About us

Dungog Shire Council supports a growing rural community of almost 10,000 residents in the vibrant and picturesque Hunter region of NSW. We are committed to ensuring the ongoing and consistent delivery of local services that are valued by our community and will be for generations to come.

It is anticipated that our population will grow by 1.9% per annum over the next 20 years as per the Hunter Regional Plan, higher than the state growth average. With an additional 2,400 dwellings to be provided over the term of the Hunter Regional Plan, Dungog will be the second fastest growing LGA in the Hunter Region.

Dungog is ideally located just over an hour north of Newcastle and within close proximity to a range of other regional hubs in the Hunter Valley, such as Maitland and Raymond Terrace. We have an enviable lifestyle with easy access to World Heritage listed sites, such as Barrington Tops National Park.

Your next opportunity

We are looking for a Safety and Wellbeing Officer to join our team at Dungog Shire Council who has hands on experience in operational Work Health and Safety (WHS) and a strong focus on safety systems. In this role, you will coordinate key WHS functions and work closely with the Manager Governance & Integrated Risk to build and implement Council's WHS systems.

You will be instrumental in driving effective, compliant and consistent use of the WHS systems across the organisation, while promoting a strong safety culture at all levels. Your ability to apply contemporary WHS practices, interpret relevant legislation and communicate clearly will help deliver an integrated, practical and people-focused safety solution.

Essential selection criteria include (full criteria in the Position Description below):

• Tertiary qualifications in Work Health and Safety coupled with a minimum of 3 years experience in a similar role
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing WHS systems, processes and associated documentation in accordance with Legislation, Regulations, Codes of Practice, Australian Standards and Council requirements
• Experience delivering on the job safety training
• Demonstrated high-level written, verbal and interpersonal skills and the ability to positively influence and negotiate outcomes
• Demonstrated high-level skills in the use of Microsoft Office
• Ability to work flexible hours - early starts and/or late finishes are required from time to time
• Class C Driver Licence

Be rewarded

This position is placed at Grade 9 of Council's salary system. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity. The salary offered is in the range of $83,985 to $94,474 per annum plus 12% Superannuation, dependent upon competency level and in accordance with Council's Salary Policy.

This role works a 19-day month with 1 rostered day off (RDO) every 4 weeks.

Other Council benefits:

• Extra leave between the Christmas and New Year period (additional to your annual leave)
• Flexible work arrangements
• Outstanding team environment
• Ongoing opportunities for professional development: We have annual assessments for all Council employees to put plans in place for training and career progression so that you can broaden your horizons during your time with us
• Access to Long Service Leave after 5 years rather than 10

How to apply

Thank you for your interest in working with Dungog Shire Council.

You can apply now using our simple online application form. You are able to start an application and complete it at a time that suits you by selecting the Save For Later button.

To submit your application, please follow the below steps:

1. Fill out the required personal details and online questions below
2. Attach the requested documents (e.g. resume, cover letter, qualifications, licences)
3. Review your application and select Confirm

What happens next?

You will receive an automated acknowledgement email once you have submitted your application. We will be in touch once we have reviewed your application. Please note that Council reserves the right to review applications before the close date, so we recommend you apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

Please be aware that Council is required to complete pre-employment checks on recommended candidates prior to an offer of employment. These may include: reference checks, a pre-employment medical assessment, a criminal history check and/or a psychometric assessment.

For further information, please contact: Stacie McGowan, Manager People and Culture on 0419 197 649

Applications close: Sunday 3 August 2025 AEST 11:59 PM