APS6 Senior HR Adviser - WHS & People and Culture
- Location:
- Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Posted:
- 13th October 2026
- Advertiser:
- Hays - ANZ - 3020456
- Make a real impact
- Federal Government
- Real HR Generalist
Canberra | APS6 equivalent | Contract until 30 June 2027
Join a small, collaborative People & Culture team in a Commonwealth Government environment, providing broad HR support with a strong focus on Work Health and Safety. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional who enjoys variety and wants to work on meaningful, hands-on HR matters rather than being limited to one specialist area.
Your new role
Working across a broad People & Culture portfolio, you will provide practical and trusted HR advice to managers and employees.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing advice across WHS, employee relations, performance management and general HR matters
- Supporting WHS risk management, consultation, incident and hazard reporting and wellbeing initiatives
- Supporting rehabilitation, early intervention and return-to-work matters
- Providing advice on sensitive and complex people matters
- Supporting recruitment, onboarding and capability initiatives
- Preparing HR policies, correspondence, reports and presentations
- Analysing workforce and WHS information to identify trends and support decision-making
- Building strong relationships with managers, employees, WHS representatives and external service providers
- Contributing to continuous improvement across HR and WHS processes
The underlying position description confirms the role spans recruitment and onboarding, HR systems and reporting, capability, performance management, ER, WHS and rehabilitation-related matters.
What you'll need to succeed
You'll be an experienced HR professional with strong WHS capability alongside broad generalist HR experience.
Ideally, you will have:
- Demonstrated generalist HR advisory experience
- Strong practical knowledge of Work Health and Safety
- Experience advising managers on ER and performance matters
- Exposure to rehabilitation, workers' compensation and return to work
- Strong written communication and stakeholder management skills
- The ability to interpret HR data and translate it into meaningful advice
- Experience within the Australian Public Service or Commonwealth environment
- Australian citizenship
- The ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance
An HR-related qualification or AHRI certification would be highly regarded but is not mandatory.
What you'll get in return
- APS6-level remuneration
- 15.4% employer superannuation
- Contract through to the 30th of June 2027
- Canberra-based opportunity
- Broad exposure across both HR and WHS
- The opportunity to work within a small team where you can make a tangible contribution
What you need to do now
If you're an experienced HR professional with strong WHS capability, and you're looking for a broad, hands-on opportunity within the Commonwealth Government environment, I'd love to hear from you.
Orlena Prosser
Manager | Human Resources
Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra City ACT 2601
T: (02) 6112 7639
E: orlena.prosser@hays.com.au
