Occupational Medical Advisor

• Casual position working 10 hours a week

• Competitive Hourly Rate with flexible working arrangements

• Closing date – Sunday 13 November 2022 at 11:00PM AEST (R-18537)

About This Opportunity 

UQ has developed its health, safety, and wellness vision for 2026, articulated in its Health, Safety and Wellness Strategy 2022-2026.  This Strategy includes the development of a set of health, safety and wellness principles for UQ and five health, safety and wellness priorities.  The aim of the HSW Division is to promote the highest practicable standard of occupational health, safety and wellness across the University, to drive a positive OHS culture, facilitate compliance with legislation and national standards, and manage an efficient and high standard workers’ compensation self-insurance program.

The Occupational Medicine Advisor provides specialist occupational health related advice and services to the University of Queensland, which are based on latest evidence and guidelines, and meets legal and regulatory requirements. Reporting to the Director, Health Safety and Wellness Division, this position will liaise closely with the occupational health staff within the Health, Safety and Wellness Division as well as with UQHC.

We are seeking to engage an Occupational Medical advisor for approximately 10 hours per week, with any additional hours to be charged at an agreed hourly rate.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Provision of specialist advice and services

• Ensure the provision of specialist occupational medicine advice across a range of risks relevant to the University.

• Advise the University on occupational health and medical matters to inform organisational approaches, strategy, and policy development.

• Advise the UQ Institutional Biosafety Committee to assist with its compliance and advisory role to oversee gene technology dealings, work involving biosecurity materials, and work involving high risk biological materials (e.g. Zika virus, Hendra virus, TB research).

• Provide advice on the UQ health surveillance program, including informing, initiating and reviewing biological monitoring as required for staff in relation to lead, arsenic, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B surface antibodies, laboratory animal allergens, schedule 14 and schedule 10 substances, hearing conservation and other hazardous chemicals and biological organisms etc.

• Provide advice to the members of the HSW Division (e.g. occupational hygienists, occupational health nurses, biosafety advisors) on work-related issues such as specific vaccination issues and development of procedures for student and staff vaccination and immunization requirements, and pre-employment and pre-course enrolment requirements.

• Assist with the management of occupational and public health issues relating to infectious disease events, chemicals and biological spills, high risk contaminated sharps injuries and biological pathogen exposure events, reproductive risks etc.

• Facilitating specialist/medical referrals (if necessary) for staff with work-related illness and injury.

• Oversight for UQ Occupational Health Nurse Advisor led pre-employment (spirometry and respiratory questionnaire) medicals for relevant prospective UQ staff (e.g. within UQ animal facilities).

• Participate in team meetings as required e.g. Specialist Services team, Immunisation Steering Group etc.

• Advising the University with respect to compliance with relevant legislation and standards governing chemical, biological and physical hazards.

This role is subject to the University’s Code of Conduct .  

About You

The successful applicant will possess capability to engage constructively with internal stakeholders including Heads of Schools and other University management to enhance the outcomes for the University, in addition they will also have

Selection criteria:

• Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine or Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFOEM), or otherwise a Fellow of the Royal Australian College for General Practitioners (FRACGP) with advanced skills and experience in dealing with and managing occupational health related issues in a university or large complex environment.

• Full registration with AHPRA.

• Appropriate availability to provide timely response and services to the University.

• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral), with the ability to engage with stakeholders and to write high-level reports.   

• Understanding of the principles and legislation related to work health and safety as outlined in the Queensland Work Health and Safety Act and Regulation 2011.

• Knowledge and skill regarding the identification, assessment and assessment, and control of chemical, physical and biological hazards used or generated in the workplace. 

What We Can Offer 

This is a casual position, offering attractive hourly rate (negotiable based on experience) plus superannuation of up to 10.5%.

For further information about UQ’s benefits, please visit Why Work at UQ and review The University of Queensland’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2018-2021 . 

 

Questions? 

To discuss this role please contact Jim Carmichael at j.carmichael@uq.edu.au

For application queries, please contact recruitment@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number in the subject line. 
 

Want to Apply? 

All applicants must supply the following documents for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section  

• Resume 

To satisfy pre-requisite questions and ensure your application can be considered in full, all candidates must apply via the UQ Careers portal by the job closing deadline or will not be accepted. 

Please note that you will be asked to add all documents into the one upload box labelled ‘resume’, which is step one of the application form.

Other Information 

Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.  

Mandatory Immunisations: It is a condition of employment for this role that you will be required to provide evidence of immunisation against certain vaccine preventable diseases. As this position will be required now or in the future, to work or interact in Queensland Health facility, this will include the COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.

Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.  
 

We value diversity and inclusion, and actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity to the University. Our Diversity and Inclusion webpage contains further information if you require additional support. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to recruitment@uq.edu.au . 

If you are a current employee of the University, or hold an unpaid or affiliate appointment with the University, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.