Principal Consultant Employee Support

This is a permanent full-time position commencing May 2026

The Department’s Work Health Safety and Wellbeing Directorate comprises of the Safety and Staff Wellbeing and Employee Support Services branches. The Directorate is responsible for ensuring that legislative frameworks are complied with and that employees mental health and wellbeing are supported. It provides strategic and operational advice to the Minister, Director General, school leaders and line managers on a range of matters including:

• workers’ compensation
• injury management
• work health and safety (WHS)
• staff wellbeing
• employee assistance and mediation programs.

Visit education.wa.edu.au to find out more information about the Department of Education

The Role

This senior role leads and manages a diverse workers’ compensation and injury management team, delivering advice and injury support services. The role contributes to directorate planning, promotes Work Health Safety and Wellbeing (WHSW) services, and analyses injury and insurance data to identify trends and inform targeted strategies.

Additionally, the role develops, implements, and evaluates workers’ compensation and injury management strategies to improve outcomes and ensure compliance with legislation and policy. It provides high-level advice to senior management and stakeholders and drives initiatives to reduce risk exposure and associated costs.

The role will at a system level, investigate and research complex and difficult workers’ compensation matters in regions, schools and central services, and develop strategies for their management. 

The position builds and maintains strong stakeholder relationships and provides input into negotiations with Insurance Commission of Western Australia, WorkCover Western Australia, State Solicitors Office and other external stakeholders. The role supports effective team management through oversight of staff performance and leave entitlements in accordance with relevant legislation, awards and Department policies.

Professional Benefits

We are conveniently located in East Perth and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include: 

• 12% employer contributed superannuation.
• Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
• Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments) 
• Enjoy easy access to public transport with the Claisebrook train station just a 5-minute walk away or, take advantage of the free Yellow Cat bus service that stops outside our building entrance. Additionally, various CPP parking locations are within walking distance.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Esma Pollock, Manager on *08) 9264 4981 or by emailing esma.pollock@education.wa.edu.au

We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must: 

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
• hold a valid ‘C’ class Western Australian Driver’s Licence
• undertake travel to metropolitan and regional schools

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include: 

• A CV of up to five (5) pages outlining your employment history and professional learnin