Government Engagement & Policy Advisor - 54 reasons

Be the driving force behind effective government engagement and influential policy work that creates systemic change for children and young people.

You’ll be our command centre – analysing policy and budget environments, shaping strong briefs and submissions, and managing engagement with key government decision‑makers. You'll coordinate internal stakeholders to produce high quality policy and advocacy materials and help senior leaders engage with confidence and purpose. Join a high‑calibre, low‑ego team with a down‑to‑earth culture and a clear focus on impact.

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.  

Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.

With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose. 

A place to make a difference: 

In this full-time max term (2-year term) role, you’ll work as a part of our Strategy and Partnerships team in Melbourne (hybrid or remote arrangements welcome) to help us create lasting change for children everywhere.

You will make a difference by:

• Driving state and territory government engagement by developing and implementing stakeholder management plans, and coordinating briefings, background research, meetings and follow‑up
• Undertaking policy research, coordinating internal stakeholders and synthesising diverse inputs to develop high‑quality policy submissions, briefings and advocacy materials
• Supporting senior leaders to engage confidently and strategically with government by shaping engagement approaches, preparing briefings and talking points, and helping translate conversations into next steps
• Proactively scanning policy, legislative and budget environments and translating insights into clear, practical recommendations to inform strategic direction
• Managing internal workflows, timelines and document control to keep government engagement activity aligned and on track

A place to feel valued: 

Your expertise in government processes, stakeholder engagement and crafting policy submissions and briefs will be central to visible, real‑world outcomes—shaping how we engage decision‑makers and influence change for children and families. You bring exceptional writing skills, a strong understanding of social policy, and serious organisational discipline. You’re comfortable working alongside senior leaders and State Directors, helping to shape, plan and progress government engagement—not just prepare materials in isolation. You’ll have a genuine seat at the table in how engagement is approached and executed. You bring order to complexity, connect the dots across teams, and make sure important work is followed through. In return, this is a role where your judgement is trusted, your work is valued, and your contribution is recognised as critical to the organisation’s impact.

This role requires: 

• Demonstrated experience in government relations, government engagement or social policy development
• Proven ability to coordinate government engagement processes, including briefing, meeting preparation and follow‑up
• Exceptional written communication skills, with experience producing high‑quality submissions, briefings or policy artefacts for government audiences
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to scan and interpret policy, legislative and budget environments and translate insights into practical recommendations
• Highly developed organisational skills, including managing workflows, timelines and follow‑ups across multiple workstreams to ensure engagement activity is disciplined and on track.

Desirable knowledge or experience:

• Working in or alongside child, youth and family services or related social policy areas
• Understanding of child rights and participation principles and approaches

Required qualifications and/or accreditations and/or equivalent experience:

• Undergraduate or post-graduate degree in humanities, social science, politics, economics, law or another related discipline

A place to belong: 

At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.

It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including: 

• A competitive salary based on qualifications and experience, plus super and full salary packaging benefits (use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you!)
• Flexible working, including the ability to work from home or from one of our state offices. We’re all about making sure you feel supported and comfortable to do your best work.
• Individual learning plans to help map and deliver on your career development – we’re super committed to supporting you towards your career ambitions.
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program 
• Celebrate and feel supported in your diversity. We have a highly inclusive culture and diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve, allowing you to bring your whole self to work (if that’s what you want!).

Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits. 

Does this sound like the place for you? 

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below. 

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.

Applications Close: Sunday 26 April 2026.  Applications will be reviewed as they come in, so don’t delay in applying!

 Position Description: Government Engagement and Policy Advisor

For more information about this position, please contact Andrew Tangas, Business Development Manager on people.culture@savethechildren.org.au Or for more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page.  

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs. 

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.

If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact people.culture@savethechildren.org.au for further support.