Medical Scientist - Biochemistry

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.

About the Role

This is a Fixed term Fulltime position at 76 hours per fortnght to cover Sabbatical for 12 months within the department of Laboratory Services in The Biochemistry Laboratory. You will be responsible for providing Chemical Pathology services for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital. The laboratory is operational 24/7 days throughout the year. The role requires shift work and is rostered including on-call coverage. As a grade 1 scientist you will be responsible for the performance of laboratory duties as directed by the Scientist in Charge. 

Classification for this position will range from grade 1.1 to grade 1.2 (FTE base salary $63,674 - $68,244.80 per annum, plus superannuation).

 What you’ll achieve

• Deliver diagnostic laboratory tests and services, interpret, action, and validate results as documented as required by the International Quality System Standard (ISO 15189-2013) and NPAAC guidelines.
• Complete hospital mandatory training programmes and actively participate in continuing education and professional development (CEPD) programmes commensurate with the role
• Perform quality control testing, and participate in quality assurance programs, interpret data and follow-up non-conformances as documented
• Perform preventative maintenance of laboratory equipment and Identify, troubleshoot, and report to senior staff, any instrument malfunction

Your skills and experience

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Laboratory Science) or Bachelor of Science or equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution
• Experience or knowledge of a diagnostic pathology laboratory with laboratory information systems (LIS), patient systems (EMR) and quality control systems including the Microsoft suite of softwares and statistical techniques
• Analytical instruments including the Roche Cobas 8000 analyser, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Vitros XT 7600 analyser or equivalent are desirable
• Good laboratory, interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work well within a team as well as a service focus approach

To view the position description please click here

About the Department

The Biochemistry Laboratory is a department within Laboratory Services providing Chemical Pathology services for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital. The laboratory is operational 24/7 days throughout the year. 

What we offer

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Parkville location and close to public transport Other requirements

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

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 Steven Ramsay PhD, Principal Scientist of Laboratory Services Biochemistry Ph:03  934 59882 Email: steven.ramsay@rch.org.au

Victorian Department of Health has endorsed the initiative to restructure existing public pathology by bringing together laboratories into pathology networks operating under a lead health service. 

Pathology services from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital will transition to a single pathology service.  This creates an exciting opportunity to strengthen the scope, scale and reach of pathology services across the Parkville precinct to benefit all Victorians.

This role will be part of the new centre of excellence that will be led by Melbourne Health.

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: 11 September 2025