Graduate Nurse Program (GNP) 2027 - Mental Health Stream

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• Graduate Nurses, registered with PMCV’s Allocation and Placement Service (APS)
• Permanent employment
• Full time and part time opportunities available (0.8 EFT, 0.9 EFT and 1.0 EFT) 

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 Graduate Nurse Program:

An exciting opportunity currently exists for enthusiastic graduate nurses to join Austin Health in our General Graduate Nurse Program in 2027. We offer a well-supported GNP including a structured orientation program, ongoing paid study days, educational opportunities and supernumerary days for each of the two six-month rotations. Our dedicated Early Career Nurse Program Coordinator, Early Career Nurse Program Educators, and our Clinical Education Unit are available to assist graduate nurses in this transition year for the duration of the program. Graduates are also supported by Nurse Unit Managers and preceptors in all areas.

Graduate Nurse Program aim: Empowering early-career nurses to develop their skills, achieve their goals, and build long-lasting careers at Austin Health while delivering safe, patient-centred care.

About the role 

The graduate nurse program is a 54-week program, and upon successful completion, we offer ongoing employment in our Clinical Advancement Program, which is an additional supported year with two further six-month rotations across a variety of mental health bed based and community services. Recognition of prior learning will be applied at the successful completion of the graduate nurse program towards postgraduate studies in mental health nursing with select universities.

A regular day will see you:   

• Support a philosophy of care, which is patient focused, from admission to discharge, and where the family is welcome in the carers team.
• Ensure the well-being and safety of patients by following the values and principles, which underpin best practice in relation to patient care, education, and patient rights.
• Achieve and maintain the skills necessary, through personal professional development, to plan, prioritise and implement holistic patient care.

About you 

You will be someone who enjoys working as a part of a supportive team committed to excellence in patient care. You’ll have an interest in self-development and education, and actively seek out opportunities to grow your skillset.

Please note: You will be required to attach copies of the following documents to your online application:

• Austin Health Personal Details Form
• Resume - (maximum 2 pages) including list of all clinical placements, and two clinical referees
• Clinical Appraisal 1 – most recent acute placement
• Clinical Appraisal 2 – mental health placement (if unavailable most recent acute/subacute or specialty placement). 
• Academic Transcript - (most up to date, official, certified & include marking key)

For further information on the application process please read our application guide.

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. 

Austin Health offers graduate career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, please contact the Graduate Nurse Coordinator for more information.

All appointments are made subject to the candidate providing registration with NMBA, a current satisfactory National Police Check, a COVID vaccination certificate alongside other vaccination records and if required, a Working with Children Check.

Austin Health is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with Child Safe Standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the Graduate Nurse Coordinator at graduatenurseprogram@austin.org.au.

Please refer to our website for more information.

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details. 

Application closing date: 5pm, Wednesday 1 July 2026