Amber Smith
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
Dynamic clinician and program manager with extensive experience across health, emergency services, government, and community sectors. Strong advocate for human rights and equity, specializing in diversity and inclusion with a focus on disability advocacy. Utilizes an intersectional approach and commitment to co-designing solutions to deliver evidence-based outcomes for complex challenges. Recognized for cultivating impactful partnerships and leading purpose-driven teams through authentic communication, strategic thinking, and a comprehensive understanding of governance processes and contemporary legislation.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Disability Inclusion Program Lead, Workplace Adjustments Senior Lead, A/Diversity and Inclusion Senior Lead
Ambulance Victoria
01.2022 - Current
- Establish and lead a new disability Inclusion program, as part of a new division established in response to recommendations from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to create a safe, fair and inclusive workplace.
- ACHIEVEMENTS
- Co-design and deliver major key projects: Best Care for People with Communication Disability, Neuroinclusion Toolkit
- Design and deliver workforce training – Accessible Communication, Auslan, Neuroinclusive workplaces and Autism
- Develop and deliver the Accessibility Action Plan 2020-2024, including developing policy and delivering key projects and initiatives across areas of universal design, digital inclusion, quality clinical care, patient safety, workforce harm, education, wellbeing and organisational maturity
- Lead the development of the Disability Action Plan 2024-2025
- Lead the development of the Diversity and Inclusion Framework and Action Plan
- Establish and lead the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group
- Collaborate with Community Advisory Committee
- Manage multi stake holder in person and online events for projects and days of significance
- Codesign a new Workplace Adjustments policy and procedure, model for implementation and business case.
- Manage professional memberships e.g., Australian Disability Network, JobAccess and stakeholder relationships with peak bodies, government, health and emergency sector partners.
- Co-design of the Best Care for People with communication Disability Project, including resource and training development
- Apply change and risk management practices to uplift inclusive practices and policies e.g., co-design a workplace adjustments policy and procedure
- Identify change outcomes that strengthen fairness and transparency whilst addressing the harmful elements of workplace culture and service delivery
- Undertake interpretive Phenomenological Analysis - qualitative research
- Write executive briefing and board papers
- End-to end project management, employ engagement methodologies, manage multiple state and national partnerships, including research agreements and co-design with people with lived experience
- Provide specialist advice and support for an 8000+ operational, corporate and volunteer workforce, including senior managers and executive
- Uplift workforce capabilities through design of resources, training and communications including delivering online and in person events
- Manage disability related workforce and community enquiries and end-to-end complaints
- Act in senior lead role, supporting a team of four direct reports
- Present at AGOSCI, CAA Congress
- Design and deliver paramedicine university training
- Inform policy, strategic plans, annual plans, Statement of priorities, people plans
- Represent Av in media, communications
Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator
Parks Victoria
01.2022 - Current
- Parks Victoria is responsible for managing a diverse estate of 3,000 land and marine parks and reserves. The Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator is responsible for implementing the Disability Action Plan including accessible and diverse programs and projects aligned to the Healthy Parks Healthy People Framework.
- ACHIEVEMENTS
- Develop, implement, monitor and report on the Disability Action Plan 2022 -2026
- Lead continuous improvement activities and initiatives, including reviews of policy and procedure
- Manage and sustain stakeholders and mutually beneficial partnerships with government, peak bodies and community
- Provide specialist disability advice to all workforce, including senior managers and directors
- Uplift workforce capabilities through resource, training and program provision
- Manage disability related workforce and community enquiries and end-to-end complaints
- Represent Parks Victoria on government, peak body and community advisory groups
- Develop and coordinate state-wide partnership Park’s Victoria programs and projects
- Provide technical advice on universal design and DDA compliance for capital projects, asset management and accessible communications
Senior Lead, Safeguarding Care Program
Ambulance Victoria
01.2021 - Current
- Develop and implement a new organisational program responding to defined entity obligations under the Multi Agency Risk and Assessment Management (MARAM) Framework responding to family violence, child safety and pathways for complex and frequent consumers.
- ACHIEVEMENTS
- Develop a child safety and family violence workplan, risk framework, implementation and communications plan
- Recruit, manage, support and coach a team of four direct reports, including clinical supervision, case management and wellbeing support
- Lead the operational day to day program operations, manage escalated enquiries, legislated information sharing and provide high-level authoritative advice
- Codesign a new complex caller pathway model of care to identify patients who are frequent callers with complex needs. Provide support, referral and service coordination with patients, families, case managers, primary and community care teams and workforce
- Manage a multidisciplinary and multiagency Complex Caller Panel and provide subject matter expertise and case management with external multidisciplinary teams for patients at increased risk of harm e.g., mental illness, disability, alcohol and drug misuse, homelessness and paediatrics
- Manage effective partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including reporting to the Minister for Ambulance, Family Safety Victoria including successful grant writing and funding for a Family Violence Response Lead position
- Deliver a “Grand Round on the Vulnerable Patient,” with Victoria Police and the Royal Children’s Hospital
- Develop a family violence eLearning package and resources on foundational knowledge, risk and assessment of family violence aligned to workforce responsibilities and capabilities.
- Codesign of a new Family Violence Clinical Practice Guideline and practical decision-making tool to guide clinicians to recognise, respond, refer and report family violence.
- Update Child Safety procedure including a new Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Code of Conduct to align with Victorian Child Safe Standards and National Child safe Principle
- Inform Family Violence policies and procedures for clinician’s community response and for managers supporting workforce experiencing family violence
Disability Action Plan 2022-2026 (Consultant)
Austin Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
- As a subject matter expert, I led the development of the Disability Action Plan 2022-2026. This required a deep understanding of a complex organisation to ensure achievable and measurable actions, with a strong focus on strengthening governance, aligning organisational priorities with external policy and legislation. Worked across internal divisions, programs, services and committees the DAP endorsed by executive management, consumer advisory and other committees with a robust implementation plan and governance including the development of a new disability Inclusion committee for monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedic
Ambulance Victoria
01.2015 - 01.2022
- Ambulance Victoria is a Victorian agency of the Department of Health and is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services to more than 5.9 million people in Victoria. Commencing as a full time Ambulance Victoria ALS Paramedic in 2015, I embraced further opportunities to contribute to organisational improvement and best practice. These included my role as Senior Lead of the Safeguarding Care program and as a driver and key contributor to the development of the organisations first Accessibility Action Plan. With AV’s consultant, I informed stakeholder engagement and the Accessibility Action Plan design. I have conducted exploratory qualitative and quantitative research examining paramedic practice for people with disability. My research “Best Care Innovation Project Paramedic Practice: Disability Awareness and Complex Communication Needs” provided improvement recommendations leading to a combined research agreement with Scope Victoria and Melbourne University and an ILC grant to pilot communication access initiatives across Victorian health services.
- Achievements
- Provide quality, safe care for community including prehospital assessment, treatment and patient management
- Collaborate with families and multidisciplinary health teams, general practitioners, community and health services
- Employ and maintain a high level of professional practice and clinical skills and knowledge
- Maintain AHPRA registration and Continuing Professional Development (current)
Regional Lead Disability Liaison Officer Program
Austin Health
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Lead the implementation of a new Disability Liaison Program, across four tertiary hospitals: Austin Health, Northern Health, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
- ACHIEVEMENTS
- Conduct research, including successful delivery of a regional stakeholder engagement plan, online regional forum, a gap analysis and regional program plan for implementation
- Undertake targeted outreach with priority groups, including responsive COVID-19 preparedness and recovery work to support more than two hundred Disability Residential Services
- High-level specialist advice and consultation to senior managers and broader health services to advocate for more accessible, safer and inclusive care to vulnerable and at-risk consumers
- Lead and support an Allied health team of four Disability Liaison Officers across multiple sites
- Write executive briefings and reporting for government, including evaluating program outcomes and leading to continued and increased funding and the recommendations modelled state-wide
- Prioritise improvements aligned to organisational strategic plans, policies and capacity, informed by legislation, National Standards for Quality and Safety in Healthcare and external policy
- Develop and communicate a suite of program resources to support consumers and workforce
- Developed a collaborative research partnership with Monash health including ethics application and effective data collection and evaluation
Building Inclusive Communities Program (Metro Access) Project Officer
Nillumbik Shire Council (NSC)
01.2011 - 01.2015
- NSC is an interface municipality in northeast of Melbourne and the Building Inclusive Communities Program is a DHHS project positioned within local government areas aimed to mobilise, empower, and provide support for people with disability to increase inclusion in community life.
- ACHIEVEMENTS (Metro Access)
- Develop, implement and oversee the Disability Action Plan and access works program budget
- Developed communications to improve accessible information and services across council’s services and cultivated stakeholder mapping and community partnerships for emergency response
- Collaborated with Councillors, council staff, the community and other stakeholders to strategically advocate and address the needs of people with disability, their families and carers
- Designed and implemented Council’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) engagement strategy in partnership with state and federal agencies
- Coordinated Council’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, Community Inclusion Network, project meetings and supplied administrative support
- Lead, develop, implement and evaluate council and community driven projects
- Subject matter advice to council on strategic plans, projects and risk
- Conducted Acting Coordinator of Community Inclusion duties
- Response and support role, Hazelwood Mine Fire, La Trobe City Council
- Communication Access Accreditation 2015, Scope Victoria and Nillumbik Shire Council
- Quality Engagement Excellence Award 2012, Nillumbik Shire Council
- Sensitive Santa Program, modelled state-wide and recognised as best practice DHHS 2014
Accessible Transport Project Officer
Nillumbik Shire Council (NSC)
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Manage the community transport program for older, socially and geographically isolated and people with disability, delivering client-centred, safe transport services
- ACHIEVEMENTS (Accessible Transport)
- Assess physical and psychosocial barriers and develop solutions to increase access to mainstream health and community services
- Promote community transport through print, newsletters, website and social media
- Ensure programs and initiatives met governance, compliance and legislative requirements.
- Recruit, train, coordinate, support 20+ volunteers
- Advocacy for expanded funding for transport services for rural communities
- Developed and implemented the Medical Companion Project
Social Connections Project Coordinator
Southern Cross Care (SCC)
01.2010 - 01.2012
- The Social Connections Program delivered to 255 clients in the North and Western regions of Melbourne provided holistic residential, respite, independent living and in-home care for older people and people with disability.
Education
Masters - Disability and Inclusion
Deakin University
Melbourne, VIC01.2025
Certificate III - Identifying and Responding to Family Violence
01.2021
Bachelor - Health Science (Paramedicine)
Victoria University, School of Health & Biomedicine
01.2015
Bachelor - Health Science (Public Health)
Latrobe University, School of Health Science
01.2012
Certificate III - Aged and Disability
01.2008
Skills
- Implementing health equity initiatives
- Co-design with lived experience
- Diversity and Inclusion strategies
- Effective stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning expertise
- Healthcare quality improvement
- Trauma-informed practices
- Program management
Accomplishments
- Co-design and deliver major key projects: Best Care for People with Communication Disability, Neuroinclusion Toolkit
- Design and deliver workforce training – Accessible Communication, Auslan, Neuroinclusive workplaces and Autism
- Develop and deliver the Accessibility Action Plan 2020-2024, including developing policy and delivering key projects and initiatives across areas of universal design, digital inclusion, quality clinical care, patient safety, workforce harm, education, wellbeing and organisational maturity
- Lead the development of the Disability Action Plan 2024-2025
- Lead the development of the Diversity and Inclusion Framework and Action Plan
- Establish and lead the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group
- Collaborate with Community Advisory Committee
- Manage multi stake holder in person and online events for projects and days of significance
- Codesign a new Workplace Adjustments policy and procedure, model for implemtnation and business case.
- Manage professional memberships e.g., Australian Disability Network, JobAccess and stakeholder relationships with peak bodies, government, health and emergency sector partners.
- Co-design of the Best Care for People with communication Disability Project, including resource and training development
- Apply change and risk management practices to uplift inclusive practices and policies e.g., co-design a workplace adjustments policy and procedure
- Identify change outcomes that strengthen fairness and transparency whilst addressing the harmful elements of workplace culture and service delivery
- Undertake interpretive Phenomenological Analysis - qualitative research
- Write executive briefing and board papers
- End-to end project management, employ engagement methodologies, manage multiple state and national partnerships, including research agreements and co-design with people with lived experience
- Provide specialist advice and support for an 8000+ operational, corporate and volunteer workforce, including senior managers and executive
- Uplift workforce capabilities through design of resources, training and communications including delivering online and in person events
- Manage disability related workforce and community enquiries and end-to-end complaints
- Act in senior lead role, supporting a team of four direct reports
- Present at AGOSCI, CAA Congress,
- Design and deliver paramedicine university training,
- Inform policy, strategic plans, annual plans, Statement of priorities, people plans
- Represent Av in media, communications
Certification
- IAP2 Essentials of Engagement Training - 2023
- Trauma-Informed Care - Phoenix Australia -2023
- Co-design Partnering in Action - safer Care Victoria - 2023
- Person-centred Emergency Preparedness Facilitator - UNSW - 2022
- Psychological First Aid - Carfi - 2022
- NSQHS Standards Orientation course - 2021
- Identify and respond initial response to family violence - Box Hill TAFE - 2019
- Certificate in Quality and Safety - IHI - 2019
- Lean Six Sigma, yellow belt - 2019
Timeline
Disability Inclusion Program Lead, Workplace Adjustments Senior Lead, A/Diversity and Inclusion Senior Lead
Ambulance Victoria
01.2022 - Current
Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator
Parks Victoria
01.2022 - Current
Senior Lead, Safeguarding Care Program
Ambulance Victoria
01.2021 - Current
Disability Action Plan 2022-2026 (Consultant)
Austin Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
Regional Lead Disability Liaison Officer Program
Austin Health
01.2020 - 01.2021
Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedic
Ambulance Victoria
01.2015 - 01.2022
Building Inclusive Communities Program (Metro Access) Project Officer
Nillumbik Shire Council (NSC)
01.2011 - 01.2015
Accessible Transport Project Officer
Nillumbik Shire Council (NSC)
01.2011 - 01.2013
Social Connections Project Coordinator
Southern Cross Care (SCC)
01.2010 - 01.2012
Certificate III - Identifying and Responding to Family Violence
Bachelor - Health Science (Paramedicine)
Victoria University, School of Health & Biomedicine
Bachelor - Health Science (Public Health)
Latrobe University, School of Health Science
Certificate III - Aged and Disability
Masters - Disability and Inclusion
Deakin University
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Leading Together & Wellbeing facilitator, Ambulance Victoria 2024
- Co-design, Safer Care Victoria 2023
- Institute of Healthcare Improvement 2025
- Person Centred Emergency Preparedness, University of NSW 2023
- Psychological First Aid & Peer Support Program, CARFI 2022
- Trauma Informed Care, Phoenix Australia 2022
- COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program, DH 2021
- Leading Organisational Alignment, MARAM, DFFH 2021
- Responding to Vulnerability, Austin Health 2021
- Introduction to Universal Design, Open Learning 2021
- NSQHS Standards (2nd ed.) Orientation Course 2020
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Fundamentals, Ambulance Victoria 2019
- Certificate in Quality and Safety, Institute for Healthcare Improvement 2019
- Ice: Training for Frontline Workers, NCETA 2017
- National Disability Services Conference panel member, Melbourne 2016
- Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid Australia 2015
- Auslan Level 1, the Auslan Company 2015
- Methamphetamine and Mental Health, Austin Health 2015
- Introduction to Personal Support in an Emergency, Victorian Council of Churches 2014
- Navigating Austin CAMHS: Mental Health Care System, Austin Health 2014
- Accessible Documents Made Easy, Vision Australia 2014
- Working in an Emergency Relief Centre, Nillumbik Shire Council 2013