Patient Employment Consultant
MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000
YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE
Patient Employment Consultant
• Fixed Term role until 30 June 2027
• Part time – 64 Hours per Fortnight (4 days per week, 0.84FTE)
• Parkville location, with multiple public transport options available
• $100,000 - $115,000 (pro-rated for part time) + salary packaging + super + 5 weeks annual leave
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) is a Victorian public health service and a world-leading comprehensive cancer centre, dedicated to excellence across all spheres of clinical care, research and education. We are home to the largest cancer research enterprise in Australia and provide treatment to around 40,000 people with cancer each year. Welcoming staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences is integral to fostering innovation and compassion and delivering the best possible cancer care for our patients.
About the team
The Peter Mac Patient Experience and Wellbeing Department manages a range of high-impact work in three streams: patient experience, consumer engagement, and wellbeing. We are a diverse and motivated team that shares a goal of improving the care experience of people with cancer. This role sits within the wellbeing workstream.
About the role
In this newly created role, you will lead the delivery of patient-facing services in our innovative pilot program designed to support cancer patients to increase their participation in work, during and following treatment. Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will provide individualised vocational and return-to-work support while contributing to the refinement and evaluation of this evolving model of care. It is an exciting opportunity to have a tangible impact on patients’ lives, while shaping the role and project as we continue its development.
A regular day will see you:
• Identify and get to know patients who are seeking to increase their work participation
• Together with patients, collaboratively develop plans to connect patients with services that meet their needs
• Work closely with clinicians, patient employers, and service providers to coordinate patient services
• Continually improve the project by collecting and recording information, making suggestions, and trialling new ways of working
About you
We are looking for a personable, motivated professional who thrives on helping others achieve their goals. You naturally form effective relationships with a broad range of people, are comfortable with complexity, and can identify opportunities for service improvements
You’ll bring with you:
• Tertiary qualification in allied health, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, career development or related fields
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills, including with vulnerable people on sensitive issues
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams
• Ability to form strong and effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including clinicians and employers
• Experience supporting people to participate in work
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
• Up to $11,660 in salary packaging 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 journey facilities for cyclists
• Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
• Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
• Five weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time) and 17.5% leave loading
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!
If you feel this role is right for you, we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory police check, and this position will require a valid Working with Children Check. Many staff are required to be vaccinated against, or demonstrate immunity to, COVID-19, influenza, and a range of other diseases.
Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.
We will screen applications as we receive them, so if you’re interested please don’t delay your submission!
For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact James Fowler, Deputy Director – Patient Experience and Wellbeing at james.fowler@petermac.org.
Applications Close: 11:59PM Thursday 19 March 2026
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Position Summary
The Peter Mac Patient Experience and Wellbeing Department manages a range of high-impact work in three streams: patient experience, consumer engagement, and wellbeing. Sitting within the wellbeing stream, we are piloting an innovative project aiming to support cancer patients to increase work participation, during and after treatment.
This position will deliver the patient-facing services of our work participation project. It will involve individualised patient assessments, coordination of services, and collection of service data. The position involves regular interaction with patients, clinicians, employers, and other stakeholders.
This is a part-time, fixed-term position at 4 days per week (0.84FTE) until 30 June 2027. Hours of work will generally be standard business hours, and you will be required to work in-person at our Melbourne campus.
Enterprise Agreement
Health & Allied Services, Managers, and Administrative Workers
Classification or Salary Range
HS4
Immunisation Risk Category
Category B – position unlikely to have contact with blood or other body fluid
Key Relationships
| Internal | • Paediatric and Late Effects Service • Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service • Allied Health Department • Other Patient Experience and Wellbeing department staff |
| External | • Cancer patients, carers, and family members • Employers of cancer patients • Project delivery partner organisations, for example community legal services and career coaches • Clinicians, community services, and organisations who are part of the patient’s external care team |
Skills
| Essential Requirements | • Tertiary qualification in allied health, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, career development or related fields • If relevant to your qualification, registration with professional body. For example the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) for social workers, or the Australia Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) for rehabilitation counsellors • High developed interpersonal communication skills, including with vulnerable people on sensitive issues • Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams • Experience supporting people to participate in work, for example experience in employment services, vocational counselling, career development, or related areas • Organisational and time management skills, with demonstrated ability to work flexibly to prioritise and meet deadlines • Ability to form strong and effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including clinicians and employers • Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and electronic databases |
| Desirable Requirements | • Understanding of the employment services sector • Understanding of industrial, support payment, and assistance schemes related to cancer patients and work • Understanding and experience of sectors adjacent to health e.g. community services, disability, or academia • Excellent written communication skills including report writing, grant and funding applications, and presentations • Experience collecting and using data to improve services and design solutions |
Key Accountabilities
| Key Accountabilities | Demonstrated By / Key Performance Indicators |
| 1. Support cancer patients to increase work participation | • Identify patients who could benefit from the work participation program and facilitate introduction • Undertake person-centred, evidence-based assessments to identify needs and collaboratively develop plans with patients to improve their work participation • Connect patients with services that will meet their needs, in line with the project model of care. For example, career coaching, work placements, clinical services, or financial advice • Play an active role in the patient’s employment journey by supporting them to appropriately engage with services, including coordination of multiple services as required • Support patients to manage relationships with their employer in relation to effects of their cancer • Facilitate the appropriate conclusion and exit from the model of care • Identify and appropriately escalate any clinical risks or issues • Collect and maintain patient case notes • Manage patient information resources related to cancer and work, including development of new resources when required • Refine systems and processes related to patient care delivery within the project |
| 2. Collect and contribute to analysis of project data | • Collect and record information related to services provided and patient experience of care • Contribute to analysis of service data and associated reports • Assist with improvements to data collection tools and methods |
Key Accountabilities (Contd..)
| Key Accountabilities |
Demonstrated By / Key Performance Indicators |
| 3. Assist with employer system change and advocacy | • Assist project staff in advocating for system change among employers • Contribute to presentations, reports, and materials for employers |
| 4. Continuous Improvement | • Build awareness of the project and champion importance of employment for cancer patients, for example through participation in clinical services and education delivery • Identify opportunities to enhance patient experience and wellbeing at Peter Mac, converting to actionable initiatives • Lead initiatives to uplift the quality, safety, and experience of care provided by department staff • Support applications for additional funding sources relevant to departmental activities • Provide secondary consultation, advice, and guidance to department staff and across the sector |
| 5. Additional Duties | • Demonstrate commitment to Peter Mac’s organisational values, including performing to an exceptionally high work ethic and focus on collaboration and mutual respect • Actively contribute to Department activities, meetings, and workplan including ad-hoc duties as required • Support delivery of the department’s patient-facing services when required |
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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.