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Your role as a policy officer
As a policy officer, you’ll help us make informed decisions about our health system, services and policies.
This includes:
- researching health challenges, issues and problems
- helping decision makers understand options, risks and impacts
- giving facts and reasons to support your advice.
We have full time, part time and casual roles.
How a policy officer is different from a public health officer
Policy officers give advice to leaders to help them make decisions about the health system that affect all Queenslanders.
Public health officers work with communities to promote, protect and improve people’s health.
What your day might look like
You’ll start the day checking emails and dealing with any urgent policy issues. You’ll draft briefing notes and responses for senior management and reply to comments or questions about any new issues.
For example, you might review policies to make sure they meet legal requirements and also support staff delivering frontline services.
A big part of your job is reading laws, policy drafts and government reports. You might:
- research a health issue
- analyse data
- compare policy options
- identify gaps in current policies.
You’ll give clear and accurate advice about what to include and highlight any risks or legal issues.
Your advice will help us decide about high level health system policy, and support the Queensland Government’s priorities.
Read more about working as a policy officer on the Your Career website.
Qualifications
You can work as a policy officer without formal qualifications.
A wide range of degrees can help you build skills for policy work.
These may include:
- law
- commerce
- social sciences
- data analytics
- business
- arts.
Pay and benefits
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at administration officer grade 4, pay point 1. You'll get a different rate if you're in a higher role.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- a supportive workplace with flexible working arrangements
- several types of leave
- salary packaging
- help with training costs.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Professional growth
Join the Queensland Government's Future Leaders Graduate Program. Over two years, you’ll embark on a journey of discovery, purpose, and growth, with diverse, purpose-driven roles and sector-wide rotations across Queensland Government.
Find out more about the Future Leaders Graduate Program.
You’ll continue developing your professional skills through:
- orientation programs for new staff
- workplace learning and coaching
- self-directed learning
- professional development and upskilling opportunities.
Career paths
Getting experience as policy officer or doing more study can lead to other roles.
- Senior policy officer
- Principal policy officer
- Policy manager
- Policy director
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.