Public Health Officer (Associate)
Public Health Officer
- Location: Sunshine Hospital (hybrid work from home options)
- Employment Type: Full-Time, Fixed Term (until June 2026)
- Salary: Admin Grade 3 + Superannuation + Salary Packaging
About the Role:
Are you a recently graduated health professional, or in the first year of your career, and ready to make a real difference in your community?
The Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) is offering a unique opportunity to join our Health Protection Team as a Public Health Officer (Associate). This early-career role provides structured training, close supervision and real-world experience in communicable disease control, outbreak response and public health surveillance.
You will be supported by experienced Public Health Officers, Senior PHOs and Medical staff as you develop your skills and progress toward greater autonomy in practice.
This is a hybrid role based at Sunshine Hospital, with the option of up to 2 days per week working from home.
Western Health offers 5 weeks’ annual leave per year and monthly Accrued Days Off (ADOs).
Key Responsibilities:
With structured supervision and mentoring, you will:
- Learn case management and contact tracing for notifiable conditions
- Take part in case interviews, contact interviews and risk assessments
- Support outbreak investigations and public health responses
- Learn how public health control measures are implemented in real-world settings
- Communicate with cases, contacts, health services, councils and community settings
- Develop skills in public health data systems
- Contribute to surveillance, reporting, quality improvement and service development
- Progress toward independent practice across a defined range of conditions
This role provides exposure to routine public health work as well as outbreak and emergency response.
About You:
We are seeking motivated early-career professionals who are:
- Passionate about communicable disease control and health protection
- Curious, adaptable and keen to learn
- Confident communicators who enjoy working with people
- Interested in a long-term career in public health
About the Western Public Health Unit:
The Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) is one of three metropolitan Local Public Health Units (LPHUs), and alongside six regional LPHUs forms a collaborative Network to deliver frontline public health for Victoria. The LPHU Network works closely with the Victorian Department of Health to provide for local and regional responses to communicable and non-communicable diseases through community partnerships and local public health initiatives.
Led and coordinated by Western Health, WPHU serves over 1.3 million people across the local government areas of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Merri-bek, Moonee Valley and Wyndham. WPHU investigates and manages cases and outbreaks of notifiable conditions under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 in collaboration with the Department’s Community and Public Health Division, manages public health risks and supports public health emergency responses.
WPHU collaborates with local governments, community health networks, and primary care providers to improve health outcomes across its catchment, working to keep people well by leading and supporting practical population health action. WPHU promotes a healthy workplace culture, expressed in its culture statement:
“We are a diverse and welcoming team that is passionate about public health. We value open and honest communication. We work together to create a flexible environment of mutual respect, inclusivity, and connection.”
About Western Health
Western Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Victoria, caring for a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing community of one million people in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
With more than 13,000 staff, Western Health delivers 800,000+ occasions of care every year, providing high-quality, person-centred care across every life stage.
We provide a combination of hospital, community-based, at-home and in-reach services to aged, adult and paediatric patients and newborn babies. Specialties include oncology, renal, mental health, women’s health and maternity, chronic diseases, geriatrics and cardiology.
We have remarkable strengths in chronic disease, complex care and developing innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions. Our experience at the coalface of healthcare delivery for some of Australia’s most culturally and socioeconomically diverse and vulnerable populations provides us with unique insights into the most pressing health challenges.
Western Health operates four acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We also operate Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, Melton Health and Community Services, Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre, Caroline Springs Community Health Centre and Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh. Western Health also provides the primary healthcare service at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a women’s prison located in Ravenhall.
Why join us?
Compensation and benefits
- Competitive salary packages aligned with market standards.
- Health and wellbeing programs, including flexible work arrangements.
- Scholarships and grants to support your continuous learning journey.
Learning and development opportunities
- Access the Western Health Learning Academy (WHA) for personalised learning pathways.
- Professional growth programs, including postgraduate studies and clinical education.
- Mentorship and career support.
Community impact and inclusion
- Make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives through compassionate care.
- Join a workforce that champions diversity and inclusion.
- Engage in community wellbeing initiatives and groundbreaking healthcare research.
Organisational culture and environment
- Thrive in a collaborative, compassionate and innovative team environment.
- Be part of a culture that celebrates continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare.
Ready to make an impact?
If you’re passionate and ready to kick-start your public health career on the frontline, we’d love to hear from you. Simply click on the “apply” button and follow the prompts.
If you are currently employed at Western Health, please ensure you sign in through the 'Employee Login' via the external Careers Page or access the Careers Page via the intranet before applying.
Closing date: 11:59pm on 4 January 2026.
Online interviews are likely to be conducted in the week beginning 12 January 2026.
Enquiries: For further information about this role, contact:
Name: Tim Chiu
Title: Senior Operations Manager, Western Public Health Unit
Phone: 0403 602 649
Western Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and retaining diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Western Health is committed to providing a safe environment for the children and young people who are involved in our services, sites and operations. We follow and abide by all legislative requirements to keep children and young people safe.
All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, an Immunisation Status Clearance and a Working with Children Check (if applicable).
Western Health does not accept unsolicited resumes/applications from recruitment agencies.
Western Health