Clinical Nurse Consultant
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- Parental leave cover, January 2026 – April 2027
- Part time, 24 hours per week
Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives.
About the Department
The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre (ONJ Centre) provides comprehensive cancer services, including medical oncology, clinical haematology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, wellness and supportive care programs, and palliative care services
The Palliative Care Service includes a 24-bed specialist inpatient Palliative Care Unit, a Consultancy service to inpatients of Austin Health, a Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic, Palliative Care home services in the patient’s home or residential aged care facility and liaising with Community Palliative Care Services. The Palliative Care CNC is an integral team member of all elements of the Palliative Care Service.
About the role
An opportunity exists for an enthusiastic, experienced and passionate individual to join our Palliative Care Consult team. The Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), is responsible for providing advanced practice nursing care for patients requiring palliative care, including clinical and research activities. This role will deliver evidence-based nursing care that meets professional, organisational, legal and ethical standards to optimise outcomes for patients.
The Palliative Care CNC plays a pivotal role in the co-ordination and management of patients with palliative care needs in the inpatient environment and on our outreach team. Services are provided Monday to Saturday, and staff are expected to participate in the Saturday Consultancy roster.
A regular day will see you:
- Receive and triage referrals from staff at the Austin, and from other hospitals referring patients to the Austin for palliative care needs
- Introduce the concept of palliative care to patients and families who have had no prior involvement with a palliative care service
- Provide advanced nursing assessment of palliative care needs, including, where relevant, discussion of relevant clinical trials
- Advise treating units regarding specialist palliative care planning including assistance with defining patients’ wishes and goals of care
- Assess eligibility and suitability, and prepare patients and families accordingly, for transfer from the acute setting to the sub-acute Palliative Care Unit
- Provide comprehensive education and counselling to patients and family
- Coordinate timely palliative care expertise and support across the complete patient journey, including care planning, discharge planning, symptom management and/or end of life care
About you
You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care. You’ll bring energy and drive to your work and have a keen interest in developing your skillset.
To be successful in this role, you'll bring with you:
- Current AHPRA registration as a Registered Nurse
- Extensive specialist palliative care experience, with experience in a senior nursing role
- Post Graduate qualification in palliative care or a relevant specialty
- Commitment to excellence in the care of palliative care patients, with understanding of the care and management in an inpatient, ambulatory and community setting
- Highly developed communication skills that enables you to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and convey critical information clearly and succinctly.
Our benefits
Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including:
- Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation.
- A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program.
- Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options.
- Mentoring and career development opportunities.
Work with us!
We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures.
If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date.
All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working with Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Marita Rees, Palliative Care CNC Manager at Marita.REES@austin.org.au
Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details.
Application closing date: Thursday 4 December 2025
