Nurse Unit Manager, Swanston Centre

Barwon Health; Australia; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Living expenses cap

Meals and entertainment cap

Employee wellbeing program

Job summary

Barwon Health's Swanston Centre in Geelong provides inpatient mental health care and is led by an experienced Nurse Unit Manager. The role focuses on embedding recovery-oriented, consumer-centred care with a strong multidisciplinary approach and partnerships with ED, triage and community teams.

The NUM will provide operational management, drive service improvement, and lead budget, workforce planning and governance to ensure timely access and high-quality care across the unit.

Qualifications

• Eligible for nursing registration in Australia.
• Significant leadership experience in mental health.
• Experience with budget and workforce planning.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate bed flow and hospital demand management to prioritise access.
• Drive quality reporting, service development and continuous improvement.
• Oversee budget, workforce planning and resource management in line with guidelines.

Skills

Nurse leadership

Team leadership

Budget management

Strategic planning

Clinical governance

Education

Bachelor of Nursing

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

• Unique opportunity to join the largest health care provider in the Geelong region
• Provide leadership to an established multidisciplinary team
• Permanent full-time opportunity

About the role

Barwon Health's Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services (MHDAS) is seeking an experienced, values-driven Nurse Unit Manager to lead the Swanston Centre, our acute mental health inpatient unit in Geelong. The Swanston Centre supports consumers experiencing acute mental illness, working closely with community teams, triage, PARC, the Emergency Department and medical staff across University Hospital Geelong to ensure those most in need have timely access to care. Reporting to the Program Manager – Acute Intervention Services, you'll provide leadership and operational management to bring the Mental Health Directorate's contemporary vision for inpatient care to life. This means instilling a recovery-oriented, consumer-centred approach grounded in evidence-based multidisciplinary practice, including embedding our peer support program and the use of Advance Statements. You'll also hold a significant service-wide portfolio and play a key role in senior leadership forums across the Directorate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the coordination of bed flow, actively engaging in hospital-wide demand management processes to prioritise access for consumers in greatest need.
• Drive continuous improvement, quality reporting, business planning and service development in partnership with the Program Manager – AIS.
• Take accountability for budget development, workforce planning and prudent resource management in line with relevant legislation and Department guidelines.

What We Are Looking For

You're an experienced mental health nursing leader who builds engaged teams, leads change with confidence and thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment. You bring a coaching leadership style, strong clinical credibility and a genuine commitment to recovery-oriented care.

Position Description

Please note Barwon Health will only contact you via our official email and never use unconventional means, such as text messaging or other services.

Barwon Health staff benefits

• Excellent working conditions and a strong sense of job satisfaction
• A vibrant staff wellbeing program and access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• Extensive professional development opportunities
• Attractive salary packaging benefits
• Living expenses capped at $9,010
• Meals and entertainment capped at $2,650

For more information about working at Barwon Health.

Diversity and Inclusion

Barwon Health is an inclusive and welcoming employer, committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve. We value and celebrate people of all genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, faiths, abilities, family structures, and identities, and encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Child Safety

We are strongly committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. For further information on the Victorian Government’s Child Safe Standards: About Child Safe Standards | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)

Additional Information

If you need adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at [emailprotected]

• Satisfactory Police Record Check
• Immunisation Status Clearance
• Working with Children Check (if applicable)