Manager Advocacy and Reform

Manager, Advocacy and Reform
Crown Clerk Award - Clerk Grade 11/12

Contract until 30.Dec.2025

Salary range: $145,378 to $168,130pa and employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.

The Mental Health Commission of NSW is seeking interested applicants for the temporary position of Manager, Advocacy and Reform. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small fast paced team that is committed to providing a high standard of project management, policy development and lived expertise to ensure the Commission achieves its required statutory functions and policy obligations. 

The Advocacy and Reform Team actively seeks the views of people with a lived experience of mental health issues and of caring, their families and kinship groups to help shape the reform agenda, reduce stigma and discrimination and promote general health and wellbeing.

The Commission is a small agency of about 30 FTE based in the Sydney CBD and working flexibly within hybrid workplace guidelines. 

ROLE OF THE ORGANISATION
The Mental Health Commission of New South Wales (the Commission) was established in July 2012. 

The Commission’s purpose is to monitor, review and improve the mental health and wellbeing of the community by undertaking strategic planning, systemic reviews and advocacy - all guided by the lived experience of people with mental health issues and caring, families and kinship groups. 

The vision of the Commission is: That the people of NSW have the best opportunity for good mental health and wellbeing and to live well in the community, on their own terms, having the services and supports they need to live a full life.

To improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living in NSW, it is essential that people with a lived experience of mental health issues and caring, families and kinship groups can participate in, influence and lead service design, delivery, monitoring, reporting, research, evaluation and improvement activities. This will achieve stronger services and better outcomes for all people in NSW.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Manager, Advocacy and Reform leads on a program of work that aligns with the Strategic Objectives of the Commission under the Act and is responsible for leading projects that support improved systemic planning and outcomes for people through the development of frameworks and strategies that focus on community wellbeing/prevention and early intervention and for improving the experiences and outcomes for people living with mental illness. 

Within the Projects undertaken, the Manager, Advocacy and Reform will, actively seeks the views and experiences of people with a lived experience of mental health issues and of caring, their families and kinship groups to help shape the reform agenda, reduce stigma and discrimination and 

promote their general health and wellbeing. The role will provide proactive support to the Director, System Reform regarding developing the annual program of work and other deliverables as required by the Director, System Reform and the Commissioner.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead and manage all aspects of projects as directed by the Director, System Reform and Commissioner.
• Actively engage with the sector to promote and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information about mental health issues to improve outcomes and improve people’s experience of services and supports.
• Actively seek the views and experiences of people with a lived experience, caring, their families and kinship groups to help shape the reform agenda.
• Reduce stigma and discrimination associated with people experiencing mental health issues.
• Promote community wellbeing through developing prevention and early intervention frameworks, strategies and initiatives which are co-designed with people with mental health issues, caring, their kinship groups and families and with agencies.
• Contribute to the development of strategic plans relating to improving mental health and wellbeing as prioritised by the Commissioner and the NSW Mental Health Commission's strategic plan.
• Provide proactive support to the Director, System Reform to develop the System Reform Directorate's annual program of work.
• Provide technical advice and proactive support to teams within the Directorate regarding the design and preparation of projects/activities and produce reports and other deliverables for the Director, System Reform and the Commissioner.
• Provide expert advice on emerging issues, using systematic reviews, data and information and best available evidence of contemporary models of care and service delivery models to inform and address the needs of people with lived experience of mental health issues and caring, and those at risk of poor mental health.
• Advocate for and promote the prevention of mental illness and early intervention strategies for mental health, and for improving the experiences and outcomes for people living with mental illness across their life domains.
• Undertake research activities as required

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Relevant qualifications and extensive experience working in the NSW mental health service system in a senior role.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated high level skills in people management with a focus on the development and maintenance of a positive and productive culture.
• Highly developed technical skills in project management and in the analysis, reporting and presentation of data and information related to mental health, using routine data collections and planning tools.
• Sound and up to date understanding of Commonwealth and state-wide directions in mental health and social services reform.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing the development and evaluation of strategic plans and frameworks in a public sector and community setting.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (verbal and written), conflict resolution and organisational skills, with an ability to analyse complex issues, to prepare clear, comprehensive and complex documents, and to influence and negotiate outcomes.
• Significant experience and skills in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range key stakeholders and working in a collaborative and co-design approach.

How to apply

For applications to be considered, candidates must upload a current resume, a cover letter and responses to the 2 targeted questions below. The cover letter is to outline your capabilities and experience relevant to this role and should be no more than 2 pages.

The targeted questions are:  

1. Outline your understanding of the primary factors driving the need for reform within the New South Wales mental health service system.
2. Provide an example of a statewide mental health project or initiative you have led, where you engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders. Also describe the approach you adopted and how you ensured your team was effectively aligned with the process.

Part of the assessment process may include additional online capability testing, skills testing or work samples in accordance with the new Government Sector Employment Act 2013.

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Sector please click here.

Click here for the role description LINK HERE 

For role related queries or questions please contact:

Deborah Howe, A/Director, System Reform at Deborah.Howe@health.nsw.gov.au.

Applications close: Sunday 12 January 2025