The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We're focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It's all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.About the role: The Director, Lived Experience, Consumer plays a key strategic leadership role in centring lived experience in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Division, and in mental health and AOD consumer-related policy and reform work. The role leads the Lived Experience Branch's Consumer Unit, which includes consumer-led reform initiatives, the Lived Experience Policy and Workforce team, and the designated consumer roles in the Lived Experience Advisory Hub. The Director also manages the department's partnership with consumer-led lived experience peak bodies. The Director brings a consumer perspective policy lens to strategic priorities and drive reform and system improvements. The Director ensures delivery of priority government initiatives including the lived experience workforce development program, consumer advice across the division, reform initiatives such as the consumer led alternative to hospitalisation (Healing Place), opt-out non-legal advocacy service and an agency to develop and deliver consumer-led services and supports. The Director ensures effective links across teams in the Consumer Unit, Lived Experience Branch, division and department to support delivery of initiatives and also develops and maintains strong relationships with sector partners (including people with lived experience and from diverse communities), other Victorian Government departments and interjurisdictional agencies. About us: At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected. We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all. How you'll make a difference: Lead the development, commissioning, implementation and evaluation policies and programs from a consumer perspective. Co-lead with the Director Carer, the development, implementation and evaluation of The Lived and Living Experience Leadership Strategy Provide deep subject matter expertise in consumer perspectives to investigate, assess and advise on the political and practical implications of government policy. Support innovation in lived experience-led policies and programs and mental health policy to improve safety, sustainability and outcomes from a consumer perspective. Examples might include development of new models of lived experience advice within the division, lived experience led services and lived experience workforce development. Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate: A tertiary qualification in a relevant field (for example, public policy, mental health, lived experience studies) would be advantageous