Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSON) Mental Health

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.

Job Title: Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSON), Mental Health

• Hub of the medical precinct & leading Children’s Hospital
• Fabulous employee benefits including salary packaging and onsite parking

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About the role:

There are 2 x part-time, 12 month fixed-term position at 0.5FTE commencing July 2026. Flexible hours including evenings and weekends.

This role provides an opportunity to develop the required knowledge, skills and attitude aligning with the RCH vision and values, while striving for better mental health and wellbeing for adolescents, families/carers and communities. Work under the direction of Registered Mental Health Nurses, assist in the provision of the therapeutic milieu through a high level of communication, provision of programming and structure and limits\ to meet the needs of the adolescent consumer group.

What you’ll achieve:

• An introduction to child and young person recovery focused, family-centred mental health care
• Understanding of child and youth mental health nursing practice
• Engagement in critical questioning and reflective practice
• Integration into effective multidisciplinary team functioning

Your skills and experience

• Current enrolment in tertiary course of nursing practice
• Evidence of completed inpatient mental health placement
• Current registration as a Registered Undergraduate Student Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) administered though the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA)
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal and professional development, as evidenced in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record/Professional practice Portfolio
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multidisciplinary team 
• Effective time management and organisational skills

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

About the Department:

 Banksia - Mental Health Ward is a 16-bed inpatient unit where young people aged 13 to 18 years are assessed and treated for a range of mental and psychological disorders. The Ward provides the least restrictive environment possible while remaining compatible with the needs and safety of young people and staff. It also aims to promote community management wherever possible. Banksia Ward uses a multi-disciplinary approach to assess and treat young people admitted to the Ward. The team is comprised of consultant psychiatrists, registered nurses with mental health qualifications, a psychologist, social worker, psychiatry registrar and teachers with special education qualifications.

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Parkville location and close to public transport
• Discounted on-site car parking
• Culture of continuous improvement

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!

or Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.

For more information about this position please contact <Dale Mcvittie, Nurse Unit Manager, 0481437737 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 29/05/2026