Mental Health Nurse

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.

Mental Health Nursing 

At the RCH we recognise the importance of safe psychosocial workplaces and strive to empower our workers through flexible working opportunities. As such, we encourage full-time and part-time applicants to apply.

About Banksia Ward

Banksia is an acute psychiatric ward that provides wellbeing, and mental health supports for young adolescents experiencing serious mental health and wellbeing concerns. On Banksia, our multidisciplinary team of health professionals have extensive child, youth and family expertise. Our wide range of therapeutic interventions, including music therapy, integrated school program and family clinicians allow a dynamic care approach that is truly patient, and family focused.

You will:

• Provide holistic care to young people with a variety of mental health diagnoses
• Support families through comprehensive, safe and evidence-based practice.
• Perform relevant assessments and competence related to your assigned responsibilities

Classification for the Registered Psychiatric Nurse role is Grade 2 Year 2 to Year 8, NP21 - NP70 (FTE base salary $86,580- $107,520.4 per annum, plus superannuation) 

Classification for the Psychatirc Enrolled Nurse role is PSEN level 2, year 1 to year 4, PE21-YD22 (FTE base salary $78,577.2 - $82,076.8 per annum, plus superannuation).

We encourage applications from all nursing grades up to Associate Nursing Unit Manager. Salaries will be in line with the Victorian Public Mental Health Service Enterprise Agreement 2024-2028

What you’ll bring to the role

• Experience establishing, maintaining and appropriately concluding therapeutic relationships
• Experience creating plans for continuity of care to achieve expected outcomes
• An ability to prioritise workload based on individual needs, acuity and optimal time for intervention
• Recent Clinical experience within an acute mental health care setting, preferably in child and adolescent or youth mental health (desirable)
• Completion or working towards a Post Graduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing.

If this sounds like you, view the list below for the position descriptions:

• Psychiatric Enrolled Nurse
• Registered Mental Health Nurse

For further Information on RCH, please view our website.

What’s in it for you?

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay by up to $11,500!
• Unlimited access to select fitness facilities in your local area via Fitness Passport
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Monthly massages from the Melbourne Institute of Massage Therapy
• Novated Lease through our partnership with SmartSalary
• Discounted on-site parking, direct Public Transport access and bicycle storage facilities
• Counselling, financial coaching, legal support, nutritional support and specialist helpline services through Converge
• Continuous training and upskilling opportunities such as the RCH Peer Support Program
• We are committed to partnering with young people and their families every day, to deliver high quality care and are actively seeking to improve, monitor and evaluate to create an environment for growth, research and innovation.

We look forward to welcoming your contribution to our vision, "A world where all kids thrive!"

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 Dale Mcvittie, Nurse Unit Manager Ph: 03 9345 9600 Email: dale.mcvittie@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 26 August 2026