Are you passionate about enhancing the quality of life for carers across ACT and having a lasting impact in our community? Join our team and enjoy meaningful work that offers connections, a sense of belonging, and above-award pay.

Meaningful work: Provide advocacy and policy advice that directly improves lives in a community-focused role while offering you a sense of belonging.

Connection with colleagues: Be a part of an inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters collaboration and provides opportunities for interactive social connection.

Attractive remuneration and benefits: Receive above award pay, salary packaging, extra well-being leave, community based portable long service leave and free parking.

Career advancement with targeted development: Be the best at what you do or advance your career with our focused individual development programs.

Roles

We are currently seeking two Policy Officers with excellent written and oral communication skills to join our growing and dynamic Policy and Advocacy Team.

We are seeking a new specialist Mental Health Carers Policy Officer who will focus predominantly (but not exclusively) on our Mental Health Carers Voice (MHCV) peak body work. Reporting to the Policy and Advocacy Lead, this position will drive the delivery of the MHCV Strategic Plan through a work plan that meets contractual requirements and the broader strategic priorities of Carers ACT. The MHCV Policy Officer will oversee the MHCV Advocacy and Policy Advisory Group, a panel of mental health carers who directly inform policy and system reform. The role will also include coordinating and developing communications assets to strengthen the reach and impact of MHCV.

The new Policy Officer role has a broad subject remit and report to our Senior Policy Officer. This position will ensure carer perspectives are represented across a wide range of policy areas. These may include transport and infrastructure, community services, education, palliative care and voluntary assisted dying. Keeping abreast of emerging issues that impact carers and identifying opportunities for advocacy at both local and national levels will be a key responsibility of this role. The Policy Officer will also contribute to the implementation of the ACT Carers Strategy.

The Policy and Advocacy team takes pride in being multi-skilled, curious, self-motivated and collaborative. We are looking for new members who share this work style and are passionate about ensuring that the voices of unpaid carers are represented in policy and service design across Government, organisations and programs. As a member of the team, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the Executive and the Communications and Marketing team and play an active role in carer and stakeholder engagement.

These roles are best suited to someone who has a strong interest in advocacy, a genuine interest in driving change in the community and an awareness of the political and governmental environment in which we operate. Joining the Carers ACT Policy and Advocacy team will enrich your advocacy and policy writing experience while you are supported in your continued development.

Responsibilities

As one of our Policy Officers, you will require excellent research skills to synthesise information and evidence from internal and external sources to assist the team, the Executive and the organisation to develop evidence-based policy positions on issues affecting carers. In the course of your work you will develop policy resources, prepare reports, submissions and presentations. There will be opportunities for public speaking both internal and external to the organisation and you will be part of committees and consultations.

Your communications and high-level IT skills will enable you to share information with stakeholders, especially carers, working closely with our communications team to provide content for social media posts, website updates and provision of a monthly newsletter. You will work directly with carers, supporting them as representatives and engaging with them to understand the issues they experience.

Who You Are: Highlights the skills, qualities, and attributes we need for these roles

Exceptional Communicator: Excellent writing skills with confidence in public speaking. Clear, empathetic, and inspiring across diverse audiences.

Strategic Thinker: Connect knowledge, stakeholders and opportunities together to maximise carer advocacy.

Creative Problem Solver: Develop effective solutions to complex challenges.

Relationship Builder: Foster meaningful connections with stakeholders and partners.

Detail-Oriented Organiser: Manage projects and deadlines seamlessly.

Data-Driven Decision Maker: Use analytics to guide and refine strategies.

Tech-Savvy: Proficient in digital platforms and adaptable to emerging technologies.

Collaborator: Empower carers and drive cross-departmental alignment.

Resilient and Adaptable: Thrive under pressure with focus and positivity. Willing to pivot and learn new skills.

What makes you a great fit – Your essential background requirements.

Experience and Qualifications:

Relevant tertiary qualification and experience in policy and/or advocacy work. Previous experience in the not-for-profit sector will be highly regarded.

Proven success in driving advocacy and policy positions, and effective stakeholder engagement and relationships.

Technical Skills:

Excellent writing skills.

Excellent research skills.

High level IT skills.

Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.

Personal Attributes:

Strong interpersonal skills to build stakeholder relationships.

Creative, solutions-focused, and committed to improvement.

Self-driven with excellent organisational skills

Agile and responsive to opportunities and environmental change.

About Carers ACT:

We strive to make Canberra a more carer-friendly community. Here, every role directly contributes to our mission—to support, connect and empower carers to maintain their caring role and personal wellbeing. When you join Carers ACT, you make a lasting difference in the lives of unpaid carers in Canberra. Alongside our service delivery, we exist to raise the voices of carers to instigate change. We work to create a community that values and respects the caring role. We carry the voices of carers across the spaces where they feel unheard.

To apply, click APPLY NOW and submit your current CV along with a one-page pitch outlining the role you’re applying for and why you’re a great fit.

We will interview as we receive applications, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Carers ACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud of our team, representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.