Program Manager - Thriving Kids

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Victorian Government is seeking an experienced Program Manager to provide strategic leadership and oversee the Thriving Kids allied health supports rollout across Melbourne. The role will establish the workforce and drive high‑quality, integrated service delivery in education, health and community settings, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.

Two 12‑month fixed‑term positions are based in Melton, Coburg or Footscray.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and diverse workforces.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management.
• Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-informed practice.
• Ability to build capability, empower others and foster a positive, high-performing team culture.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Thriving Kids allied health supports.
• Establish workforce and conditions for high-quality, integrated service across education, health and community settings.
• Lead complex implementation, provide expert advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Drive evidence-informed practice, service integration and continuous improvement.
• Monitor service delivery and respond to emerging issues to achieve outcomes.
• Lead development and embedding of the Thriving Kids model as it evolves.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Multidisciplinary leadership

Change management

Education

Tertiary qualifications or significant relevant experience

Job description

As Program Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the implementation and delivery of Thriving Kids allied health supports.

About the Program

What if you could help build a new way of supporting children and families from the ground up?

Thriving Kids is a significant new system of disability supports being implemented in stages from October 2026 for children aged 8 years and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. The reform will establish a coordinated and accessible model of support, with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention and responding to needs as they emerge.

Thriving Kids will bring together education, health and community services to provide families with accessible and developmentally appropriate support, including information and advice, developmental assessment, support to build parents' and carers' skills and confidence, and targeted, time-limited allied health supports.

This is an opportunity to join a significant reform at an important stage of its development and help translate its vision into practice.

About the Role

There are two 12 month fixed term positions that could be based out of three locations: Melton, Coburg or Footscray. Please indicate your preference on the application form.

As Program Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the implementation and delivery of Thriving Kids allied health supports.

You will be responsible for establishing the workforce and creating the conditions for a high-quality, integrated service. Working across education, health and community settings, you will:

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary workforce, including Allied Health Team Leaders/Senior Clinicians, Allied Health Professionals, Intake Workers, Community Development Advisors and Administrative staff.
• Provide strategic direction to Team Leaders/Senior Clinicians and build workforce capability, performance and professional development.
• Establish effective partnerships and collaborative approaches across sectors and services.
• Lead complex implementation and operational matters, providing expert advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Drive consistent, evidence-informed practice, service integration and continuous improvement.
• Monitor service delivery and respond to emerging issues to ensure the program achieves its intended outcomes.
• Lead the ongoing development and embedding of the Thriving Kids model as it evolves.

You will have a genuine opportunity to influence how this new service operates, bringing together people, systems and disciplines around a shared purpose.

About You

You are an experienced senior leader who can operate confidently in a complex and changing environment. You are comfortable working with ambiguity, building relationships across organisational boundaries and turning strategic direction into practical outcomes.

You will bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or significant relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and diverse workforces.
• Highly developed communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-informed practice.
• The ability to build capability, empower others and foster a positive, high-performing team culture.

You will be someone who brings people with you, builds trust and remains focused on achieving meaningful outcomes through change.

About the Team

The Thriving Kids workforce will bring together a range of professional disciplines, including allied health, intake, community development and administration. The team will work collaboratively across education, health and community settings, supporting a more connected approach to service delivery.

As Program Manager, you will establish the foundations for an effective workforce — setting expectations, developing capability and creating a culture where people can work together, learn from one another and deliver their best work.

Why join Thriving Kids?

This is a rare opportunity to take a leadership role at the beginning of a significant reform.

You will have the scope to:

• Lead a new multidisciplinary workforce.
• Influence the design and implementation of an emerging service model.
• Work across traditional service and professional boundaries.
• Contribute to a reform designed to improve how children and families access support.

If you are an accomplished leader who enjoys bringing people together, navigating complexity and turning new ideas into practical outcomes, this could be your opportunity to make a lasting contribution.

About the Department

The Department of Education provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

Important Information

For more details about this role, please refer to the attached position description.

If you have further questions, please contact Brooke Streatfeild at [e-mail].

The Department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions, visit our website .

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the advertisement or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements, please get in touch with the contact person listed on this advertisement.

Applications close 11:59 pm Australian Eastern Standard/Daylight Saving Time on 4th November 2026.

Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 11.59pm