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Nurse Manager - Palliative Care

Req ID:  7652
Date:  4 Aug 2026
Site:  VCCC (Parkville)
Location: 

MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000

Company:  Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Unit:  Ward 1A
Division:  Chief Operating Officer
Department:  Palliative Care Operations
Enterprise Agreement:  Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Sin
Ward 1A

At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.

 

YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE
 

Nurse Unit Manager - Palliative Care Ward (Ward 1A) 

 

  • Part-time (0.4 EFT) ongoing role | immediate start | job share arrangement 
  • Parkville location with multiple public transport options
  • $141,148.00 + salary packaging + super + 5 weeks annual leave

 

At Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, we offer the most advanced cancer care and research in the world.  Our values of Excellence, Compassion, and Innovation guide everything we do. We are committed to delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care through highly skilled teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and creating a safe and inclusive environment built on respect and kindness.

 

We are currently seeking an experienced Nurse Unit Manager to lead our Palliative Care Ward, a 12-bed inpatient unit dedicated to the care of patients with life-limiting illness and providing specialist, palliative services to patients, families and care-givers. The palliative care ward is part of the Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service. This service works across Peter Mac, the Royal Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospitals.

 

About the role

The Nurse Unit Manager is recognised as the leader of the nursing team who models the core values of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre through effective leadership and management of the clinical nursing and support staff within Ward 1A. They are responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality evidence-based nursing care that meets professional, organisational, legal and ethical standards in order to optimise health outcomes for the community. The Nurse Unit Manager is responsible for fostering a positive culture, driving change, a safe working environment and the effective utilisation of financial resources within a cycle of continuous service improvement  (see NUM position description).

 

A regular day will see you:

  • Lead and inspire the nursing team on Ward 1A, providing day-to-day guidance and support
  • Work closely, and take a leadership role, within a multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic, world-class patient care
  • Oversee the delivery of exceptional, compassionate care to a diverse patient population
  • Manage clinical care for patients with life-limiting illness, malignant and non-malignant progressive disease that is being managed with a palliative approach.
  • Champion continuous quality improvement, focusing on patient safety, outcomes, and satisfaction
  • Mentor and develop nursing staff, helping them to grow and reach their full potential
  • Monitor KPIs and manage financial performance for Ward 1A, ensuring efficient resource allocation, cost management, and alignment with budgetary targets while maintaining high-quality patient care

 

If you are a seasoned Nurse Unit Manager passionate about leading high-performing teams and transforming patient care, we invite you to join us at Peter Mac!

 

Job-share Agreement: NUM

The role of the Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) role is subject to a job-share agreement two incumbents working across five days per week. Handover occurs both in written form and verbally on an agreed day of the week that meets the needs of both NUMs. Please contact the hiring manager for more details regarding the job share agreement.

 

About you

To be successful in this role you'll bring with you: 

  • Proven leadership experience in a healthcare setting, ideally within oncology
  • Strong oncology nursing knowledge, including experience in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to create a collaborative, patient-centred environment
  • A genuine passion for advancing oncology care, with a focus on learning and development
  • A proven ability to lead with confidence in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
  • Experience in leading quality and safety initiatives, driving continuous improvement in clinical care

 

Our benefits

We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:

  • Access generous salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay
  • Discounted health insurance and eye care
  • A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
  • Public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists
  • Onsite eateries and coffee shops and relaxing rooftop garden spaces
  • Unmatched opportunities to develop your leadership skills and take your oncology nursing career to the next level
  • Access to postgraduate study support – we’re invested in your growth
  • Five weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading, purchased leave options and monthly ADO’s

Inclusion and belonging

Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community.  We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.  We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.

 

Join us! 

This is your chance to make a real impact. If you're ready to join a world-class institution and lead a team that’s shaping the future of cancer care, we want to hear from you. Please submit a covering letter and CV outlining your experience, leadership strengths, and passion for oncology care. 

 

Hiring Manager: Ally Kemble - Operations Director - Medical Oncology 
Contact Number: 03 8559 5310

 

Applications close: 

Position Summary

  • Provide leadership to the nursing team on 1A and be a capable and effective nursing leader across Peter Mac.
  • Key accountability for and oversight of clinical governance, budget and workforce management within the palliative care inpatient unit
  • Key accountability for nursing management, delivery and evaluation of patient services
  • Leadership of evidence-based best practice in palliative care to patients & their families in all phases of care.
  • Leadership of the nursing and administration workforce ensuring delivery of best patient care
  • Key accountability for oversight and delivery of efficient operational and business processes within the palliative care inpatient unit

Enterprise Agreement

Nurses and Midwives 

Classification or Salary Range

Nurse Unit Manager 3 (NUM) NM12

Immunisation Risk Category

Immunisation Category A: Position involving direct patient contact, potential for exposure to blood, body fluid, human tissue specimens during course of a normal working day

Key Relationships

Internal

 

  • Interdisciplinary team members
  • Nurse Managers 
  • Academic Nursing Unit
  • After Hours Hospital Coordinators
  • Commercial Financial Partner
  • Clinical Services Staff 
  • Infection Prevention Services
  • Other departments including Supply and Health Information Services
  • Precinct partner Palliative Care Services
  • Medical Director Palliative Care
  • Precinct Senior Clinical Nurse Consultant Palliative Care

 
External

 

  • Community palliative care services
  • Universities and other relevant professional development bodies
  • Universities and other relevant professional development bodies

 

 

Skills

Essential Requirements

 

  • Registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing And Midwifery Board of Australia 
  • Recent and relevant experience of palliative care delivery in community, inpatient (hospice) and acute hospital environments 
  • Postgraduate qualification in palliative care or a related specialty
  • Previous experience in managing an inpatient service
  • Proven resource management capability
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Proven ability to lead and work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Demonstrated commitment to excellence in patient care

 
Desirable Requirements
  • Postgraduate qualification in Palliative Care (Masters level degree)
  • Evidence of experience in the design and implementation of an agreed departmental strategy , research or quality improvement
  • Recent experience in managing an inpatient service
  • Evidence of patient experience methodology and patient centred innovation
  • Evidence of active engagement in professional society/organisations

 

Key Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators
1. Resource Management
  • Demonstrates leadership and accountability for proactive maintenance and adequacy of nursing workforce within the palliative care unit
  • Demonstrates leadership and accountability for annual unit budget build in accordance with unit goals and targets (NWAU) and delivery of balanced budget.  Meets annual budget target.
  • Leads recruitment, selection, and retention and performance management of staff.
  • Supports senior nursing staff to create a dynamic, positive learning culture for each staff member and to take constructive action if a discrepancy is recognised between actual performance, and performance requirement.

 
2. Education - Staff

 

  • Leadership of an environment committed to learning and practice evolution. 
  • Accountability for unit based orientation and allocation of a preceptor to all new staff.
  • Accountability for regular in-service education across the Service, targeting the needs of diverse nurses working within and across diverse specialist pods
  • To inform and define a dynamic program of Service wide competencies in consultation with nursing education, multidisciplinary colleagues, patients and families 
  • In collaboration with Academic Nursing Unit, inform and contribute to a dynamic program of education and nurse led research for palliative care and organisation wide nursing workforce.

 

Evidence of:

  • Contribution to a dynamic and responsive program of Service wide based competencies and organisational wide educational opportunities for the nursing workforce
  • 100% completion of Service based orientation and allocation of a preceptor (or equivalent model) on commencement within the unit.
  • 100% compliance with all mandatory in-service training.
  • Accountability for oversight of competency levels of all nursing staff within the palliative care unit.
  • Delivery of a strategic professional development plan for palliative care delivery incorporating effective succession planning and aligning individual staff plans with the strategic framework using relevant instruments i.e. performance reviews.
     

 

Key Accountabilities (Contd..)

3. Professional Leadership and  Development
  • Consistently models behaviours that contribute to a culture of respect, excellence, compassion and innovation for patients, families and multidisciplinary staff.
  • Consistently adheres to standards and policies of the organisation and ensures they are translated into action within the unit.
  • Actively participates in and demonstrates leadership on committees, interdisciplinary and interdepartmental forums informing patient care and multidisciplinary practice.
  • Creates an environment where staff are encouraged and enabled to acquire new skills, identify and develop new ideas and outcomes, aligned with organisational strategic directions
  • Ensures all staff across the Service adhere to the Nurses Code of Ethics and function within legal requirements of their scope of nursing practice. Actively promotes the work of Peter Mac through external committee, professional organisation or academic engagements.

Evidence of:

  • A healthy and productive working and learning environment for patients, families and staff within the palliative care unit.
  • Attendance, participation and leadership at senior nursing and multidisciplinary forum (internal and external) A knowledgeable, engaged and motivated nursing workforce within the palliative care service.
  • Adherence to all EBA, regulatory and legal requirements for self and all nursing staff.
  • Excellence in professional standards, ethical behaviours and values-based culture across the same day services as reported in staff surveys, patient feedback and performance reviews
4. Quality Improvement & Research
  • Coordinate stakeholders to improve access, end-of-life care planning, and discharge processes.
  • Contribute to research partnerships and a research-informed practice environment.
  • Lead a culture of quality improvement, evaluation, and evidence-based practice to improve outcomes and reduce risk.
  • Oversee Service KPIs, quality initiatives, accreditation, and PCOC performance
  • Evidence
  • Annual quality plan used to monitor and improve performance.
  • KPI monitoring demonstrating improved outcomes, experience, and resource use.
  • Successful accreditation and leadership in evidence-based practice, education, and research.
  • Practice aligned with relevant policies and standards.
  • Patient and family involvement in quality measures and service improvement.

 

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For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

 

 

Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

 

 

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

 

  • Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
  • Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
  • We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.

Apply now »