WHS Manager - Queensland

Job Description:

Better and fairer care. Always

• Lead safety for one of Australia's most trusted names in care

• Manage a high-performing team of WHS professionals

• Shape culture and compliance across QLD sites

St Vincent's has been a leader in Australia's health and aged care landscape for more than 165 years. Since our founders, the Sisters of Charity, opened our first hospital in 1857, our services and people have been behind some of Australia's most important medical breakthroughs. Today, as we expand care beyond hospital walls and create more connected models of care, St Vincent's is helping shape a better, fairer health and aged care system.

We are looking for a special kind of person — a St Vincent's kind of person. Someone who combines sharp thinking, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to keeping others safe.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the National Director, WHS & Wellbeing, we are seeking an experienced Work Health and Safety Manager to lead a team of WHS professionals across our QLD hospital and aged care network.

This is a hands-on leadership role at the heart of one of the country's largest health and aged care providers. You'll lead a team of three — a Senior WHS Partner, WHS Partner and WHS Program Consultant — while working shoulder-to-shoulder with facility leaders, executives and the WHS regulator to build a genuine culture of safety across a 30,000-strong workforce.

You will be the trusted voice on safety at every level of the organisation — from frontline workers to the Executive team — translating legislation and best practice into systems that actually work on the ground.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of WHS professionals, fostering a high-performance, supportive operating environment.

• Drive strategy, governance and continuous improvement of St Vincent's WHS Management System and Roadmap.

• Partner with executives, facility leaders and operational teams to build shared ownership of safety outcomes.

• Provide expert advice on risk management, incident investigation and regulatory compliance.

• Undertake and oversee investigations into serious WHS incidents.

• Build and maintain a constructive relationship with the WHS regulator, HSRs and industrial bodies.

• Get out into our facilities — visiting frontline workplaces to see safety challenges first-hand.

• Design and deliver competency-based education and training programs.

• Lead assurance activities including audits, inspections and accreditation preparation.

About You

You are a credible, hands-on safety leader who knows how to turn complex legislation into practical, workable solutions — and how to bring people along with you.

You thrive on relationship-building, whether that's coaching your own team, influencing an executive stakeholder, or fronting up to the regulator. You combine deep technical expertise with the communication skills to make safety land — in the boardroom and on the floor.

To be successful you will bring:

• A degree in WHS, Allied Health or a related field, plus an incident investigation qualification (e.g. ICAM Lead Investigator) and WHS Internal Auditor certification.

• Extensive experience leading a team of WHS professionals, with a track record of implementing WHS management systems consistently across multiple sites.

• In-depth knowledge of WHS legislation, Codes of Practice and industry best practice.

• Significant experience investigating serious incidents and engaging directly with the WHS regulator.

• High-level analytical and problem-solving skills, with the judgement to identify and act on emerging risk.

• Highly developed communication and conflict-resolution skills.

• A valid driver's licence.

• Experience managing WHS across a health service or similar complex, multi-site industry will be highly regarded.

Why Join St Vincent's?

At St Vincent's, our people are inspired by a shared commitment to Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence. We are building a better and fairer health and aged care system, and we believe our greatest strength lies in our people.

You will join an organisation that:

• Makes a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, residents and communities every single day.

• Gives you genuine ownership of safety strategy across a large, complex, multi-state network.

• Supports innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Offers the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia's most respected health and aged care leaders.

Pre-Employment Checks

Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role-required pre-employment checks, including relevant immunisations (Category B, non-clinical facing).

Equal Opportunity

We celebrate diversity and inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone.

How To Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role via the Apply Now button.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the advertisement may close earlier than the published closing date if a strong field of suitable candidates is identified. We therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Respectfully, no recruitment agencies.

Closing Date:

26 August 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct