Our Internal Review Unit (IRU) provides employers, workers, health and safety representatives and other eligible persons with an opportunity to request a review of decisions made by inspectors and other persons authorised by WorkSafe under health and safety legislation including the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, Dangerous Goods Act 1985, Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994 (health and safety legislation) and compensation legislation under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2013 and the Regulations made thereunder. The IRU also reviews licensing decisions made under health and safety legislation and Regulations and infringement notices issued under section 139 of the OHS Act.
- $163,604.00 per annum + superannuation
- Full time, ongoing opportunity
- Melbourne CBD based role (hybrid – 3 days in office)
Key accountabilities
- Supports Lead Counsel of IRU in decision-making relating to occupational health and safety, licensing and return to work.
- Engage and consult with relevant internal and external stakeholders in the operation of the internal review function, including the development of processes, precedents and training of relevant internal review staff and associated internal stakeholders.
- Gather and analyse information relating to quality decision making frameworks, procedures, processes and policies
- Investigate and determine applications for review of an inspector or authorised person's decision in accordance with relevant legislation.
- Consider and determine requests initiated by WorkSafe management for cancellation or variation of an inspector or an authorised person's decision.
- Write clear and logical decisions setting out the basis for decision, relevant findings of fact and the material on which those findings were based, by reference to applicable legislation and case law.
- Communicate outcomes of reviews and the reasons for those outcomes to applicants, inspectors, authorised decision-makers and relevant WorkSafe staff in a timely and professional manner.
- Conduct peer and quality assurance reviews of other decision-makers to ensure the highest level of decision making capability within the team.
About you
You are a legal professional who can undertake a high level of complex investigative and analytical work that has significant implications across WorkSafe's operations. Your communication and stakeholder management skills are highly developing, providing you the confidence to deal effectively and tactfully with a range of stakeholders. You have the ability to work within clear and established management systems, legislative/regulatory provisions and professional standards.
Additionally, you possess the following:
- Demonstrated experience as a technical expert, specialist legal advocate, or policy specialist in the Victorian occupational health and safety field.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting administrative and merit reviews or formal organisational investigations and ability to assess competing and complex arguments and to reach logical and sustainable conclusions based on relevant material.
- Highly developed and demonstrated knowledge of the Victorian occupational health and safety and/or compensation legislation statutory framework.
- Highly evolved ability to mentor and supervise the work of non-senior staff within a team and provide qualitative, timely and constructive feedback.
- Demonstrated ability to write sound logical and sustainable decisions capable of withstanding internal and external scrutiny.
- Demonstrated ability to present review outcomes and learnings to stakeholder groups, and to represent the IRU in a range of settings.
- Available on a rotating roster, to undertake urgent stay applications submitted after hours and on weekends.
Highly Desirable
- Experience and understanding of the operation of merit review Tribunals, such as VCAT in relation to administrative decision making.
- Sound understanding of the principles of administrative review, and their application to the WorkSafe review context.
- Understanding of the principles of statutory interpretation and legal precedent.
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
Applications close 11:00pm on Wednesday 16 July 2025