About TAFE Queensland
TAFE Queensland is proud to be the largest and most experienced Vocational Education and Training provider in the State. For more than 140 years, TAFE Queensland has delivered practical and industry-relevant training to provide students with the skills and experience they need to build lifelong careers. TAFE Queensland been named the Large Training Provider of the Year at the prestigious 2023 Australian Training Awards. Our training is delivered to students and apprentices on-site, online, in the workplace, or on-campus to give people the skills they need to enrich their communities, support their industries, and strengthen their local economies.
By working at TAFE Queensland, you can be part of a highly experienced workforce closely connected with their industries and dedicated to delivering best practices and innovative training.
Your Opportunity
As the Manager Health Safety and Wellbeing you will:
lead by example in living our value of Safety First and be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of workplace health and safety programs and initiatives across TAFE Qld East Coast region.
provide advice and education on WHS regulations, risk management, and best practices to ensure a safe and compliant work and training environment and support the training of staff and management to promote awareness and foster a learning culture.
This position reports to the Director, Assets, Facilities and Safety.
This is a Permanent Full-Time opportunity.
Location negotiable at a campus within the TAFE Queensland East Coast region, however you may be required to perform work at other campuses within the region.
Key Responsibilities
Contribute to the success of the organisation through promoting and modelling TAFE Queensland core values and Agreed Behaviours and the established TAFE Queensland values of Working Together, Focussing on our Customer, Taking Responsibility, Showing Initiative, and Safety First.
Manage the development and implementation of regional health, safety, and wellbeing strategies aligned with TAFE Queensland's organisational goals and legislative requirements.
Lead, manage and develop a high performing Health, Safety and Wellbeing team, providing leadership on individual and team performance, fostering a culture of collaboration and improvement, and recognising and addressing opportunities to improve performance.
Provide strategic, accurate and pragmatic advice to key Region stakeholders, including but not limited to the General Manager, Senior Executive Team and Region Managers, on a broad range of matters relating to health and safety, workplace wellness, and emergency management systems and practices.
Review, monitor and manage health, safety and wellbeing incidents, including:
the coordination and oversight of high-level incident investigations;
ensuring the Region's compliance with mandatory reporting of critical incidents where required, both within TAFE Queensland and to external regulatory bodies;
conducting and overseeing regular audits and workplace inspections; and
providing detailed reports and strategic recommendations to address identified non-compliance and risk.
Represent the Region through active participation in external audits, and lead, manage and monitor the implementation of associated recommendations within the region.
Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of strategies, policies, and practices that promote and sustain a physically and psychologically safe workplace, in alignment with legislative and organisational requirements.
Actively contribute to the ongoing development of a 'Safety First' culture by:
maintaining current knowledge of legislative frameworks and policies/procedures as they relate to Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing;
informing and educating employees of their obligations with respect to Workplace Health and Safety; and
actively seeking opportunities, and implementing strategies, to build health, safety and wellbeing capability and capacity within the Region, with a focus on improving performance and accountability.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, unions, and contractors, to support a safe and healthy learning environment.
Represent the Region's interests through active participation in working groups, networks and forums, utilising expertise to influence the direction of state-wide, and organisation-wide, strategies.
Design and deliver region-wide wellbeing programs, mental health initiatives, and safety campaigns tailored to staff and student needs.
Demonstrated capacity to lead and support teams in the delivery of WHS programs, fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement across diverse operational environments.
How you will be assessed
The ideal applicant will be someone who has the following key capabilities:
Proven ability to manage and lead a team including the development, promotion and implementation of an organisations WHS initiatives, strategies and values.
Demonstrated understanding of WHS legislation, codes of practice and managing complex risk assessments and compliance frameworks.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and shape organisational practices through the provision of high-level strategic advice and the development of effective WHS policies and frameworks.
Demonstrated ability to apply high level analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and manage emerging organisational health, safety, emergency management and security issue.
Highly developed communication, consultation and negotiation skills as evidenced by a record of achievement in developing and managing positive partnerships with a wide variety of key stakeholders with conflicting priorities.
Highly Desirable Requirements
A qualification in Work Health and Safety
3+ years' experience in a similar role.
How to apply
If you're interested in this role, click the 'Apply' button to submit your application via the TAFE Queensland Recruitment Portal. When submitting your application, please ensure you provide the following:
A detailed resume;
A cover letter that outlines your known skills, abilities, knowledge and experience in response to the 'How you will be assessed' criteria above (maximum of 2 pages in total); and
The contact details for two referees (one of whom is your current supervisor)
Closing date: 4.00pm, Friday 15 August, 2025.
Job Reference Number: TQ2025-688
For further information, please contact:
Ryan Purkiss, Director, Assets, Facilities and Safety
Email: ryan.purkiss@tafeqld.edu.au<space>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.