Grade 3 Social Worker - Surgical Services

Melbourne Health; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful Work

Career Growth

Supportive culture

Innovation

World-class Excellence

Salary packaging

Job summary

The Royal Melbourne Hospital is seeking a Grade 3 Social Worker within the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS) in Surgical Services. You will provide advanced clinical care, leadership, and supervision to social work staff and students, across VIDS and the Surgical Division.

Working with a multidisciplinary team, you’ll lead complex discharge planning, advocacy, and service development while contributing to quality improvement and innovative models of care to improve patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant clinical experience in acute health care settings.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and advanced social work practice skills.
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced social work assessment, intervention, advocacy and care coordination across VIDS and the broader Surgical Division.
• Deliver compassionate support to patients and families navigating complex medical, psychosocial and discharge planning needs.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health colleagues within specialist multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide clinical leadership, support and supervision to social work staff and students.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, research and innovation initiatives.
• Champion evidence-based practice and support excellence in patient care.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Discharge planning

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Team supervision

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Grade 3 Social Worker - Surgical Services

Senior Social Worker (Grade 3)Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS) | Surgical Services

• Join one of Australia's leading health services
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients experiencing complex infectious diseases and surgical care.
• Part-time (0.9EFT), ongoing

Join The Royal Melbourne Hospital as a Grade 3 Social Worker within the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS), providing advanced clinical care and leadership to support patients with complex needs.

Working alongside a multidisciplinary team, you’ll lead patient-centred social work practice, support complex discharge planning and advocacy, and provide clinical supervision and guidance to junior staff and students. You’ll also contribute to service development, quality improvement, education and innovative models of care that strengthen patient outcomes.

With opportunities to influence clinical practice and support the ongoing development of the Social Work profession, you’ll be part of a team committed to evidence-based care, professional growth and continuous improvement.

What you’ll do

In this rewarding position, you will:

• Provide advanced social work assessment, intervention, advocacy and care coordination across VIDS and the broader Surgical Division.
• Deliver compassionate support to patients and families navigating complex medical, psychosocial and discharge planning needs.
• Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health colleagues within specialist multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide clinical leadership, support and supervision to social work staff and students.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, research and innovation initiatives.
• Champion evidence-based practice and support excellence in patient care.

About you

You are a skilled and adaptable social worker who thrives in complex healthcare environments and is passionate about improving patient experiences and outcomes.

You will bring:

• Significant clinical experience in acute health care settings.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and advanced social work practice skills.
• Strong communication, engagement and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting patients and families with complex psychosocial needs.
• A commitment to learning, supervision and developing others.
• A collaborative approach and ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Minimum seven years post-qualification experience, including substantial experience in hospital-based practice.

Benefits of Working at RMH

• Meaningful WorkMake a real difference in the lives of patients, families and our community.
• Career GrowthAccess learning, development, and diverse career opportunities.
• Supportive Culture & BelongingJoin in a diverse and values-led organisation built on kindness, collaboration and inclusion.
• InnovationHelp shape the future of healthcare through research, technology and new models of care.
• World-Class ExcellenceWork alongside leading healthcare professionals at one of Australia's premier public hospitals, within the Parkville Precinct—one of the world's leading biomedical and research precincts.
• Enjoy great employee benefitsSalary packaging of up to $12,000 tax free and generous leave entitlements, including additional annual leave and a monthly accrued day off for eligible full-time staff (role/EBA dependent).
• Work in the Parkville PrecinctWork in the Parkville precinct with excellent public transport, onsite parking options and access to staff health services.

Interviews may commence as applications are received. Early applications are encouraged as the role may close once filled.