Koori Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer

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.

This is an Aboriginal Identified Position

• Located at all RCH Mental Health sites: Parkville, Travancore, St Albans and Tarneit
• 12-months Fixed Term, Full-time (1.0EFT)
• Applications close 21 July 2026

The Opportunity

Within a multidisciplinary team setting, you will work both autonomously and alongside Mental Health Clinicians to provide high quality, culturally appropriate support to promote engagement and best mental health outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and their families. You will:

• work with clients and patients in both the community mental health service and the Banksia adolescent inpatient unit 
• provide advocacy, appropriate information regarding services and the rights and responsibilities of the consumer to ensure a complete understanding of the young person's journey through the RCH Mental Health service.
• actively engagem in community development activities, including working with ACCHOs (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations) 
• strengthen partnerships, improve access to services for Aboriginal children and young people
• promote cultural healing and capacity-building within RCH Mental Health staff.

Classification for this position will range from: Comm Development Worker Grade 2B Year 1 - Grade 2 Year 6

To be successful in this role you will have:

• This is an Aboriginal identified role (as per s12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)
• Demonstrated experience in assessing social, emotional and cultural needs and in the delivery of social and emotional wellbeing/mental health services to Aboriginal children, young people, and/or community members
• Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal children, young people and/or families experiencing poor mental health and wellbeing

If this sounds like you, please click here for the position description.

Your skills and experience:

• Relevant professional experience in an Aboriginal health care or Aboriginal child and family services setting
• Demonstrated understanding of the social, economic and transgenerational issues impacting on Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing in Aboriginal communities and families including a sound knowledge of Aboriginal culture, values and history
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working in true partnership with other community mental health teams and community/family welfare agencies e.g. Aboriginal and mainstream services, to plan and implement effective interventions for Aboriginal children and young people experiencing complex mental health problems
• Demonstrated ability in assessing social emotional and cultural needs, making referrals and planning support services appropriate to identified needs

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ability to join Fitness Passport - Your pass to an extensive choice of fitness facilities

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
• Valid Victorian Driver's Licence

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 Joy Goubran, Operations Manager of 0432 342 704 or joy.goubran@rch.org.au

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.