Head of Health

• Employment Type: Full time
• Duration: Continuing
• Remuneration: Competitive Remuneration Package
• Location: Kensington (Hybrid Flexible Working)

About UNSW:

UNSW isn't like other places you've worked. Yes, we're a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It's the reason we're one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS top 20) and a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you're in the right place.

Why Your Role Matters:

The Head of Health & Wellbeing provides enterprise-wide strategic leadership for UNSW's Health & Wellbeing Framework, ensuring the integration of psychological and physical health into the University's overarching Health & Safety strategy The role holds end-to-end accountability for the design, delivery and continuous improvement of a new health and wellbeing framework,, psychosocial risk management, injury management, and workers' compensation within a self-insured context. Operating with a high level of autonomy and influence, the position leads a multi-disciplinary team and manages strategic third-party provider relationships to ensure effective service delivery, compliance, and sustainable outcomes. This role translates strategy into operational practice, driving continuous improvement and embedding a culture of proactive risk management and health & wellbeing leadership across UNSW.

As a key member of the Health & Safety leadership team, the role acts as a strategic advisor to senior executives and collaborates closely with stakeholders across People & Culture, Legal, Faculties and Divisions to enable integrated, high-impact health & wellbeing outcomes that support institutional priorities including effective case management. The Head of Health & Wellbeing contributes to strategic planning, performance measurement and governance across the Health & Safety function and leads cross-functional initiatives to advance psychosocial safety, regulatory compliance, and workforce capability uplift.

Who You Are:

• Extensive experience in Health & Wellbeing leadership within a complex organisation, with a background in insurance / allied health / rehabilitation or similar.
• Relevant tertiary qualification with significant and sustained relevant experience or equivalent competence gained through any combination of education, training and experience.
• Deep expertise in injury management, workers' compensation claims (preferably including self-insurance), psychosocial risk management and external provider governance and oversight.
• Demonstrated success in delivering strategy, programs and measurable outcomes across a health & wellbeing portfolio in large, complex organisations.
• Strong influencing, coaching and case management skills; discretion and professionalism in sensitive matters.
• Data literacy and ability to interpret insights to drive improvements.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with demonstrated success achieving safe outcomes on initiatives with senior leaders in a collaborative approach.
• Track record of continuous improvement and service design, with excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Proven capability in team leadership, coaching and capability uplift.
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of a systems approach to problem-solving and its implementation.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail for deliverables produced.

Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:

• Salary packaging options, including novated leasing.
• Generous leave entitlements, including an additional 3 paid days off over end of year holiday period.
• Access to Fitness Passport, giving you and your family discounted access to hundreds of gyms, pools and fitness facilities.
• Career development opportunities, including access to leadership and professional learning programs.
• Discounts and perks across retail, travel, education and health services.
• A supportive, flexible, and inclusive culture that values wellbeing and diversity.

Find out more about staff benefits at UNSW.

How to Apply: 

Make each day matter with a meaningful career at UNSW. Submit your application online before Sunday 1st Feb at 11:55pm. A copy of the Position Description can be found on .   

Get in Touch: 

For questions regarding the position - Please contact Kathryn Taylor Director Health & Safety -   

For questions regarding the recruitment process - Please contact Kim Symons (Talent Acquisition Manager) E:

Please apply through the application portal and not via the contacts above.

Pre-Employment Checks
 Aligned with UNSW's focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:- 

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.