Senior Project Evaluation Officer, RCH Mental Health Strategy

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, part-time or full-time (0.6 - 1.0 FTE) position until 30/06/2027 at 80 hours per fortnight.

Internally, this position may also be known and/or referred to as: Senior Project Evaluation Officer, RCH Mental Health Strategy.

Classification for this position is in accordance with Award 10 - Managers and Administrative Workers.

Depending on experience and qualifications, this will range from AO71 (Grade 7, Level 1) to AO75 (Grade 7, Level 5 ), $114,436.40 to $124,912.84 per annum, pro rata for part-time, plus superannuation. 

What You will Achieve:

The Senior Project Evaluation Officer is a key member of the RCH Campus Mental Health Strategy Implementation Team, responsible for designing, leading and delivering the evaluation of the BSP and SAPHER flagship reforms. The role will work with key stakeholders – including the Change Lead, Digital Health Partner, clinical and digital teams, and Lived Experience Consultant to:

• design and implement robust evaluation frameworks for both flagship reforms, building on the existing BSP evaluation and SAPHER's alignment to current clinical guidelines
• monitor and report on delivery against agreed outcomes, including EMR integration and adoption, workforce confidence and competence, and reduction in occupational violence, seclusion and restrictive practices
• translate evaluation findings into practical recommendations that support usability, uptake and sustained impact of both tools across the Campus

Role Context:

Launched in 2021, the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Campus Mental Health Strategy coordinated a comprehensive program of integrated, evidence-based approaches to mental health research, education, and care. The RCH Campus Mental Health Strategy is in its final stage of delivery. The Strategy has supported the development of two digital tools to ensure evidence-based, best practices in mental health screening and decision support.

This Behaviours of Concern (BOC) optimisation project aims to improve patient and family experiences by enabling early identification and documentation of behavioural support needs in relevant children and adolescents presenting with BOC, and children and adolescents who are neurodivergent, within the EMR, enabling proactive care planning, tailored coping strategies, and trauma-informed approaches. The Behaviour Support Profile (BSP) Tool documents and addresses the non-medical needs of patients, including communication preferences, sensory sensitivities, and coping strategies. The BSP helps staff tailor care to each patient, reducing distress and enhancing their sense of safety and wellbeing. 

The Suicide Aggression Preventative Healthcare Evidence based Reform (SAPHER) Project modernises mental health risk screening, assessment and management within RCH. Under the project, a Risk Assessment and Formulation Tool (RAFT) has been developed by a multidisciplinary group of staff in collaboration with children and carer representatives and based on evidence-based and best practices in mental health risk management. The RAFT, embedded in EMR, supports the assessment, formulation and documentation of suicide, self-harm, aggression, developmental and psychosocial risks. The routine application of the use of the RAFT in clinical practice, forms a part of high quality, tertiary mental health care for infants and children 0 to 18 years.

The Strategy’s final phase of work will deliver sustainable reform by building staff capability and embedding behaviour support resources within the EMR, as part of a comprehensive approach comprising fit-for-purpose digital infrastructure, people-centred workflow redesign, clinical leadership, workforce enablement and culture change.

Your skills and experience:

Essential:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (e.g. public health, evaluation, psychology, social work, health sciences) and/or equivalent industry experience
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering program or project evaluations in a complex healthcare environment
• Experience collecting, analysing and reporting on quantitative and qualitative data to inform service or quality improvement
• Proven ability to build effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Critical analysis, systems and strategic thinking skills

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in evaluation, public health, or a related discipline
• Experience evaluating digital health or EMR-integrated clinical tools
• Knowledge of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System and its recommendations
• Experience or understanding of infant, child and adolescent mental health, trauma-informed care, or suicide and self-harm prevention frameworks

If this sounds like you, or if you require more information, please click here to view the position description.

What we offer:

• Salary packaging option with our partner, SmartSalary – Increase your take home pay by up to $11,500 per annum (and other additional salary-enhancing options!)
• Workplace culture of continuous improvement, growth, support and training
• Clinical Education Hub on-site to support continued training and professional development
• Hybrid work model, if applicable to role

• Monthly Accrued Day Off (ADO) – 12 additional leave days per year, if FTE

• Convenient location & close to public transport
• Staff immunisation drives
• Special events
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Support for working mothers including two on-site Early Learning Centres, flexible working arrangements, breast feeding and pumping facilities 
• Help when you need it most! Staff counselling, financial coaching, legal support, nutritional support and specialist helpline services, and more through our EAP partner, Converge
• Unlimited access to select fitness facilities in your local area via Fitness Passport
• Enjoy the convenience of an on-site retail precinct, featuring a range of shops, cafés, and food outlets (retail discounts & more)

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
• Employees are required to maintain 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 Dr Gayani Hettiarachchi Senarath, Program Manager - RCH Campus Mental Health Strategy via ph: (03) 9345 5505 OR email: Gayanika.HettiarachchiSenarath@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: 27 August 2026.