Policy Advisor

Description:

If you are looking for a role where you can make a difference to people’s lives and work with colleagues that are passionate about what they do, then the Mental Health Commission of NSW is the place for you.

We are a young organisation, established in 2012, working with people with lived experience of mental health issues and of caring, families and kinship groups; across the community and government sectors; and with workforce and research groups, to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in NSW. While we are an independent statutory agency, we value partnerships and collaboration and work with other organisations who are committed to improving people's mental health and wellbeing, and of most importance, with people who have lived experience.

We report directly to government on systemic issues that affect people and communities and monitor progress in improving mental health in NSW. We advocate for mental health reform and build the evidence for change, with people at the centre of everything we do.

The Commission is currently re-locating its office to the Sydney CBD, noting there is flexibility to work from home on a part-time basis or on nominated days each week.

The new part-time Policy Advisor – Lived Experience will join the Strategic Planning and Projects team to provide leadership and input into the mental health and wellbeing reform program of work undertaken each year by the Commission.

This includes providing well researched advice and information, efficient project and secretariat support to the Manager and produces high quality, timely and succinct advice and project outputs (e.g., summaries, briefs, submissions, correspondence, speech notes, presentations and other materials, such as meeting notes and agendas). The role also acts as a key co-ordination point for the Manager and establishes positive and productive collaborative relationships across the Directorate, the Commission and with people with lived experience and other stakeholders as appropriate.

This role requires an individual who can engage with people with lived experience and caring, families and kinship groups and with local communities and organisations through their highly developed written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

• Undertake environmental scans and gap analyses to identify current and emerging priorities, with a focus on engaging with people with lived experience, caring, families and kinship groups.
• Provide lived experience leadership and input into the mental health and wellbeing program of work.
• Build and maintain a detailed knowledge of broader mental health issues, and the role of community stakeholders and of people with lived experience to effectively participate, codesign and co-lead policy and research outcomes.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders with a focus on people with lived experience and caring, priority population groups and with lived experience peak community managed organisations and other relevant mental health sector organisations.
• Manage a range of diverse tasks to support the Manager such as providing secretarial support for committees and developing high quality, timely and effective project outputs, including papers, briefs, submissions, correspondence, speech notes, presentations and other materials.
• Participate in the design and development of projects and activities and other tasks as required by the Manager.
• Provide advice and support to other team members across the Mental Health Commission as required.
• Providing high quality analyses and advice, using a range of information, with a focus on people with lived experience.
• Complete tasks within agreed timeframes and to agreed standards while managing other tasks at various stages of completion; responding effectively on a diverse range of complex and sensitive issues.
• Developing advice and position papers regarding systemic issues relating to mental health and wellbeing, synthesising and analysing information from a range of sources, expert advisors and stakeholders, including those from across the Commission, people with lived experience, the mental health and human services sector, community and government in a context of competing priorities and points of view.
• Providing sound, informed and timely support and advice to the Commissioner on a range of public policy and mental health, wellbeing and related issues in an ever changing policy and reform environment, at the state and national level.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to organise and present complex information in a clear, logical, and systematic way.
• Ability to engage with government, non-government stakeholders and people with lived experience, carers, and kinship groups on a range of Commission priority areas.
• Ability to display initiative; have sound organisational skills, capacity to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently or as a member of an effective, multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the role of the NSW Mental Health Commission and the broad range of issues affecting people with lived experience of mental health issues and caring, families and kinship groups.