The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of Australia’s leading public healthcare providers.

Join the team. Build a career. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Nurse Unit Manager – Inpatient Mental Health Services

The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH)

• Lead with purpose and shape the future of mental health care!
• Based at John Cade – our Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit  
• Ongoing position, Full Time, Part Time of job share considered

About RMH and the team

The Royal Melbourne Hospital Mental Health Services (RMH MHS) is seeking an experienced and values-driven Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) to lead our John Cade inpatient unit for adult mental health.

Our Mental Health Services provide person-centred, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care across hospital and community settings. We are at the forefront of mental health reform, including partnerships with the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the State-wide Trauma Service.

This is a key leadership opportunity to drive high-quality, recovery-oriented care while supporting a skilled and multidisciplinary workforce. You’ll play a critical role in strengthening clinical governance, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of inpatient mental health services.

Your new role

As the Nurse Unit Manager, you will provide clinical, operational, and workforce leadership for a designated inpatient unit.

You will:

• Lead and support a high-performing nursing team
• Foster a positive, psychologically safe team culture
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, and bed management
• Drive clinical governance, safety, and quality improvement
• Support workforce capability through coaching, supervision, and development
• Partner with multidisciplinary teams to deliver Safe, Timely, Effective, Person-centred (STEP) care
• Monitor performance, manage budgets, and contribute to service-wide improvements

This role operates within a strong governance structure and works closely with the Program Manager and broader leadership team.

What will you bring?

You are an experienced and resilient mental health nurse leader who is passionate about delivering high-quality care and supporting staff to thrive.

You bring:

Essential:

• Registration as a Registered Nurse (AHPRA)
• Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing (or equivalent)
• Proven leadership experience in an inpatient or acute setting
• Strong understanding of clinical risk, governance, and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022
• Commitment to recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and least restrictive care
• Highly developed communication, coaching, and team-building skills and ability to lead in a complex, fast-paced environment
• A minimum of 4 years working as a Grade 4 Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Desirable:

• Master’s qualification
• Experience in the public mental health system

Why join RMH MHS?

• Be part of a leading mental health service driving sector reform and work within a supportive, collaborative leadership structure
• Access professional development, research, and innovation opportunities
• Generous leave entitlements including 17.5% leave loading and monthly ADOs for full time employees!
• Benefits including discounted fitness facility access with Fitness Passport and salary packaging!
• Thrive in an organisation committed to our values – Lead with Kindness, People First and Excellence Together!

Interested? Click here to view the full position description!

Take the next step in your leadership career and help shape the future of inpatient mental health care!

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and satisfactory Working With Children Check.

The RMH is committed to creating a culturally safe environment as a collective responsibility. We draw on our principles of self-determination, equity, accountability, and shared learning to create a culturally responsive health system that challenges how we strive for continuous quality improvement to meet the expectations of the communities and patients we serve.

RMH is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with the Child Safe Standards.

As a leader in healthcare, we recognise the need to foster a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging. We encourage people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply, and will provide adjustments to support equitable participation.