Physiotherapist Grade 5

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• Strategic Workforce Operations Lead (Grade 5 Physiotherapist) 
• Full-Time, Permanent 

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 Physiotherapy department

The Physiotherapy Department is committed to delivering the highest standards of person-centred, evidence-based physiotherapy care across all Austin Health campuses. The department provides services throughout the continuum of care, from the Emergency Department through to inpatient, rehabilitation, and ambulatory services. Staff are actively engaged in professional development, research, quality improvement, and the education of undergraduate and postgraduate students.  

This position is a key member of the Physiotherapy Senior Leadership Team and reports directly to the Manager, Physiotherapy. The successful applicant will be required to work across Austin Health campuses and collaborate with leaders across Physiotherapy, Allied Health, and multidisciplinary teams. 

About the role 

The Strategic Workforce Operations Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Physiotherapy Grade 1 and Grade 2 workforce. Working closely with the Education Lead and senior leadership team, this position will drive initiatives that strengthen workforce capability, support recruitment and retention, and ensure the development of future physiotherapy leaders. 

This role plays a critical part in developing sustainable workforce models, enhancing supervision and professional development programs, and ensuring physiotherapy services continue to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community. The position also provides leadership of a clinical stream while contributing to departmental strategy, quality improvement, research, and service innovation. 

A regular day will see you:   

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Grade 1 and Grade 2 physiotherapy workforce.  

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate and early-career workforce programs.  

• Support innovative workforce models that enable staff to work to their full scope of practice. 

• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention, supervision, and professional development initiatives for junior staff.  

• Provide expert clinical leadership and consultancy across physiotherapy services and multidisciplinary teams. 

• Drive quality improvement, service development, and change management initiatives aligned with departmental priorities.  

• Foster strong internal and external partnerships to support workforce and service objectives.  

• Contribute to physiotherapy research, evidence translation, and the development of future clinical leaders.  

About you 

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

• Extensive leadership and management experience within a complex health service environment. 

• Experience developing and implementing innovative workforce models and service improvements that enhance patient outcomes.  

• Strong understanding of contemporary healthcare systems, workforce challenges, and future workforce capability requirements. 

• Demonstrated success in workforce planning, change management, and strategic program implementation.  

• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and relationship-building skills.  

• Current AHPRA registration and eligibility for membership with the relevant professional association.  

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. 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 hiring manager: Thomas Rollinson, Manager Physiotherapy at Thomas.ROLLINSON@austin.org.au

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

Application closing date: Sunday 18 October 2026