Art Therapist

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 leadership opportunity
• 0.8 FTE Fixed Term Contract
• Challenging and rewarding work environment

About the Role

This is a Part Time position at 60.8 hours per fortnight within the Child Life, Music, Art and Garden Therapy department. Art Therapy at RCH is part of Allied Health and consists of a team of progessional ANZACATA Art Therapists (AThR) who provide clinical art therapy services to infants, children and adolescents with a range of medical conditions.  The team of Art Therapists support patients using targeted therapy sessions to assist with aspects of their hospital experience.  The aim of Art Therapy is to use the process of art to provide therapeutic mental health support through a range of face-to-face services and resourcing.

You will be responsible for leading the team of paediatric art therapists, coordinating and developing high quality art therapy services. You will ensure that the Art Therapy team delivers the best outcomes for patients and families while working in close collaboration with art therapy staff, medical, nursing and other allied health staff as well as the patients/families themselves and other external service providers.

Classification for this position will range from AT65 - AT68 (base salary $104,135 - $118,981 per annum pro rata, plus superannuation)

What you’ll achieve:

• Excellent art therapy services as required to children and families presenting with a broad range of complex needs across a variety of specialty areas.
• Leadership, coordination and contribution to the art therapy student education program through clinical placement program development, student supervision and liaison with universities.
• Enhancement of the team’s performance to ensure ongoing excellence in service delivery and teamwork through a flexible and adaptable approach to functioning in the team environment.
• Facilitation of open and effective communication across all levels of the Child Life, Music, Art and Garden Therapy Department and more broadly across the organisation.
• Identification of research gaps and creation of opportunities to engage academic partners in collaboration with the Art Therapy team.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Hold a Bachelors degree in psychology, fine arts, occupational therapy or equivalent. 
• Hold a Masters degree in Art Therapy from ANZACATA appoved by university or college.
• Meet the standards of professional development as determined by ANZACATA - the peak professional association for Creative Arts Therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. 
• Have the relevant experience to supervise art therapists and Master of Art therapy students.
• Minimum 7 years experience of clinical experiences ideally within a hospital context.
• Experience providing Art Therapy services to hospitalised and seriously ill children.
• Outstanding leadership potential within a quaternary referral paediatric hospital

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

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 Beth Dun, Manager Child Life, Music, Art and Garden Therapy Email: beth.dun@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 4 June 2026