Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $104,135 - $118,981
Grade: Grade not specified
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 15312
Grade 3 Occupational Therapist – Stream Leader, Neurodevelopment, Ambulatory Services & Medical Specialties
Do you have established clinical expertise in providing neurodevelopmental occupational therapy services and a passion for making a difference for the children and families at RCH? Would you like to join our Occupational Therapy Senior Leadership team and provide clinical leadership and coordination to the Neurodevelopmental, Ambulatory and Medical specialities stream?
About This Role:
A full-time position at 80 hours per fortnight, for a Fixed Term until 5th November 2027 as Stream Leader for the Neurodevelopment, Ambulatory Services & Medical Specialties. Working at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) provides a unique and exciting opportunity to work alongside children and their families during pivotal life phases. You will be part of the RCH Occupational Therapy Senior Leadership Team; providing clinical leadership and coordination for Occupational Therapy, as well as holding a senior clinician clinical caseload specific to the stream of Neurodevelopment, Ambulatory Services & Medical Specialties. This stream provides a range of inpatient and outpatient services across General Medicine, Neurosciences, Neonates, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Oncology, Respiratory, Hospital in the Home, Post Acute Care and Complex Care. In this role you will work together with families to enhance neurodevelopment and quality of life, and facilitate appropriate discharge from the acute setting ( including successful transitions to sustainable, home-based care). You will facilitate participation and developmental opportunities for infants and children during long-stay admissions in the acute setting, or in consultative outpatient assessment clinics. You will work within a highly skilled team of specialty paediatric clinicians in our acute occupational therapy department.
Classification for this position will range from VG3 (Grade 3, Year 1) to VG6 (Grade 3, Year 4), base salary $104,135.20-$118,981.20, plus superannuation, plus with the added option of NFP salary packaging.
What You'll Achieve:
Ongoing development of clinical expertise in occupational therapy and assessment and intervention in accordance with best practise
Developmental assessment of young infants and children, with a focus on clinical safety and parent coaching to inform infant occupations, neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life
Providing assessment and intervention to extremely high-risk infants and children with complex and critical conditions across inpatient and outpatient services
Leadership in service development and processes for the highly specialised RCH Neurodevelopmental service
Staff education and mentoring, including clinical supervision and operational support to grade 2 staff
Opportunities for continuous improvement and research
Your Skills and Experience:
Recognised graduate-entry qualification in Occupational Therapy (Bachelor, Masters or Doctorate)
Current registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Experience working in acute paediatric settings
Advanced skills in clinical assessment, formulation, and clinical reasoning abilities; specific to complex infants and children (including early motor assessments for infants at risk of neurodevelopmental challenges)
Experience supporting patients in an acute setting with medical device dependency and technology requirements
Interest in working within RCH tertiary multidisciplinary clinics (alongside engaged medical teams) to ensure children with complex and rare conditions access the supports they need within the community
Confidence in educating patients/parents/discipline staff/ multidisciplinary team and members of the wider community to minimise risk and promote successful outcomes for patient care
Proven strong clinical leadership and organisation
Highly developed communication skills with stakeholders across tertiary acute and community-based service systems for the coordination of patient care
Supervision and education skills of a level suitable for supervision of students, Grade 1 and 2 staff and Allied Health Assistants
Capacity for effective negotiation, conflict resolution and wide consultation at all levels, to maintain and foster key interpersonal relationships
Able to lead and manage project/research work independently
If this sounds like you, or if you require more information, please click here to view the position description.
About Occupational Therapy:
The Occupational Therapy department is within the Division of Allied and Digital Health. We provide inpatient and outpatient services for infants, children, and adolescents with a wide range of medical conditions. Our team works closely with families, carers, community services and other health care professionals to ensure the best occupational therapy outcomes for our patients.
What we offer:
Monthly Accrued Day Off (ADO) – 12 additional leave days per year, if FTE
Other requirements:
Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
Valid Working with Children Check
Current NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willing to obtain
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 Annette Leong, Manager Occupational Therapy via ph: 03 9345 4348 OR email: [email protected]
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: 18 September 2026.