Safety Officer – Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

Full-time | Palm Island, QLD

Play a key role improving safety and compliance across Council operations — working directly with senior leaders to build a strong, positive safety culture.

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council is seeking an experienced Safety Officer to strengthen our workplace health and safety performance. This is a hands-on, community-focused role where you’ll partner with Council leaders and work across departments and contractors to ensure safe systems of work are consistently applied.

The Role

Reporting to a Council leader, you’ll be responsible for monitoring compliance, conducting inspections, and mentoring staff to embed safety practices across all worksites.
You’ll also contribute to Council’s WHS systems, investigate incidents, and promote continuous improvement in safety culture and performance.

Key responsibilities include:

Conducting inspections and audits of Council and contractor worksites

Monitoring compliance with WHS legislation and Council procedures

Supporting investigations and implementing corrective actions

Participating in toolbox talks and safety meetings

Providing coaching and feedback to workers and supervisors

Maintaining accurate WHS records and preparing reports for leadership

Identifying opportunities to improve safety systems and culture

This role suits someone with strong attention to detail, practical site experience, and the confidence to engage with a diverse workforce in a respectful and constructive way.

About You

You bring a genuine commitment to safety and a calm, solutions-focused approach. You’re confident working independently, but also collaborative when supporting others to improve.

You will have:

Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (or working towards)

Construction White Card and Queensland “C” Class driver’s licence

Demonstrated experience in a safety or compliance role (construction, maintenance or local government)

Sound knowledge of Queensland WHS legislation, codes of practice and safe work procedures

Strong communication and mentoring skills, with cultural awareness

Desirable:

ICAM or equivalent incident investigation qualification

Experience in local government, QBuild projects, or remote community work

Training and Assessment qualification (or willingness to obtain)

Why Join Us

At Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, we lead and support our community through leadership, inclusion, housing, and economic development.

Our vision is to promote a safe, healthy shire that respects culture and invests in future growth, guided by our PALM values:

P – Put Safety First | A – Accountability & Respect | L – Learn & Teaching | M – Make a Difference

This is a meaningful opportunity to work directly with Council leadership to shape safety standards and contribute to a stronger, safer community.

Apply now and make a difference where it truly matters.
For more information or a copy of the position description, contact Bede Harding at [email protected]