Manager, Social Work

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We are looking for an experienced, passionate Social Work Leader who will drive innovation and develop service models that reflect the core values of Austin Health. 

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 Social Work Department

The Social Work Department is based within the Allied Health Division, a Division comprised of nine therapies and five services.  There are approximately 46 FTE within the department and services are provided across the three main sites and including community or home-based services. The Social Work Department is committed to working with and enabling consumers and their families achieve the best outcomes possible.  The department is also focussed on developing the professional body of knowledge and evidence-based practice of staff across a range of areas to ensure high quality service provision. 

About the role

The Social Work Manager is recognised as an allied health professional leader, who will operationalise the core values of Austin Health through effective clinical, professional leadership and operational management of the Social Work services across Austin Health (excluding Mental Health). This position provides professional governance and operational management to all social workers across the care continuum.

You will be responsible for:

• Professional leadership and operational management of the Department
• Managing the performance of the Social Work service, including development of staff
• Strategic and business planning
• Managing budget and financial performance
• Managing quality and safety and risk management
• Supporting departmental research.

About you

As the Social Work Manager, 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:

• Demonstrated skills in leading and developing a Social Work model for clinical service delivery in a large public health setting.
• Proven leadership capability and a demonstrated commitment to quality, excellence and best practice in health service delivery. 
• Operational management experience of a large department, including human resource and financial management.
• Proven experience in leading and supporting teams through complex change, striving towards a strategic objective.
• High levels of communication and interpersonal skills which promote teamwork and a proven ability to relate effectively to people at all levels in the organisation.

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: Brit Gordon, Chief Allied Health Officer at Brit.GORDON@austin.org.au

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

Application closing date: 18 June 2025