Senior Medical Specialist

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.

Senior Medical Specialist - Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) 

About the Role

This is a Fixed-Term Part Time position at 0.7 FTE up to 29 June 2027 to cover parental leave within the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service.

The Senior Medical Specialist for the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) will provide paediatric forensic medical services to children suspected of being physically or sexually abused or neglected. As part of the VFPMS team, the Senior Medical Specialist will also collaborate with health and counselling services to ensure that children, young people and their families access the broad range of health, mental health and support services available to them. The position will also have a significant clinical role in teaching, training and supervision of staff, including advanced trainees of RACP.

Flexibility to provide a service across both the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH) locations is required, as is availability to participate in the after hours on-call roster.

Classification for this position will be in line with the Medical Specialists (Victorian Public Health Sector) Enterprise Agreement 2022-2026.

What you’ll achieve:

Clinical

• Provide forensic paediatric medical services to abused and vulnerable children at RCH and MCH as per the clinical schedule and after-hours roster
• Participation in monitoring and evaluating the quality of care provided to vulnerable and abused children by all staff within RCH and MCH
• Produce high quality forensic paediatric medical reports
• Utilise clinical skills and knowledge to coordinate patient care across sites and to initiate a holistic approach to patient care
• Develop working partnerships with referrers, other health service professionals, and community agencies
• Ensure continuity of care is provided by liaising with other services and relevant community agencies
• Participate in multidisciplinary multi-agency patient care conferences
• Contribute constructively and effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Develop and maintain communication systems that enhance patient care and service functioning
• Balance sometimes competing and conflicting priorities
• Respond in a timely manner

Education, Professional Development and Research

• Provide supervision, teaching and training to junior medical staff, including advanced trainees of RACP
• Develop and participate in providing education and training for a broad range of professionals working with vulnerable children
• Undertake professional development activities in clinical and hospital practice to maintain personal qualifications in accordance with continuing certification requirement of the RACP (or other relevant medical colleges)
• Undertake professional development activities in clinical forensic medicine to obtain and maintain qualifications in clinical forensic medicine.
• Identify opportunities to increase knowledge and skills in forensic paediatric medicine
• Initiate, support and participate in appropriate research and service development activities
• Professional Responsibilities
• Support the current aims and objectives of the service’s strategic plan
• Recognise situations that necessitate supervision/guidance and seek appropriate resources
• Work in accordance with service policies, procedures and guidelines
• Maintain a service environment that facilitates comfort, safety and efficiency for staff, patients and visitors
• Ensure professional practice is consistent with Occupational Health & Safety requirements
• Ensure professional practice is consistent with Infection Control guidelines
• Maintain confidentiality in matters related to patients and/or staff

Your skills and experience

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish healthy, professional working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• A quality focused and systematic approach to work
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing and conflicting priorities in a busy environment
• Flexibility and a ‘can-do’ approach
• Professionalism and maturity in dealing with a diverse range of people
• Previous experience in a similar role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Effective time management and prioritising
• Computer literacy including MS office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), email and internet use)

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

About the Department

The VFPMS is a statewide service operating out of two hub sites at the Royal Children’s and Monash Children’s Hospitals. VFPMS clinicians provide medical assessments of children in whom concerns exist about abuse, assault and neglect. The VFPMS is a leading forensic paediatric service that also provides education and training to a wide range of professionals and contributes to research in the field of paediatric forensic medicine.

Other Requirements

• Employees are required to undertake a National Criminal Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to commencing employment
• Employees are required to maintain a valid Working with Children Check throughout their employment
• A current, full driver’s licence for the state of Victoria that is appropriate for the type of vehicle being driven, and comply with any restrictions on their licence (e.g. wearing glasses) while undertaking hospital duties (if applicable)
• Employees are required to maintain compliance with the Royal Children’s Hospital’s “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.

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 Claire Terris, VFPMS Administration Coordinator, ph: 03 9345 9075, email: claire.terris@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 31 August 2026