Position Number20023803

Position TitleClinical Director, AURA & IPC/HAI

ClassificationMedical Officer Grade 6

SalaryAttractive remuneration package will be negotiated based on skills and experience

REFERENCE NUMBER18-0002

LocationSydney

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Contact Officer:Kathy Meleady

Phone number:(02) 9126 3640

Submission Details:Applications are to be submitted via email to

Should you experience any difficulties with submitting your application please phone (02) 9126 3681

Closing Date: 7 March 2018, midnight AEST

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Please read the following information to assist you in preparing an application.

Application Package

The application pack is made up of two parts:

  1. Job description and selection criteria.
  2. Application cover sheet "Personal Particulars Form".

Preparing your application

You should include in your application:

  • personal details to assist in identifying your application (you should use the Personal Particulars Form) including a clear indication of which position(s) you are applying for
  • a summary of your work experience
  • a summary of educational qualifications/academic achievements
  • a statement in support of your application, describing how you consider yourself suitable against each of the selection criteria (400 word limit per criteria)
  • any other relevant information which would support your claim to the position.

You should frame your statement in terms of the selection criteria, and you should address each criterion in sufficient detail to enable the Selection Committee to make an informed assessment.

Selection Process

The selection process is commonly made up of several forms of assessment, such as review of written applications, interviews, work sample tests, and referees checks. However appointments may be made based on assessment of written applications and referee checks only. You may be asked to provide the names of two referees, one of these should be your current supervisor.

About the Commission

The Commission’s role is to lead and coordinate national improvements in the safety and quality of health care. The Commission works in partnership with the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the private sector to achieve a safe, high-quality and sustainable health system. In doing so, the Commission also works closely with patients, carers, clinicians, managers, policymakers and healthcare organisations.

Key functions of the Commission include developing national safety and quality standards, developing clinical care standards to improve the implementation of evidence-based health care, coordinating work in specific areas to improve outcomes for patients, and providing information, publications and resources about safety and quality.

The Commission works in four priority areas:

  1. Patient safety
  2. Partnering with patients, consumers and communities
  3. Quality, cost and value
  4. Supporting health professionals to provide care that is informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality health care.

For more information please visit

Position description

Position Number: / 20023803
Position Title: / Clinical Director, AURA and IPC/HAI
Position Level: / Medical Officer Grade 6 (MO6)
Employment Type: / Temporary (0.5-0.6 FTE) until 31 December 2019
Reporting To: / Stream Director, Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA), Infection Prevention Control (IPC)/Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) and Emerging Issues
Location: / Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Overview of the position

The Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA) Surveillance System brings together a wide range of passive and targeted surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AU) in hospitals and the community to inform strategies to prevent and contain AMR in Australia. The AURA Surveillance System provides accurate and comprehensive data to inform important health and policy decisions about preventing the emergence and containing the spread of AMR nationally and globally.

The Clinical Director provides expert clinical advice to the Commission and the AURA National Coordination Unit, in regard to the AURA Surveillance System, leadership in strategic policy and program development for improved strategies for AMR and AU in human health, and for infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

The Clinical Director reports to the Stream Director, AURA, IPC/HAI and Emerging Issues and ensures that activities and program development and reporting are:

  • Evidence-based and built on best practice policy and processes
  • Inform the improvement of the safety and quality of Australian health care
  • Designed to achieve maximum benefit within the available resources
  • Appropriately aligned with other national and state initiative
  • Clinically resonant with, and relevant to, the jurisdictions, key professions, private sector, and interest groups.

This position will also work with the Commission’s Chief Medical Officer and other Clinical Directors in regard to Commission activities relating to HAIs, IPC and the National Quality and Safety Health Service (NSQHS) standard issues.

The position requires specialist medical qualifications in infectious diseases and/or microbiology and/or public health. An understanding of diagnostic microbiology will be of assistance to advise in regard to this position.

Position duties and responsibilities

  1. Provide leadership and expert clinical advice to the AURA National Coordination Unit and the Commission, ensure that the Commission’s work in developing the AURA surveillance system provides the most appropriate data and reports and draws on and contributes to the latest evidence in safety and quality in health care
  2. Provide significant input into the ongoing development of AURA, including strategic system enhancement, data collection and comparability, key analytical and reporting requirements and communication of results
  3. To promote an integrated approach to strategy development for infection prevention and control management, including the National Quality and Safety Health ServiceStandard Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection
  4. Provide strategic advice and leadership for the analysis and reporting of AMR and AU data, and specific projects to promote utility of AURA including research, needs assessment, strategic planning and evaluation
  5. Support the Commission and promote reciprocal sharing of information to build knowledge, foster teamwork at the senior levels and across the teams
  6. To provide an effective linkage with the research sector in regard to AMR
  7. Collaborate with the Stream Director, AURA, and IPC/HAI to ensure a coordinated approach to achievement of AURA objectives
  8. Liaise at a senior level with the Department of Health, State and Territory authorities, professional and industry individuals and organisations in relation to AMR and AU, to achieve collaborative relationships that support an integrated surveillance system that will provide a picture of AU and AMR across Australia
  9. Work co-operatively and share appropriate information with a variety of medical, industry and consumer stakeholders to maintain and enhance the quality of policy and program advice to the Commission
  10. Represent and promote the work of the Commission, through participation in committees and meetings at state and national levels, and act as a media spokesperson, as required.

Skills and knowledge required

  • Superior clinical skills and qualifications in the disciplines relevant to infectious diseases and/or microbiology and/or public health with understanding of diagnostic microbiology to support action on AMR and AU across Australian healthcare system
  • Demonstrated clinical leadership, strong liaison capabilities, negotiation, influencing and consultation skills and understanding of health outcome/economics modelling and health epidemiology
  • High level ability to scan internal and external literature and clinical domains, interpret and use resulting information to inform strategy and program development
  • High level research, analytical and interpretation skills and strong understanding/practical skills of/in research methodologies related to health services improvement
  • Ability to work flexibly and engage with teams and to promote change required to achieve improved practice and patient outcomes
  • Ability to apply lateral thinking and identify innovative solutions and provide innovative strategic vision
  • Demonstrated understanding of the translation of clinical evidence into effective policy
  • High level communication, presentation and interpersonal skills and strong policy and procedural development skills
  • Strong time management, organisational skills and risk analysis/management and mitigation
  • Sound decision-making skills, incorporating initiative and professional judgement where necessary
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Australian health systems
  • Proven track record in outcomes in quality improvement/governance
  • Understanding of the principles of effective governance in the areas of infection prevention and control and AMR.

Qualifications and experience

  • Registration as a Medical Practitioner is essential
  • Experience in one or more fields of practice, including: microbiology, infectious diseases, public health, and/or laboratory based practice
  • Experience with antimicrobial resistance management at local jurisdictional, and/or national level
  • Extensive experience in writing for and presenting to a variety of clinical and non-clinical audiences
  • Demonstrated experience in the translation of clinical evidence into health programs
  • High-level program development management ,and/or policy development experience at a state or national level
  • High level analytical and problem solving skills
  • Experience in cultivating productive internal and external working relationships.

Selection criteria

  1. Extensive and high level knowledge and skills related to AMR, related issues of antimicrobial usage and stewardship, and healthcare-associated infections
  2. Extensive experience with respect to implementation and use of evidence to effect public policy change and proven capacity to understand and communicate the results of research and evaluation in the field
  3. Demonstrated experience in delivering key results for program and policy development through clinical leadership, drawing on professional expertise, and galvanizing clinical and non-clinical members a team to support these processes
  4. Proven capacity to develop strategy and provide high level technical advice to government, healthcare executives and clinical leaders on the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs related to safety and quality in health care in the Australian health care system
  5. Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to liaise and negotiate effectively with stakeholders in the safety and quality arena combined with the ability to work effectively with internal staff at all levels
  6. Highly developed oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to prepare high level briefing documents and submissions, present publicly to large audiences, and explain complex technical issues simply.

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