Senior Speech Pathologist

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 part-time ongoing, 0.8EFT, Grade 3 Senior Speech Pathologist to join our multidisciplinary community outpatient team in Tarneit. The team is currently located at Travencore until its new site is completed in 2026.

The RCH Mental Health speech pathologists provide comprehensive communication assessments, short term intervention for children up to 11 years and their families, and internal and external consultation for complex clients and work collaboratively with Mental Health Primary Clinicians. The Mental Health speech pathologists work together to provide consistent and excellent care across the Mental Health Service and may be required to support speech pathology work on other RCH mental Health community teams as required. The successful candidate will have a high level of expertise and experience in the area of Communication Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders and may also be involved in teaching, second opinion, and secondary consultation.

Classification for this position will range from:

Grade 3 Speech Pathologist (YB51-YB54)

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Demonstrated clinical skills and significant experience in the provision of effective and efficient infant and children mental health care 
• Advanced engagement skills with infant, children and parents or care givers
• Demonstrated ability to practice autonomously, as well as within an interdisciplinary team
• Provide high quality clinical supervision and clinical leadership of speech pathology staff and students
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to maximise service coordination and cooperation as well as capacity building with community agencies
• Demonstrated upholding and promotion of clinical and professional standards of practice
• A commitment and evidence of evidence-based practice and continuing professional development including an ability to find and apply evidence in decision-making
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills and inter-personal skills
• Demonstrated awareness and understanding of legal obligations when working in a CAMHS context in Victoria
• A flexible and adaptable approach to functioning in a team environment that enhances the team’s high performance

Your skills and experience:

• Tertiary Qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Current Registration as an Speech Pathologist with the applicable Health Practitioner Board
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working in true partnership with other community mental health teams and community/family welfare agencies to plan and implement effective interventions for children and young people experiencing complex mental health problems
• Experience in providing quality clinical/professional supervision to staff and students
• Depending on discipline, required years of experience in accordance with the EBA will apply

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

About the Department:

RCH Mental Health is a Level 5 tertiary Infant, Child and Family Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and comprises community and hospital-based services. This includes three multidisciplinary community teams which are based in Travancore, Sunshine and soon to be Tarneit site.  This position will be primarily based in the location listed above however you may be required to work across sites should the needs of the service require this.

Our Community Mental Health Programs are undergoing an exciting transformation and expansion as we implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. The transformation will allow the RCH Mental Health Service to help more infants, children, and their families, and implement contemporary models of care that best meet the needs of the families we serve and support them to use their collective strengths for recovery and hope. As part of this transformation, there will be opportunities for further training, supervision, and development. 

Watch our Mental Health careers video here

For more information about our Mental Health career pathway click here

What we Offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Free parking onsite
• 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

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 Michelle Zarafa, Team and Site Coordinator on 03 9345 5022 or michelle.zarafa@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 30 October 2025