Director – Workforce, Safety and Wellbeing – Townsville Catholic Education

Are you seeking a role:

• With meaning and purpose that significantly impacts on the wellbeing of young people?
• With influence over the strategic direction of your organisation?
• Leading a strong and diverse team of specialists across Wellbeing, HR and Student Protection?

Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) supports 29 schools across North and North-West Queensland, serving communities from Ingham in the north, Proserpine in the south, and west to Mount Isa. The system encompasses primary, secondary and Prep to Year 12 colleges across urban, regional and remote settings.

TCE partners with families to deliver high-quality, faith-based education within inclusive and supportive school communities. Grounded in Catholic tradition and guided by Gospel values, TCE schools are committed to nurturing the spiritual, academic, social and emotional development of every student.

With more than 2,900 teaching and non-teaching staff, TCE is one of the largest employers in the region. Its workforce is united by a shared mission: to provide contemporary, student-centred learning environments that foster excellence, belonging and service to others.

TCE schools offer diverse educational pathways, including boarding options in some locations and a strong commitment to First Nations education and culturally responsive practice. Through collaboration, innovation and pastoral care, TCE seeks to ensure every student is known, valued and supported to achieve their potential.

System Vision
“The promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic school.”

Living in Townsville

Townsville offers a relaxed tropical lifestyle complemented by the infrastructure and amenities of a major regional centre. Often regarded as the capital of North Queensland — and sometimes referred to as Queensland’s “second capital” — the city plays a significant role in the state’s economic, defence and service landscape.

With a population of around 200,000 and a stable regional economy, Townsville provides an appealing balance of career opportunities and lifestyle. Residents enjoy access to high-quality education, leading health services, comparatively affordable housing, vibrant dining and cultural precincts, and extensive outdoor recreation.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the Townsville Catholic Education website located at https://www.tsv.catholic.edu.au/.

We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to First Nations elders past, present, and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, video or audio recordings.

Position Overview

Position Title: Director – Workforce, Safety and Wellbeing
Reports to: Executive Director

Position Purpose

The Director – Workforce, Safety and Wellbeing provides strategic oversight and integration across three specialist portfolios: People and Safety; Student Protection; and Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Services.

Each portfolio is led by experienced subject-matter experts. The Director’s role is not operational delivery, but to enable, align and elevate this work at a system level — ensuring services are cohesive, risk-aware, compliant and strategically focused.

The Director supports portfolio leaders to achieve their objectives, removes systemic barriers, and ensures that workforce and student support functions collectively strengthen organisational culture, safeguard communities and contribute to Townsville Catholic Education’s strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across the People and Safety; Student Protection; and Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Services teams.
• Support and empower portfolio leaders, ensuring clarity of direction, alignment of priorities and removal of organisational roadblocks.
• Integrate workforce, safety and wellbeing initiatives to maximise whole-of-system impact.
• Ensure robust governance, risk management and compliance frameworks across employment practices, workplace health and safety, and child protection.
• Maintain visibility across operational matters to identify emerging risks and systemic trends, without undertaking day-to-day functional delivery.
• Guide the provision of contemporary, responsive and contextually appropriate organisational services across diverse school environments.
• Strengthen organisational culture through initiatives that enhance staff wellbeing, safeguard students and build system resilience.
• Ensure services are measurable, accountable and demonstrably contributing to TCE strategic outcomes.

At a later stage in this project, you will be provided a full position description and organisational chart. You will also be briefed on the success criteria for the first 12 months in the role.

Reason for Vacancy

After a wonderful 10+ years with Townsville Catholic Education, the current Director has made the decision to relocate away from Townsville for personal reasons.

Commencement

The position will be available from April, however the start date is negotiable.

Location

The role is based in the Townsville Catholic Education Office, 2 Gardenia Avenue, Kirwan, Queensland. Kirwan is a suburb of Townsville.

Conditions of Employment

• The remuneration package will be discussed as we move through this process. The package includes the option of a motor vehicle.
• Five weeks of leave is provided.
• Assistance with professional development – an enrichment leave allowance is provided.
• The initial contract period is five years. The standard 6-month probation period applies.
• The role holder engages in regular discussions with the Executive Director regarding his/her work efforts and a formal performance reflection is undertaken annually. Prior to the end of the contract period, the role holder participates in a review process with the Executive Director and the Chairperson of the Diocesan Education Council regarding a new contract.
• The expectation is the person will live in Townsville. Reasonable relocation assistance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
• This is a fulltime leadership position which involves extended hours, occasional evening or weekend commitments meetings and some travel, predominantly within the Diocese.
• The Working with Children (Risk Management & Screening) Act 2000 requires the preferred applicant to be subject to “working with children check” as part of the employment screening process. Further details regarding this check may be obtained at https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
• Applicants will require a current Drivers Licence to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Selection Criteria

We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following:

• Willingness and capacity to commit to the mission and values of TCE.
• Recognition of and personal openness to the role of Catholic social teaching in fostering a shared belief system within a faith-based organisation.
• Senior leadership experience in either social work; child protection/safeguarding; allied health/psychology; and/or HR/People & Culture.
• This experience will be demonstrated by:
  • • Strategic level leadership.
    • Strong understanding of governance, risk and compliance, ideally in a values or faith-based setting.
    • Development of a cohesive team across diverse functional areas.
• Willingness and capacity to learn and grow into this diverse role.
• The interpersonal and relational skills to work collaboratively as part of an executive team to achieve shared outcomes.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as social work, HR, employment law or an allied health profession; combined with a track record of ongoing personal and professional learning.

Are You Interested?

If you are interested in this role, please use the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this webpage; or email jobs@traksearch.com quoting ref number TS1583-15. All we require at the outset is a resume, email address and mobile telephone number. No other documentation is required from you to express your interest. All emails and resumes are acknowledged within 48 hours. Please contact us again if this does not occur.

Questions can be directed to Lauren Minter (0421 364 240) or John Chesher (0417 068 220), or by email to jobs@traksearch.com

If you are NOT interested in this role but would like to be advised of future leadership positions, click here to register for our weekly email alerts.

The Selection Process

The timeline for this project is as follows:

We have been instructed to provide a process that is transparent and welcoming.

• We are available for your confidential enquiries. We will also provide additional information to allow you to explore how the role aligns with your expectations and interests.
• Closing is 5.00pm on the date shown above. However, a late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or TCE schedule.
• We expect to complete a work-related reference; and a faith-based reference (relating to your involvement with a faith community); both prior to shortlisting. We anticipate speaking with another work-related referee between shortlisting and interviews; with final references completed in the final stages of the process. No referee will be contacted without your express consent.
• The selection committee will provide an option of an online interview in circumstances where a person is unable to visit for the initial face-to-face meeting.
• Please be aware our standard practice utilises the services of an external specialist in pre-employment screening. This service includes employment history verification; Police Check; and academic qualifications and professional memberships verification.
• Prior to the shortlisting process, information provided to Trak Search will be made available, in confidence, to the Executive Director, or her nominee(s), unless you instruct otherwise.
• For more information on our process click here to access the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
• Only people with the unrestricted right to work in Australia may apply for this role.
• People are contacted and discussions commence soon after applications are received. We do not wait until the close date. There are advantages in applying immediately.

Trak Search strongly supports the principles of equal employment opportunities in the workplace. We support our clients in recruiting a diverse range of people and a diverse range of talents.

Trak Search is committed to working with client organisations in the safeguarding of children and young people. Applicants should be aware that in addition to the Working with Children and National Police History Checks required by our client, Trak Search screening processes, interview questions and reference checking will also reflect this commitment.

You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.