Head of Unit - Clinical Pharmacology

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.

Head of Unit – Clinical Pharmacology

About the Role

This is a Permanent Part Time position 0.36 EFT/ 25.2 hours per fortnight within Clinical Pharmacology, Department of General Medicine.

0.18 – Clinical

0.18 – Non – Clinical

You will be responsible for….

Clinical Services - Inpatients

• Participation in the inpatient and outpatient clinical activities of the Department, including after hours on-call when required
• Responsibility for management of inpatients and outpatients referred to Clinical Pharmacology.
• Lead ward round discussions with the clinical pharmacology fellows encouraging them to actively participate in care and clinical decision making
• Manage the Clinical Pharmacology duties including investigator responsibility for clinical trials (APPRU), drug usage committee (DUC), adverse drug reactions (ADR), toxicology, drug trials subcommittee (DTSC), therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), and medication safety
• Work in partnership with other medical, nursing and allied health professionals in providing world class services for paediatric patients
• Liaison with parents/carers re procedures and plans regarding medical care
• Ensure adequate documentation of ward rounds, treatment plans and outcomes in patient history
• Ensure discharge summaries are prepared in a timely manner to enhance continuity of care

Non-Clinical

• Managerial oversight of Clinical Pharmacology service
• Timely and accurate completion of patient related documentation, including EMR encounters, outpatient documentation, oversight of expedient discharge summary completion, and any other required documentation relevant to enhancing continuity of care

Quality

• Utilise information systems to enable informed decision making and care planning
• Actively participate in risk management and quality programs to improve organisational processes and own practices

Education

• Undertake continuing education opportunities to foster safe clinical practice, quality initiative and research
• Undertake supervision and education within the clinical environment of Fellows, Registrars, Residents, Undergraduate medical students and other relevant staff to foster safe clinical practice (where applicable)

Performance Review

• Participate in self-reflective practice, and yearly PDAPs

Your skills and experience:

Essential:

• MBBS
• FRACP with accreditation in Clinical Pharmacology
• Specialist Registration with AHPRA and eligibility for medical registration within Victoria

Desirable:

• Previous experience delivering inpatient care at a tertiary hospital

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

About Clinical Pharmacology

Clinical Pharmacology at RCH sits within the General Medicine department, supports the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of medicines in children. The team provides expert advice on complex drug therapy, adverse reactions, and dosing, while contributing to guideline development, quality improvement, and education. Through collaboration, research, and clinical leadership, Clinical Pharmacology promotes best practice in paediatric prescribing and advances medication safety across the hospital.

What we offer:

• Staff Wellbeing Hub
• Staff immunisation

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

Application process – for SMS only*

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.

You must attach certified credentials and a completed “SMS Application for Appointment Form”

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

For more information about this position please contact Jenny Lay, Operations Manager Email: jenny.lay@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 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 16 December 2025.