Nurse Unit Manager

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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 Emergency Department

The Emergency Department services approximately 89,000 patients per year, made up of 20% paediatric presentations and 30% presenting via Ambulance Department managing both non-admitted and admitted patient volumes. The Emergency Department sees undifferentiated patient presentations with the aim to assess, workup, and progress care for a broad range of specialties. Emergency care is defined with associated timely care, targets outlined through Austin Health’s Statement of priorities with the Department of Health. Our service is delivered in a timely, compassionate, and appropriate manner, enhanced through teaching, research and the development of new technologies and processes. 

The Short Stay Unit is a 28-bed unit which is co-located with the Emergency Department, and their workforce models. Patients admitted to Short Stay usually have a rapidly reversible condition which either requires a short period of treatment or observation, where the likelihood of safe discharge can occur within a 24 period.

The Emergency Service is at the forefront of new and innovative models of Emergency care and is a contemporary leader in Emergency Medicine and Nursing education, research, and quality. Our strong focus on nursing education provides opportunities offering both a post graduate course in critical care nursing, Graduate Nurse Program and an Emergency Foundations program each year supported by dedicated educational teams.

The Austin Emergency Services is undertaking an expansion from 2025-2028 with additional treatment models and space, which will continue to support the delivery of exceptional care observing best practice through contemporary models. Austin Health offers nursing educational opportunities and career development within a collaborative team aimed at providing the best in care. 

About the role 

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) to join our Emergency Department leadership team. This pivotal role, in collaboration with the Medical Director of Emergency, holds overarching responsibility for the performance, quality, and strategic direction of Emergency Services at Austin Health.

A regular day will see you:   

• Drive excellence in patient care, operational efficiency, and team development across the Emergency Department.
• Achieve key performance outcomes including NEAT (National Emergency Access Target) benchmarks and timely Ambulance Victoria offload processes.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to reduce delays and ensure responsive, high-quality emergency care aligned with organisational priorities.
• Set the standard for nursing care through evidence-based practice and innovation, ensuring compliance with professional, organisational, legal, and ethical standards.
• Promote a positive, inclusive culture, lead change initiatives, and maintain a safe working environment.
• Ensure effective utilisation of financial resources within a framework of continuous service improvement.

About you 

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you:

• Proven leadership experience in an Emergency Department or acute care setting.
• Strong strategic and operational management skills.
• Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
• Commitment to patient-centred care and continuous improvement.

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: Michelle Topple, Divisional Manager Access & Critical Care at Michelle.Topple@austin.org.au

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

Application closing date: Sunday 18 January 2026