PRINCIPAL PROJECT OFFICER, BACKBONE COORDINATION, SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORKS

• Preventive Health SA - Population Health - Mental Wellbeing and Suicide and Injury Prevention
• Salary: $108,109 to $116,864 - ASO7 - Full Time / Term Contract up to 26 March 2027

Overview:

• Suicide Prevention Networks (SPNs) are a key element of the South Australian approach to community suicide prevention and play an important role in enabling communities to build their own capacity to boost mental wellbeing, prevent suicide and develop postvention strategies. Through the mobilisation and coordination of local community resources to create a whole-of-community approach, SPNs aim to raise awareness of suicide-related distress, increase conversations and help seeking, foster community connectedness, and break down stigma and discrimination.
• Reporting to the Manager, Mental Wellbeing and Suicide and Injury Prevention, this role will lead the development and implementation of an evidence-based and community-informed framework to ensure the efficacy and sustainability of SPNs across South Australia and which will deliver improved access to communities and individuals that need support in response to suicidal crisis and suicide bereavement. This will require the engagement of key strategic partners across all stages of planning and maturation, particularly in the areas of governance, partnerships and stakeholders, performance insights and data, and service delivery model.
• Given the breadth and complexity understood to realise the objective, a phased approach will incorporate the following initiatives and elements:

• Development of a structured process and associated resources describing and supporting a consistent model of practice for the establishment of SPNs.

• Establishment of an annual strategic plan for the review of SPN action plans including regular community needs assessments, member recruitment and succession planning.

• Development of a self-governance model that enables regional and state-level collaboration.

• Identify and harness local innovation collaboration with the SPNs to create a series of resources for community awareness raising available to all SPNs and local communities.

• Identification of best-practice training and education programs for SPN members to ensure safe discussion of suicide when communicating with the community.

• Design and deployment of evidence-informed resources, materials, and toolkits as develop through Preventive Health SA branches, suicide prevention subject matter experts and lead organisations.

Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and appropriate immunisation requirements.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job ref: 896216

Criminal History Screening Requirement

• A National Police Certificate (NPC) for employment involving no contact with vulnerable groups is required for this position (general employment)

Immunisation Risk for this position is Category C (minimal patient contact)

SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.

Special Conditions

• Must have a current, valid and unencumbered South Australian drivers license and willingness to drive a government plated car.
• Intrastate travel may be required.
• Appointment is subject to immunisation risk category requirements. There may be ongoing immunisation requirements that must be met.

Enquiries

Ali Pickering

Manager Mental Wellbeing Suicide Prevention Injury

Phone: 0434 077 170

E-mail: Alison.Pickering@sa.gov.au

Application Closing Date

Wednesday, 19 March 2025 - 11.55PM

Attachments

• 896216 - Principal Project Officer, Backbone Coordination, Suicide Prevention Networks - Role Description.pdf
• Australian applicant guidelines
• International applicant guidelines

Flexibility Statement The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.