Senior Food Services Dietitian

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.

The Role:

This is an ongoing part time job share position at (0.6 EFT) 45.6 hours per fortnight within the Nutrition and Food Services department commencing December 2025. 

The Senior Food Service Dietitian is responsible for the development, implementation, review and auditing of nutrition and food service menus, policies, procedures, standards and practice. Services will be provided at the highest clinical standard and will be delivered to ensure that the nutritional and dietary requirements of our patients are met in line with the required paediatric menu standards. 

In addition, the Senior Food Services Dietitian plays a key leadership role within the department—as part of the Food Service leadership team and as co-lead of a non-clinical portfolio. The position also contributes to the education and development of students and healthcare professionals through supervision and teaching. 

What You’ll Achieve:

• Work as a member of the food services team to ensure delivery of high quality menu standards and patient safety.
• Maintenance of the electronic menu management system for allergens and diet code compliance to ensure patient safety. 
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including clinical dietetics, nursing and ward staff, to ensure patient and ward needs are addressed effectively

Classification for this position will range from Grade 3 Year 1 to Grade 3 Year 4   (AK1-AK4) (base salary <$104,301.60 to $121,477.20> per annum pro-rata, plus superannuation).

Your Skills and Experience:

• Meet the eligibility criteria for full Membership of the Dietitians Australia (DA)
• Meet the eligibility criteria for the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program targets or equivalent.
• Hold a degree in Dietetics from an accredited course/university, or for overseas candidates The Dietetic Skills Recognition assessment administered by DA
• Uphold the Dietitians Australia Code of Conduct
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in dietetics, including sound knowledge of food services  
• Professional dietetic performance at an advanced level.  This may be demonstrated through the AdvAPD credential or eligibility to meet the AdvAPD credential criteria
• Experience working in food services, including leadership and supervision of food service staff and students. 
• Knowledge and ability to manage current issues related to food safety and food standards.
• Experience in implementing quality and strategic plans and projects.

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

About Nutrition and Food Services Department:

The Department of Nutrition and Food Services at The Royal Children's Hospital incorporates the clinical dietetic service, the Main Kitchen that caters for inpatient meals and the Central Formula Room that produces formula, enteral feeds and fortifies expressed breast milk to meet the nutritional needs of patients.

The department provides meals to 350 paediatric patients daily, including a number of patients requiring therapeutic and/or modified diets. It also produces meals for the Early Learning Centre and for breast feeding parents at RCH. In addition the Central Formula Room provides enteral formula, infant formula and fortifies breast milk for upwards of 100 patients per day.

The Nutrition and Food Services Department sits within the Allied Health Directorate within the Division of Ambulatory Services in the organisational structure at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

What We Offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Staff Wellbeing Hub
• Discounted on-site car parking

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 1 page cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description.

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

For more information about this position please contact Keryn Coster, Manager Nutrition and Food Services Ph: 9345 5668 sfrecruitment.nandfs@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 20 October 2025