery of the Statewide OHS Services Program and the Small Schools Program.
You will have established yourself an exceptional operator, experienced in change management, motivating teams and people leaders, with a strategic innovative mindset. Your understanding of school operations and the pressures faced by principals and school leaders around administration is complemented by an interest in achieving the best possible outcomes for health, safety and wellbeing in schools.
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
- other teams within the ESWI Division
- key department and regional leaders including regional executives and managers
- key partners including Security and Emergency Management Division and the Victorian School Building Authority
- external stakeholders and regulators, including unions, peak associations and WorkSafe.
- leadership and people management for two managers and teams
- authoring and reviewing communications, including executive papers, responding to Ministerial correspondence, developing content for strategic communications contributing leadership in the continuous review and improvement of OHS related policies and procedures through an understanding of operational insights
- working with the ESWI Division leadership team and the OHS Implementation Services Branch leadership team to strategically and successfully deliver on projects that support the Statewide OHS Services Program
- building and leading a strong culture of delivery, innovation within the team that enable effective delivery of the Statewide OHS Services Program
- providing OHS advice, including resolving escalated or complex OHS and emergency management planning matters with the teams' support
- building strong, positive relationships across the Department with key partners and stakeholders, including with:
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Relevant qualification in policy development, or health, safety and wellbeing (or equivalent professional experience)
- Demonstrated leadership skills, preferably in dynamic environments
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Holds a current Victorian driver's licence
- Experience in change management and building culture within teams
- Familiarity with OHS in government settings, preferably within an education context or similar
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.
Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.
Information about the Department of Education’s operations and employment conditions can be located at
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Krystle Graham - Director, OHS Implementation Services via or.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.
Applications close 11:59pm on Thursday 20 November, 2025.
About Department of Education VIC
The Department of Education is responsible for delivering the Victorian Government’s commitment to making Victoria the Education State, where all Victorians have the best learning and development experience, regardless of their background, postcode or circumstances. Education remains a cornerstone for ensuring all Victorians have the skills and knowledge they need to actively participate in and contribute to our rapidly‑changing economy and society.
The Department delivers and regulates statewide learning and development services across the early childhood and school sectors.
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