School Nurse

Melbourne Citymission Inc.; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Hester Hornbrook Academy is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse to support young people across multiple campuses with health assessments, brief interventions, and referrals to external services. You will work within a healing-oriented, trauma-informed framework to promote health and wellbeing among students aged 10–18 involved with Children’s Court contexts.

The role requires AHPRA registration (Division 1) and postgraduate competencies in adolescent health or related fields, with a focus on

Qualifications

• Current and unrestricted AHPRA registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with no conditions.
• Postgraduate qualifications in adolescent health, community health, sexual health, mental health, public health, or health promotion.
• Demonstrated experience delivering health support to young people and evidence-based health program delivery.
• Experience working with students and families facing youth issues in trauma-informed settings.
• Ability to collect and interpret data to support evidence-based decisions.
• Strong communication of trends and insights using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience leading evaluation, strategy, and learning aligned with school goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary health care to students with initial assessments and external referrals.
• Apply nursing expertise for initial assessments, brief interventions, crisis management and psychoeducation.
• Arrange external health services to visit campuses for targeted health and wellbeing.
• Develop and maintain effective engagement strategies with young people with complex needs, neurodiversity or mental health concerns.
• Maintain accurate, timely, confidential records and reports in accordance with requirements.
• Collaborate with legal representatives, court personnel, families and professionals to identify needs.
• Provide disability-informed advice and recommendations regarding supports and NDIS pathways.

Skills

Adolescent health

Community health

Sexual health

Mental health

Public health

Health promotion

Trauma-informed approach

Education

Bachelor of Nursing

Postgraduate qualification in adolescent health

Job description

Our School Nurses are a vital role within our school and form part of the multi-campus Allied Health Team, along with multidisciplinary professionals. You will work closely with students, their families/carers, school staff, the wider school community, external health services and relevant community agencies to promote positive health and wellbeing.

About the Opportunity

Our School Nurses are a vital role within our school and form part of the multi-campus Allied Health Team, along with multidisciplinary professionals. You will work closely with students, their families/carers, school staff, the wider school community, external health services and relevant community agencies to promote positive health and wellbeing.

What a day in the role looks like:

• Provide primary health care to students, with a focus on initial assessments and brief support with a strong emphasis on external referrals, whilst collaborating with campus leadership on student medical needs and management.

• Apply nursing expertise to complete initial assessments, provide brief intervention, medical crisis management and psychoeducation to students.

• Arrange for external health services to visit all campuses to deliver targeted health and wellbeing services to students.

• Support and increase the health literacy of students, staff and the wider school community.

About you

We are looking for someone who can:

• Deliver services in accordance with MCM's Healing-Oriented Framework, youth-centred, trauma-informed, culturally safe, and strengths-based practice approaches.

• Engage with young people aged 10-18 years who are involved with the Children's Court and may have unmet disability support needs.

• Conduct disability screening using approved screening tools to identify possible disability characteristics, functional impacts, and support needs.

• Provide information, advice, and guidance regarding disability supports, assessment pathways, the NDIS, and relevant community services.

• Deliver short-term outreach and support to assist young people to access disability assessments, NDIS pathways, and other community-based supports.

• Develop and maintain effective engagement strategies with young people who may present with complex needs, developmental delays, cognitive impairments, neurodiversity, mental health concerns, or challenging life circumstances.

• Support young people and families to understand available support options and make informed decisions regarding their care and future planning.

• Work collaboratively with legal representatives, court personnel, families, and relevant professionals to ensure disability-related needs are identified and considered.

• Provide disability-informed advice and recommendations to legal representatives and court stakeholders, consistent with program scope and consent requirements.

• Assist with identifying reasonable adjustments and accessibility considerations to support a young person's participation in court processes.

• Maintain clear professional boundaries and operate within the defined scope of the YAIS program, ensuring no legal advice or long-term case management is provided.

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with Children's Court personnel, legal services, disability providers, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, government agencies, education providers, and community services.

• Work collaboratively with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) and other key stakeholders to support culturally safe and responsive service delivery.

• Facilitate warm referrals and coordinated pathways to disability, health, education, housing, and community supports.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records, case notes, screening outcomes, referrals, and reports in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements.

Essential:

• Current and unrestricted AHPRA registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with no conditions or notations restricting practice.

• Demonstrated competency and experience, and preferably postgraduate qualifications, in adolescent health and development, community health, sexual health, mental health, public health, and/or health promotion.

• Well-developed knowledge and experience in the provision of health support to young people and evidence-based health program delivery tailored to young people and families.

• Demonstrated understanding of working with students and families that may experience youth issues including but not limited to; substance misuse, sexual health, mental health, adolescent / family violence, family conflict, socio economic barriers, housing etc guided by a trauma informed and healing orientated approach

• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyse and interpret data to support evidence-based decision making across complex education and wellbeing environments.

• Skilled in communicating trends and insights clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, using both qualitative and quantitative data.

• Proven experience leading evaluation, strategy, and learning processes that align with Hester strategic goals and support continuous improvement in the school.

• Strong track record in turning strategy into action, engaging stakeholders, and fostering collaboration across teams to drive meaningful and tangible impact.

• Show a detailed understanding of the current NCCD guidelines to ensure that all staff practices are aligned to providing the required evidence to document the support that is provided to each individual student.

Screening Criteria:

• Proof of Identity Check

• National Police check

• International Police check

• Current Victorian Working with Children Check (Employee)

• Current Victorian Drivers Licence

• Right to work in Australia

• A cover letter highlighting your experience and relevance of working in a school, supporting young people to engage in learning that lead to positive outcomes. Please limit this document to no more than one page.

• A response to the Key Selection Criteria listed above.

• Resume, including contact details of two current or recent professional referees.

• Copies of Qualifications and Working with Children’s Check.

Applications close: Monday 16 November 2026 and must be submitted via our advertisement links and addressed to Sally Lasslett, Executive Principal

Please note: Hester reserves the right to interview and appoint suitable candidates prior to the closing date.

About Hester Hornbrook Academy:

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a multi-campus Special Assistance School providing flexible education for young people aged 15-25. Our programs are driven by students' individual strengths, interests and goals. We offer a range of pathways, including VETiS, Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), and the VCE Vocational Major (VM).
Our Healing Orientated Program of Education (HOPE) integrates learning, wellbeing and life skills to support students to re-engage with education and achieve meaningful outcomes. Teachers, Youth Workers and Education Support staff work collaboratively to create safe, supportive learning environments and help students overcome barriers, build strengths and pursue their chosen pathways.
Learn more at: www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au.