Policy and Engagement Officer - Remote

Are you passionate about child and youth wellbeing? Skilled at turning evidence and lived experience into policy impact? Love working across sectors to create real change? We’d love to hear from you. Use evidence and lived experience to shape policy, lead youth engagement, and drive national change for the wellbeing of children and young people with ARACY.

ARACY Purpose

ARACY - the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth is a dynamic, national, independent health promotion NGO focused on improving the wellbeing of children and young people. We are a thought leader working in partnership with the sector and governments to advance the wellbeing of children and young people across Australia.

ARACY brings people and knowledge together to catalyse change so that all children and young people in Australia can thrive. We base our work on The Nest.

For more about ARACY and its initiatives see www.aracy.org.au

In this role…

Based in ARACY’s Advocacy, Communications and Engagement team, you’ll help position ARACY as a national thought leader partnering with government and the sector to improve child and youth wellbeing.

You’ll lead policy development, stakeholder engagement, and youth participation initiatives. This includes managing strategic projects, co-designing youth engagement activities, hosting webinars, maintaining our CRM (HubSpot), and overseeing compliance as ARACY’s Privacy and Child Safeguarding Officer.

You’ll bring sound judgement, coordination and communication skills, and the ability to represent ARACY confidently across diverse settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the policy development drawing on a synthesis of lived experience insights, research evidence, and stakeholder expertise. Co-creating advocacy-ready policy recommendations for a variety of audiences and channels.
• Lead and operate ARACY's Young and Wise youth engagement program, including recruitment, safeguarding, remuneration, and co-facilitation of national Roundtables and Ambassador program
• Lead the planning, promotion, and delivery of ARACY webinars, including oversight of stakeholder preparation, technical management and on-screen hosting.
• Oversee ARACY’s CRM (HubSpot), ensuring high-quality data use and audience segmentation for strategic engagement and communication.
• Act as ARACY’s Privacy Officer, ensuring organisational compliance with privacy laws and ethical standards, and supporting ongoing risk management.
• Contribute to and implement engagement strategies and national campaigns
• Develop and maintain robust safeguarding systems for child and youth participation, including documentation, procedures, and continuous improvement mechanisms.
• Represent ARACY with professionalism and influence at meetings, conferences, and sector events.
• Monitor the external policy environment and provide informed advice to internal teams on emerging trends and opportunities.
• Assist in engagement and communication with ARACY’s members.
  
  

Experience/Knowledge

Required

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships and productive partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders across sectors
• Experience in public policy, political science, early years, youth work, health promotion, public health, communications, or a related discipline
• High-level verbal and written communication skills, including drafting policy content (eg submissions and white papers) and hosting public events.
• Understanding of child safeguarding and privacy compliance frameworks.
• Ability to work across sectors and represent an organisation professionally and persuasively.
  
  

Desirable

• Demonstrated technology proficiency especially in the MS365 Suite, CRM management tools (i.e. HubSpot) and webinar platforms (i.e. Teams Webinar Platform).
• Experience working in or with government agencies or philanthropic organisations.
  
  

Behavioural Competencies

Supports Strategic Direction

• Understands how their work contributes to broader organisational goals and anticipates future priorities.
• Thinks strategically, identifies policy trends and considers the broader implications of work.
  
  

Achieves Results

• Works independently, delivers high-quality outputs, and adapts to changing priorities.
• Takes responsibility for managing projects from planning through to completion.
  
  

Supports Productive Working Relationships

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Shares knowledge, consults with others, and encourages inclusive decision-making.
  
  

Displays Personal Drive and Integrity

• Demonstrates initiative, sound judgement and alignment with ARACY’s values.
• Acts professionally and ethically, showing resilience under pressure and commitment to continuous improvement.
  
  

Communicates with Influence

• Tailors communication for different audiences and presents with clarity and confidence.
• Listens actively, adapts delivery style and represents ARACY persuasively in external settings.
  
  

Role Model our Organisational Values

• Connectedness – Building genuine partnerships and collaboration.
• Equity – Promoting fairness and valuing every child and young person.
• Inclusion – Valuing diverse ideas and people.
• Integrity – Non-partisan, evidence-driven, and responsible resource management.
• Respect – Acknowledging the importance of culture, community, lived experience and difference.
  
  

Conditions of Employment

All ARACY Staff Must

• Hold or obtain a Working with Children / Vulnerable People clearance (or equivalent)
• Undergo a National Police Check upon appointment and every three years
• Have the right to work in Australia
• Adhere to ARACY’s Code of Conduct, policies, and organisational values.