Assistant Program Officer – Targeted (Talent pool) (REQ682162)

• Employment type: Various (full-time & part-time / temporary & ongoing)
• 35 hour working week (for full-time roles)
• Hybrid working environment, including up to two days of remote work per week for full-time employees
• Located on lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation (Sydney CBD) and the Wallumattagal people of the Dharug Nation (Gladesville).
• This is a targeted talent pool recruitment with consideration given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

While this talent pool recruitment is open to all applicants, it is being conducted as a targeted recruitment process. We recognise and value the knowledge, lived experience, cultural capability and unique perspectives that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples contribute to health regulation in NSW. Therefore, we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

About us

The Health Professional Councils Authority (HPCA) supports the regulation of health practitioners in NSW through its work with professional councils. In practice, this means working with the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission to decide the best way to manage complaints about health practitioners and students. We recognise that trust in health systems is shaped by people's experiences and histories. Our work contributes to fostering a healthcare system that is safe, accountable and culturally respectful.

We value the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the important role these experiences play in strengthening healthcare outcomes for NSW communities. We recognise valuable skills, knowledge and perspectives developed through community and cultural connections, volunteering, leadership and other life experiences. Through the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Strategy, we are actively working to increase the participation of Aboriginal people on Councils, within the HPCA workforce and across the NSW regulatory system.

Talent Pool Recruitment

We are seeking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with diverse skills, qualifications, and experience to join our growing talent pool for current and future opportunities. By applying for this talent pool, you may be considered for Clerk Grade 3/4 opportunities at the HPCA over the next 18 months. This means you won’t need to apply for each role. We may contact successful candidates about suitable temporary or ongoing Assistant Program Officer vacancies as they come up.

We have offices in the Sydney CBD, on Gadigal Country, and Gladesville, on Wallumattagal Country. If you are successful, you may be considered for roles at either one, so please indicate your preferred office location in your application.

About this job

As an Assistant Program Officer (APO) you will work as part of a team providing administrative and operational support for one or more health professional councils.

You will help ensure Council processes are fair, efficient and responsive, while maintaining high standards of confidentiality, integrity and professionalism.

You may work across one or more of these areas:

• Providing administrative, coordination and secretariat support to assist the effective operation of health professional councils
• Supporting the administration and management of complaints and concerns received about registered health practitioners
• Assisting in the managing matters relating to health practitioners whose professional performance, conduct or health may require attention

Clerk Grade 3/4, salary from $87,199 to $95,482 plus Super and annual leave loading

For more information, please read the full role description.

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong understanding of the importance of confidentiality, privacy and respectful handling of sensitive information, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge
  
• Has well-developed administrative and organisational skills, with a high level of attention to detail
  
• Can learn new systems and processes, then apply them in a practical workplace setting (Training and ongoing support is provided to assist in learning our systems and NSW legislation)
  
• Enjoys working collaboratively and contributing positively to a team
  
• Can show strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences

Employee benefits and support

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements - supporting work-life balance, including up to two days' work from home per week for full-time employees
  
• Flex leave - ability to accrue additional time off
  
• Learning and development opportunities - access to LinkedIn Learning and other resources
  
• Fitness Passport - discounted access to a wide range of gyms and recreational facilities
  
• Employee wellbeing support - support services for your health, career, finances and more
  
• Cultural leave – leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to participate in NAIDOC Celebrations.

How to apply

All applicants must submit an up-to-date resume (up to 5 pages) and responses to the below targeted questions. Paid employment, study, volunteering or advocacy, community involvement, caring responsibilities, cultural leadership, and lived experience are highly transferrable to this role and can be drawn on in your examples. We welcome applicants who may not have worked in government or health regulation.

Target questions:

1. Describe a time when you had to manage multiple tasks or competing priorities. How did you organise these and what was the outcome?
   
2. In this role you may be required to deal with diverse and sometimes challenging stakeholders. Describe a situation and the outcome where you had to use your communication and interpersonal skills to deal with a challenging interaction with a customer, client or stakeholder.
   

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

This is a targeted talent pool recruitment under Rule 26 of the Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014. This rule allows NSW Government agencies to use targeted recruitment processes to help improve workforce representation and create more equitable employment opportunities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

At HPCA we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For role-related enquiries, please contact the People & Culture team at [email protected] and quote REQ682162.

We understand that choosing a workplace is about more than the role itself. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who would like to learn more about HPCA's culture, support networks and employee experience are encouraged to contact us for an informal and confidential discussion. The Stepping Up Initiative supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in pursuing career opportunities within NSW Health. For information about the recruitment process, or applying for roles, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

Closing Date: 23:59pm on Sunday, 30 August 2026