Nurse Unit Manager

Job Description:

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Work for one of Australia’s leading hospital groups
• Orientation to correctional services at Port Phillip Prison (PPP) on site at PPP

About the Company

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is part of St Vincent’s Health Australia and a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service which employs more than 6,500 staff across 18 sites throughout Melbourne. SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services including acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health and community residential care. SVHM is one of Australia's leading Catholic not-for-profit healthcare providers.

About Department

St Vincent’s Health Australia has a long history providing care to persons in custody, since 1838, when the Sisters of Charity who founded St Vincent’s arrived in Sydney from Ireland, where they made an important difference to the lives of hundreds of women convicts in NSW.

Similarly St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has been providing Tertiary services for over 40 years to both males and female in custody with the Victorian Prison system. St Vincent’s Correctional Health aims to make a major difference by providing multidisciplinary healthcare to complex vulnerable population.

St Vincent’s has an excellent track record in running health services and we are currently offering this exciting opportunity to work within our Correctional Health team as the Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) of St Augustine’s at the Fitzroy campus. St Augustine’s is a 10 bed Medical & Surgical ward at St Vincent Hospital Melbourne within the Integrated Services Directorate.

About the Role

The role has a diverse range of duties that require strong clinical and managerial leadership to nursing team, the NUM will have responsibilities with large focus on stakeholder engagement with a range of external agencies and health providers with pivotal role in the participation of bed management for SVHM departments and treating units within the hospital. The NUM will work closely with Corrections Victoria (CV) supervisor to ensure safe best evidence care is delivered with adherence to security requirements.

This is a senior role with accountability for meeting SVHM key strategic directions and KPIs determined by DHHS and Justice Health. The successful person will work closely with Senior SVCHS team and CV team at port Phillip Prison and will collaborate and participate in the development of and implementation of clinical pathways for bed management with bed based units with correctional settings.

Classifications for this position will range fromNM11 - NM12($126,074 - $130,509.60 per annum pro rata)

Duties

• Under the direction of the Operations Manager – Correctional Health, provide managerial, clinical, and strategic leadership for tertiary services at St Augustine’s Ward.

• Lead and mentor the team to ensure patient care aligns with NSQHS and Justice Health Service Standards, demonstrating adaptability to meet changing occupancy and staffing needs.

• Collaborate with the Correctional Health Integration Clinician and NUM at Port Phillip Prison to develop processes and defined pathways for bed management between SVHM and St John’s Sub-Acute Ward.

• Liaise with the Correctional Health Integration Clinician and NUM St John’s regarding discharge planning to other correctional facilities.

• Act as a key contact for SVHM inpatient units and treating teams, ensuring transfers to and from St Augustine’s are managed appropriately in conjunction with the Correctional Health Integration Clinician.

• Participate in local bed management meetings and communicate with stakeholders including Corrections Victoria, Victoria Police, other correctional health providers, and Justice Health to support appropriate admission and discharge planning.

• Coordinate all ward access and ensure adherence to security criteria for emergency, elective admissions, and ongoing care.

• Ensure SVHM activity targets are achieved in line with Department of Health guidelines.

• Supervise and direct nursing staff in clinical practice, ensuring annual competency completion.

• Monitor and report on Service Delivery Outcomes (SDOs) and provide monthly reports within agreed timeframes.

• Maintain confidentiality regarding patients, staff, and documentation.

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships to support individuals transitioning to and from the community.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Degree in Nursing which meets the registration requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

• Post Graduate Qualifications in General Nursing and demonstrated advanced clinical skills

• Previous experience as a Nurse Unit Manager, or similar, managing a clinical ward, unit or department

• Leadership qualities with demonstrated ability to direct, coordinate, enthuse, motivate, support and encourage a multi-disciplinary team

• High level of interpersonal skills and communication skills, both verbal and written

Benefits

• Salary packaging

• Employee Assistance Program
• Staff Car Park
• Correctional Health Annual Bonus
• Financial support for professional development

Application

• Please attach your resume and cover letter to your application.

At SVHM we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. If you would like further information, contact our Indigenous Recruitment Coordinator through our careers page.

SVHA has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and/or control the risk of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) in healthcare settings. You are therefore required to comply with the SVHA Staff Health Screening Immunisation Policy, which, depending on the role you perform in the organisation will require you to undergo mandatory immunisations/vaccinations (including flu vaccinations).

All appointments are made subject to the candidate providing a current satisfactory National Police Certificate conducted by The Victoria Police.

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.

Closing Date:

11 July 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct