Clinician, Harmful Sexual Behaviour

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.

Clinician, Harmful Sexual Behaviour  

• Parkville and Western Melbourne location  

• Excellent employee benefits including salary packaging 

• Friendly and supportive team environment 

About the Role 

Are you a dedicated counselling and social services professional looking to make a significant impact to the lives of children and families? Have you always wondered what working in a paediatric sexual assault service might be like? SASH currently has 2 full-time, ongoing opportunities to join SASH’s Harmful Sexual Behaviour Team working at 80 hours per fortnight.  

In this role, you will use a structured, evidence-based model of care to undertake assessment and provide therapeutic counselling and support services to children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour. You will receive extensive face-to-face training and ongoing support in using this model of care, with the next training scheduled for October 2026.

You would split your work week across at least two of SASH’s three sites in Werribee, Melton and Parkville.  (Your personal preferences will be considered, and flexible start/finish times will be granted where travel to a secondary work site is significantly longer than your primary work site).

Beyond direct assessment, clinical counselling and advocacy work, you will also have opportunities to contribute to SASH’s Intake function, supporting access to the service for those who need help the most. This involves receiving and responding to referrals for service, providing professional secondary consultations regarding child sexual abuse and, harmful sexual behaviour and providing sexual assault crisis responses. You will also be required to participate in the after-hours sexual assault crisis response roster.  

Classification for this position will range from: 

• Social Worker Grade 2, Years 1-4 (SC21 – SC24) 

• Psychology Grade 2, Years 1-4 (PK1 – PK4) 

• Occupational Therapy Grade 2, Years 1-4 (VF6 – VF9) 

What you’ll achieve: 

• Delivery of quality and evidence-based assessment, therapeutic interventions and support for children/young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour and their family members. 

• Promotion of a rights-based, trauma-focused model of recovery for children and their families through interagency collaboration and consultation, including within RCH departments and external agencies including Child Protection, education, mental health, courts and other community services   

• Contribution to a culture of open and effective communication, teamwork and lifelong learning

Your skills and experience: 

• Recognised qualification in relevant discipline with current Board registration/eligibility for membership with professional body 

• Satisfaction of relevant discipline’s continuing professional development standards 

• A commitment to ethical practice 

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

About SASH 

SASH provides: 

• Sexual Assault Crisis Response for children following sexual harm (recent experience or disclosure) and their families. This support is face-to-face and provided 24/7 at the RCH.  

• Counselling for children living in metro west Melbourne who have experienced sexual harm or engaged in harmful sexual behaviour and their families.  

• Consultation and professional education to enhance capacity, confidence and capability in the community for the safety, rights and recovery of children after sexual harm. 

Counselling services are provided at SASH’s community-based services in Western Melbourne as well as at the RCH.  

What we offer: 

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay! 

• Professional development and special events 

Other requirements: 

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain 

• Valid Working with Children Check 

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

• Participation in after-hours sexual assault crisis response roster 

Application process 

To apply, you will need to upload a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your qualifications, 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 Fran Hardcastle, Workforce and Service Development Lead Ph: 0435260947 Email: fran.hardcastle@rch.org.au 

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 staff benefits such as 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, and offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of background checks including reference checks. 

Are you ready to join our team?

Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close 3 September 2026