Senior Public Health Medical Officer (SPHMO)
The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Ltd. (AHCSA) is the peak body for Aboriginal health representing our 12 Members in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Substance Misuse Services at state and national levels.
Our primary role is to be the ‘health voice’ for all Aboriginal people in South Australia. We achieve this by advocating for the community and supporting workers with appropriate Aboriginal health programs based on a holistic perspective of health.
The Senior Public Health Medical Officer (Senior PHMO) is a key leadership position within the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Ltd (AHCSA). The position supports the Primary Health Care Activity (PHC Activity), which aims to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with access to effective and culturally appropriate primary health care services across Australia.
The Senior PHMO will lead the public health strategy, providing specialised medical advice on public health issues to AHCSA staff, member services, and both government and non-government organisations. This role involves a comprehensive understanding of public health medicine, which focuses on the health and well-being of populations, the promotion of health, and the prevention of disease and illness.
The Senior PHMO will work closely with existing AHCSA staff and member services, particularly within the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector, to address health disparities and improve health outcomes. They may specialise in areas such as chronic disease prevention and management, infectious diseases, or environmental health.
This position demands strong clinical knowledge, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively with Aboriginal communities, understanding the cultural, social, and economic factors impacting their health. The Senior PHMO must navigate complex relationships between health providers, funders, and the public, advocating for equitable and appropriate health services for Aboriginal communities.
Reporting/working relationships:
The Senior PHMO reports to the General Manager of Programs. This senior management role includes intentional leadership within the Public Health and Primary Health Care team and active participation in the overall leadership of AHCSA, supporting the CEO and the Executive team. The role will supervise and manage staff.
Direct Reports: Public Health Medical Officers and other relevant staff.
Other Significant Connections: Government agencies, non-government organisations, AHCSA member services, and key stakeholders in the Aboriginal health sector.
The Senior PHMO will also be required to provide detailed reports and documentation directly to the CEO, Executive team and the Board of Directors as required.
Statement of Key Responsibilities:
The Senior Public Health Medical Officer (SPHMO) role at AHCSA encompasses a comprehensive scope of responsibilities and requires a flexible, adaptable approach to meet the dynamic needs of the sector and the changing requirements of the organisation. The SPHMO will play a pivotal role in advancing AHCSA's strategic objectives, particularly in enhancing health outcomes for Aboriginal communities in South Australia and contributing to closing the gap.
Supervision and Management:
- The SPHMO will supervise and manage other Public Health Medical Officers, ensuring they work collaboratively and effectively to address a broad range of health issues.
- Provide clinical leadership to Public Health programs within AHCSA.
- The role includes providing mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities to the PHMOs, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in public health practice.
Adaptability and Flexibility:
- Given the potential changes in future funding arrangements, the SPHMO must remain adaptable, capable of pivoting strategies and approaches to align with evolving organisational and sectoral needs.
- This flexibility is crucial to ensuring that the team can respond effectively to new challenges and opportunities, maintaining a proactive stance in public health delivery.
Support for Key Health Areas:
- The SPHMO will oversee the work of PHMOs in key areas, including but not limited to:
- Public Health Programs,
- Primary and Preventative Health Programs
- Policy Development: Contributing to and guiding the development of policies that impact health outcomes for Aboriginal people.
- Continuity of Care and Medicare Benefits: Ensuring comprehensive and continuous care, maximising the use of Medicare benefits for the community.
- Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care: Supporting mothers and infants with culturally appropriate care from pregnancy through early childhood.
Strategic Alignment and Reporting:
- The SPHMO will ensure that all activities and initiatives align with AHCSA's strategic direction and goals, focusing on delivering impactful and sustainable health outcomes.
- Regular, detailed reports and documentation will be provided directly to the CEO and the Board of Directors, offering insights and updates on the progress and effectiveness of public health initiatives.
Overall Public Health and Clinical Support/Advice:
- Provide high-quality public health and clinical advice to AHCSA programs, senior management, and member services.
- Support population health approaches in primary health care.
- Strengthen service responses to public health issues such as chronic disease, communicable diseases, and environmental health.
- Develop support and information networks for AHCSA staff and member services, including the AHCSA Public Health Network.
- Contribute to improved linkages between member services and public health infrastructure.
Health Service Improvement:
- Promote effective clinical governance systems within ACCHSs in South Australia.
- Enhance the use of primary care data for quality improvement, service planning, and performance monitoring.
- Leadership in implementation of consistent Quality Improvement (QI) practices.
- Assist in health service planning, including needs assessments and program development.
Sector Strategy and Advocacy:
- Contribute and lead public health policy development at state and national levels.
- Advocate for equitable access to primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Build relationships with government agencies, peak bodies, and other stakeholders.
- Represent Aboriginal Community Controlled Health in advisory groups, committees, and consultations.
Research:
- Provide guidance on research relevant to ACCHSs and its practical application.
- Support strategic collaborations with government, health organisations, universities, and community bodies.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Legally qualified Medical Practitioner, eligible for specialist registration by the Medical Board of South Australia.
- Post-graduate qualifications in Public Health.
- Specialist registration with the Medical Board of South Australia as a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
- Ability to work effectively with Aboriginal communities, respecting traditional culture and values.
- Strong consultation skills, with the ability to translate consultation outcomes into actionable reports.
- Capacity to work independently and under broad direction.
- High-level communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and conflict resolution abilities.
- Organisational skills to manage workloads and meet deadlines.
- Teamwork and independent working capabilities.
- Experience working with Aboriginal people, organisations, and communities.
- Proven track record in preparing and presenting reports, submissions, and briefs.
- Negotiation experience with government and non-government organisations.
- Strong network-building skills with Aboriginal and mainstream health sectors.
- Proficiency with IT systems, including word processing, email, databases, and data analysis tools.
- Experience in research evaluation and application in a practical context.
- Experience in multidisciplinary team environments.
Benefits and Remuneration:
- Salary packaging options are available as a Not-For-Profit Organisation, as well as Meals & Entertainment and Leisure & lifestyle Cards to increase your take-home pay.
Conditions of Employment
- A valid National Police Certificate will be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.
- Please note that you may be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccinations.
- A valid Drivers License is required.
How to apply
Please apply via SEEK.
To be considered for the role you are required to submit a Resume and Suitability Statement.
The Suitability Statement has to address the Statement of Key Responsibilities of the Job and Person Specification. Only applications that have addressed the Statement of Key Responsibilities will be considered.
Please contact Julian Snook, HR Manager at to request a copy of the Job and Person Specification or visit our webpage where it can be found under the Careers Tab -
Please note, late applications will not be accepted and no agencies please
Closing Date for applications: 5:00 pm, Friday 27 September 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply
This position may be filled prior to the closing date of the Advertisement.
#J-18808-Ljbffr