EL1 Senior Project Officers, Healthcare Variation & Clinical Governance for High-Quality Primary Care

The Commission leads and coordinates national improvements in healthcare safety and quality. It works in partnership with patients, carers, clinicians, the Australian, state and territory health systems, the private sector, managers and healthcare organisations to achieve a safe, high-quality and sustainable health system.

The Healthcare Variation program is part of a priority area of work for the Commission that concerns quality, value and outcomes. The aim of this priority area is to have a health system that provides appropriate and high-value care. Over the next 18 months, the Healthcare Variation team will be responsible for two major workstreams: obligations under the National Health Reform Agreement Addendum 2026-31 and publication of Atlas Reports as part of the program’s flagship initiative, the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation.

The Clinical Governance for High-Quality Primary Care team will develop a national clinical governance framework to strengthen the quality, safety and consistency of primary care. The work will be delivered in two phases:

• Phase 1: Development of the national clinical governance framework
• Phase 2: Development of a roadmap for applying the framework using system levers.

The overarching objectives of this project include:

• Building a shared understanding of high-quality care in primary care and the foundations of clinical governance required to support it
• Setting out the systems, processes and key actions to shape the culture to achieve high-quality care
• Clarifying accountability, roles and responsibilities.

This project will involve significant engagement with a range of primary care stakeholders and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

About the roles

There are multiple Senior Project Officer positions available in the two streams:

EL1 Senior Project Officer, Clinical Governance for High-Quality Primary Care

The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for leading the work on the development of program initiatives for the Clinical Governance for High-Quality Primary Project. This will include undertaking research and analysis of information, project management, policy development, stakeholder management, facilitation of meetings, preparation of project documentation and collaborating with other relevant programs within the Commission.

EL1 Senior Project Officer, Healthcare Variation

The Senior Project Officer will be responsible for leading the work on the development and implementation of program initiatives, with a focus on the NHRA workstream, as well as contributing to broader activities to support the Healthcare Variation team. This will include undertaking research and analysis of information, project management, policy development, stakeholder management, facilitation of meetings, preparation of project documentation and collaborating with other relevant programs within the Commission.

The successful candidate will have:

• A comprehensive understanding of Australia’s healthcare system, including approaches to clinical governance in primary care settings.
• Demonstrated experience in program or project management, with a focus on achieving outstanding results within tight timeframes.
• Demonstrated high level research and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills including an ability to communicate with influence and an ability to cultivate productive working relationships with a range of government and non-government stakeholders.
• Highly developed analytical skills and conceptual ability, with the demonstrated capacity for sound judgement and innovative problem-solving.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to prepare high level briefing documents and reports, present to a range of audiences and explain complex technical and clinical issues.

For further information, please refer to the position description and applicant pack available from the Commission’s website at: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/careers .

To apply for these positions, please complete and submit an application form through https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/careers and upload:

• A CV summarising your relevant experience and qualifications
• A two-page cover letter broadly addressing your suitability against both the position description and selection criteria.

Candidates must be Australian citizens to be eligible to apply.

Please note: These positions will be offered in a hybrid model of office based (Sydney) and working from home, where operationally feasible. A regular weekly presence in the office is required.

Questions about the roles can be directed to Myu Arumuganathan (02) 7232 5055.

Closing date for applications is 11.59pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Sunday 15 November 2026