Make an impact as an advocate for the common good, advising Australia’s Catholic bishops on their work towards key public policy reforms. The Public Policy Senior Adviser provides advice to bishops and their agencies on public policy, particularly with regard to the Australian Parliament. This includes drafting submissions and assisting with advocacy on issues of particular interest to bishops. These include raising the national minimum wage to provide workers and their families with a dignified standard of living, supporting marriage and family formation, ensuring the freedom to run religious organisations based on their faith-inspired mission and securing a just, humane and timely system for assessing the claims of people seeking asylum. Join a friendly team and make a real difference.

The role

• Assist bishops or represent the Conference when appropriate in discussions with politicians, political staff, public servants and other stakeholders to advance the agreed position of the bishops.
• Build an engagement program setting out goals, methods and an engagement calendar. Report on the outcome of meetings and on achievements against goals. Coordinate Conference interaction on key political and public policy issues.
• Monitor proposed Australian Federal, State and Territory legislation regarding issues of concern to the Bishops Conference, including poverty, human rights such as religious freedom, relationships with First Peoples, marriage and family life, the defense of human life, ecological issues, refugees and asylum seekers, peace and charity law.
• Monitor public policy trends and initiatives at the Federal, State and Territory levels of government to assist the Deputy General Secretary to keep the Conference and its offices informed of trends and initiatives.
• Research and draft submissions to government inquiries on various public policy matters of interest to the Bishops Conference, in collaboration with bishops commissions as directed by the Deputy General Secretary. This work will be informed by Catholic social teaching.
• Identify public affairs opportunities for the Bishops Conference to promote the greater good which the Church offers to humanity.
• Maintain a collaborative working relationship with bishops, dioceses and Catholic agencies.
• Other research and drafting work as required.

About You

• Demonstrated experience in public policy, advocacy, government relations or similar.
• An interest in and an ability to advocate on issues of concern to the Bishops Conference, including poverty, human rights such as religious freedom, relationships with First Peoples, marriage and family life, the defence of human life, ecological issues, refugees and asylum seekers, peace and charity law.
• An understanding of legislative processes.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to build strong professional relationships.
• Sound research and analysis skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to listen to stakeholders and to simply and effectively communicate the position of the Bishops Conference.
• A demonstrated ability to work independently and drive initiatives as part of a small team.
• An understanding of and a commitment to promote the principles of Catholic social teaching.
• Sound knowledge of the use of personal computers including the Microsoft Office suite.
• A tertiary level qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Experience working in Parliament House is highly desirable.

For a copy of the position description or any other enquiries regarding this role please contact [email protected].

How to apply

Please submit a current resume along with a cover letter demonstrating your knowledge, skills and experience as aligned to the dot points in the “About You” section above.

Applications close at Midnight Sunday 6 October 2024

About Us

The Catholic Church in Australia is served by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (the Conference), the permanent collegial assembly of the Bishops of Australia.

The General Secretariat exists to support the work of the Bishops Conference, which meets twice each year but is a permanent institution that operates between plenary meetings through the Permanent Committee and bishop’s commissions.

The Mission and Values of the Catholic Church of Australia are that work is for people, not people for work. Our Vision is that through work, individuals contribute to the common good and achieve fulfilment as human beings. The Church teaches that employees and employers are regarded as partners in their place of work and their respective roles. Mutual respect, esteem, and goodwill underpin the relationship between the employer and the employee. Employees are encouraged and enabled to see their work not merely as a source of income but as providing a service and a benefit to others in society.

Benefits

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is an equal employment opportunity employer and promotes and supports a family-friendly workplace, including flexible work options such as:

• Free onsite parking in Braddon
• Hybrid work-from-home options along with other flexibility provisions are available through our flexible work policy
• Generous leave provisions including:
  • additional Christmas leave
  • 14 weeks of paid parental leave
  • study support and leave
  • paid retreat and formation leave

Additional Information for Applicants

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is an inclusive workplace and encourages applications from people from diverse backgrounds, we are an equal employment opportunity employer and promote and support a family friendly workplace. The successful applicant must be eligible to work in Australia and may be required to provide a Working with Children Check or a suitable Police Check as part of the recruitment process.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference respects your privacy. In applying for this position, you will be providing the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference with personal including sensitive information. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference regards its child protection responsibilities with the utmost importance. Our privacy collection notice and Policy and Safeguarding Policy can be obtained by visiting www.catholic.au.