Clinical Nurse Consultant

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards. 

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

Clincial Nurse Consultant:

• Excellent employee benefits including salary packaging. 

• Ongoing training and development opportunities 

• Work for Australia’s leading Children’s Hospital 

About the Role:

This is a Permanent Full-Time position at 76 hour per fortnight within the Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Banksia Ward. 

The CNC is responsible for developing, maintaining and evaluating the specialist bed-based program in collaboration with the Nurse Unit Manager. The CNC will demonstrate superior consolidated clinical skills, and provide consultancy to implement specialist programs that uphold best practice nursing care and recovery standards.

Classification for this position is NP51, Grade 5 Year 1 FTE base salary 126,937 per annum, plus superannuation). 

What you'll achieve: 

• The role will, in collaboration with the NUM, Senior Psychiatric Nurse and Psychiatric Nurse Consultant contribute to the development of a highly skilled workforce by providing mentoring particularly to junior nurses or recent recruits.
• Focus on nursing development to address priority issues on the ward which are related to vulnerable and high-risk consumers presenting with high level needs.
• Whilst this position reports to the Banksia NUM and Senior Psychiatric Nurse, it is expected that they will work as part of the inpatient team and collaborate with the extended multidisciplinary team’s clinical quality and risk, service performance and care standards in the provision of care for vulnerable and high-risk consumers presenting with high levels of acuity and behavioural disturbance. 
• The CNC holds substantial responsibility for the implementation of specific Department of Health (DH) initiatives and frameworks that are being led by the Office of the Chief Mental Health Nurse (OCMHN). The objectives of these initiatives are to collaborate with the NUM to ensure improvement in consumer and carer experience whilst maintaining a safe environment for all. These initiatives currently include SAFEWARDS, mental health intensive care framework and reducing restrictive interventions.
• In recognition of the role of the NUM in managing, monitoring, co-ordinating and maintaining nursing services activities and standards, the Clinical Nurse Consultant provides high level advice to the NUM regarding the Department of Health initiatives and frameworks and actively contributes to team planning and clinical practice development activities within Banksia. This includes contribution to related projects and research as well as development activities, such as the communities of practice coordinated by the Department of Health.

Your skills and experience: 

• Currentregistration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) administered though the AustralianHealth Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA).
• Demonstratedcommitment to ongoing personal and professional development, as evidenced in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record/Professional Practice Portfolio (PPP).
• Minimumof 5 years full time equivalent postregistration experience in mental health nursing preferably in a CAMHS/CYMHS setting.
• Postgraduate qualification in mental health nursing or have completed a specialistundergraduate psychiatric nursing program.
• A well-developed knowledge and understanding of the VictorianMental Health Act(2014) and other relevant legislation, policies and strategic directions of public Mental Health Services

If this sounds like you, click here to view the position description. 

About Banksia Ward:

 Banksia Ward provides acute adolescent mental health assessment and treatment to young people between 13 - 18 years of age. Banksia is a 16 bed ward, with a specialist intensive care area. The multi-disciplinary team works with young people and families to create supportive care plans and pathways to community. 

What we offer: 

• World class clinical practice environment 

• Culture of continuous improvement  

• Salay-Packaging benefits 

 
Other requirements: 

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain. 

• Valid Working with Children Check 

• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willing to obtain. 

• Compliance with RCHs “Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” procedure 

Application process:

To apply, you will need a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description.  

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, we encourage you to apply promptly!  

For more information about this position please contact  Adam Blake, Nurse Unit Manager - Banksia Ward: 9345 9608 

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children’s Hospital.  Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children’s Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption

Are you ready to join our team? 

 Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close 16 June 2026