Practice Specialist

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

Job summary

Lifeline Direct is seeking an experienced Practice Specialist to join our Quality and Practice Improvement Team. You will support governance, accreditation, and continuous improvement across the organisation, translating legislation, standards and best practice into practical processes that enhance safe, person-centred service delivery.

You will coordinate policies, accreditation activities and quality initiatives, while advising on privacy and open disclosure and ensuring NSQDMH standards

Qualifications

• Experience in quality, governance, accreditation and continuous improvement within health, mental health, community services or a related sector.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to prepare policies, reports and accreditation evidence.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and quality assurance and improvement principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review and maintain policies, procedures and governance documentation.
• Support NSQDMHS accreditation readiness and ongoing compliance activities.
• Partner with operational leaders to coordinate, implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide advice on privacy and open disclosure requirements.
• Monitor incidents, complaints, feedback and audit findings to identify improvement opportunities.
• Prepare reports, briefing papers and recommendations for leaders and governance committees.
• Utilise organisational systems and technology to support quality monitoring and reporting.

Skills

Quality governance

NSQDMHS accreditation

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Writing skills

Excel

Education

Tertiary qualification in Nursing/Social Work/Counselling/Psychology

Job description

Lifeline Direct (LLD) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeline Australia. LLD focuses on supporting the development and ongoing implementation of suicide prevention and community wellbeing programs in the regions which we operate while looking for opportunities to grow Lifeline’s services in geographical areas where they do not currently exist.

LLD encompasses Lifeline Centres in Hunter region, Central Coast, Eastern Suburbs-Bondi, New England North West, Northern NSW, Geelong and South West Victoria, Northern and Western Melbourne. Our specialised and targeted services operate nationally via a telehealth model.

Practice Specialist

We are seeking an experienced Practice Specialist to join our Quality and Practice Improvement Team. Reporting to the Head of Quality and Practice Improvement, you will play a key role in supporting organisational governance, accreditation, quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.

This role is suited to someone with experience in clinical governance, policy development, accreditation and quality assurance who can translate legislation, standards and best practice into practical processes that support safe, effective and person-centred service delivery.

About the Role

The Practice Specialist is responsible for supporting quality and governance systems across the organisation.

You will be part of a team leading the development and review of policies and procedures, coordinate accreditation and audit activities, support quality improvement initiatives, and provide advice on governance, privacy and open disclosure. Working closely with operational teams, you will help ensure organisational practices align with legislative requirements, National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) standards and evidence informed practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review and maintain policies, procedures and governance documentation.
• Support NSQDMHS accreditation readiness and ongoing compliance activities.
• Partner with operational leaders to coordinate, implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide advice on privacy and open disclosure requirements.
• Monitor incidents, complaints, feedback and audit findings to identify improvement opportunities.
• Prepare reports, briefing papers and recommendations for leaders and governance committees.
• Utilise organisational systems and technology to support quality monitoring and reporting.

About You

You are a quality and governance professional who is organised, detail-oriented and confident working with accreditation requirements, policies and procedures.

You will have:

• A tertiary qualification in Nursing, Social Work, Counselling, Psychology or another relevant discipline.
• Experience in quality, governance, accreditation and continuous improvement within health, mental health, community services or a related sector.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing policies, procedures and governance documentation.
• Experience supporting accreditation activities, particularly against the NSQDMHS or NSQHS.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and quality assurance and improvement principles.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to prepare policies, reports and accreditation evidence.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, and confidence using organisational systems.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
• A commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed and culturally safe practice.

Highly Regarded

• Experience leading or supporting NSQDMHS accreditation.
• Formal training or experience as a Privacy Officer.
• Training and/or practical experience in Open Disclosure.
• Experience developing governance and quality assurance frameworks.
• Additional qualifications or training in clinical governance, quality improvement, accreditation or privacy.

See Yourself in This Role?

If you are passionate about governance, accreditation and quality improvement and enjoy building systems that support safe, high-quality services, we would love to hear from you!

Applications close 5pm (AEDT) on Thursday 29th October 2026.