Clinical Nurse Consultant

• Location: Footscray Hospital (Western Inpatient Psychiatric Unit)
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
• Salary: RPN Grade 5 + Superannuation + Salary Packaging

About the role:

The Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) plays a key leadership role within the inpatient mental health unit, providing expert clinical guidance, education, and support to the multidisciplinary team. This position is central to ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care, particularly for vulnerable and high-risk consumers.

Working closely with the Nurse Unit Manager and broader leadership team, the CNC drives best practice nursing standards, supports workforce development, and contributes to continuous quality improvement initiatives. This role offers an opportunity to influence clinical excellence, lead service development, and strengthen nursing capability within a dynamic mental health setting.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide expert mental health consultation and clinical leadership to the inpatient unit team.
• Support and develop nursing staff through education, mentorship, and role modelling of best practice.
• Lead and contribute to quality improvement initiatives, including clinical audits, incident reviews, and service development projects.
• Promote and implement recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care practices.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, effective, and responsive care for consumers, particularly those at high risk.

About you:

• Registered Nurse (Division 1) with AHPRA and postgraduate qualification in mental health nursing (or equivalent) and minimum of 5 years' experience as RPN3 or above.
• Extensive clinical experience in mental health settings, with demonstrated expertise in acute care.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and support multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in education, training, and professional development of nursing staff (Certificate IV in Training & Assessment desirable).
• Sound knowledge of mental health legislation, recovery-oriented practice, and quality improvement frameworks and Demonstrated Knowledge of Mental Health & Wellbeing Act 2022
• Contribute to adverse event investigations, and undertake individual and team-based reflective practice

Click here for the Position Description.

About Western Health

Western Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Victoria, caring for a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing community of one million people in Melbourne's western suburbs.

With more than 13,000 staff, Western Health delivers 800,000+ occasions of care every year, providing high-quality, person-centred care across every life stage.

We provide a combination of hospital, community-based, at-home and in-reach services to aged, adult and paediatric patients and newborn babies. Specialties include oncology, renal, mental health, women's health and maternity, chronic diseases, geriatrics and cardiology.

We have remarkable strengths in chronic disease, complex care and developing innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions. Our experience at the coalface of healthcare delivery for some of Australia's most culturally and socioeconomically diverse and vulnerable populations provides us with unique insights into the most pressing health challenges.

Western Health operates four acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women's and Children's), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We also operate Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, Melton Health and Community Services, Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre, Caroline Springs Community Health Centre and Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh. Western Health also provides the primary healthcare service at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a women's prison located in Ravenhall.

Why join us?

Compensation and benefits

• Competitive salary packages aligned with market standards.
• Health and wellbeing programs, including flexible work arrangements.
• Scholarships and grants to support your continuous learning journey.

Learning and development opportunities

• Access the Western Health Learning Academy (WHA) for personalised learning pathways.
• Professional growth programs, including postgraduate studies and clinical education.
• Mentorship and career support.

Community impact and inclusion

• Make a meaningful difference in patients' lives through compassionate care.
• Join a workforce that champions diversity and inclusion.
• Engage in community wellbeing initiatives and groundbreaking healthcare research.

Organisational culture and environment

• Thrive in a collaborative, compassionate and innovative team environment.
• Be part of a culture that celebrates continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare.

Ready to make an impact?

If you're passionate about trauma-informed and compassionate care, innovation lading project and reducing restrictive interventions, we'd love to hear from you. Simply click on the "apply" button and follow the prompts.

If you are currently employed at Western Health, please ensure you sign in through the 'Employee Login' via the external Careers Page or access the Careers Page via the intranet before applying.

Closing date: 11:59pm on 1 September 2026.

Enquiries: For further information about this role, contact Belinda Strangis via ***************@wh.org.au.

Western Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and retaining diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Western Health is committed to providing a safe environment for the children and young people who are involved in our services, sites and operations. We follow and abide by all legislative requirements to keep children and young people safe.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, an Immunisation Status Clearance and a Working with Children Check (if applicable).

Western Health is committed to the psychosocial safety of all applicants and employees.

Western Health does not accept unsolicited resumes/applications from recruitment agencies.