Clinical Practice Director
(Nursing and/or Midwifery)
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Women's and Children's Health Network
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, people, consumers, and staff, past and present, on whose land we provide health services.
Executive Summary
- Lead the clinical direction, standards, and innovation of child and family health services across South Australia
- Strategic statewide leadership of clinical practice, workforce capability, models of care, and consumer-centred service excellence
- Shape the future of evidence-based, culturally safe, and consistent clinical care across CaFHS
The Opportunity
This is an outstanding opportunity to join the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) as Clinical Practice Director – Child and Family Health Services (CaFHS). In this pivotal statewide leadership role, you will provide expert clinical leadership, drive innovation in models of care, and ensure excellence and consistency in clinical practice across CaFHS. The Clinical Practice Director will lead workforce capability, clinical governance, research, and quality improvement to ensure that services delivered to infants, children and families are contemporary, evidence-based, person-centred, and culturally safe.
The Role
Reporting to the Director of CaFHS and working closely with the Director of Operations, this role is responsible for the clinical leadership, governance, and advancement of clinical practice across CaFHS statewide. The Clinical Practice Director provides high-level clinical leadership in the development and oversight of evidence informed models of care, clinical practice standards, clinical supervision, research and professional education.
The role leads clinical practice development, contemporary and evidence informed practice models, supports advanced clinical roles, and ensures the delivery of safe, consistent and high-quality clinical care across all CaFHS services. This includes providing expert clinical advice, shaping clinical protocols and guidelines to align with policy, developing workforce capability, and fostering innovation. The position plays a key leadership role in promoting consumer engagement, contributing to statewide and national clinical forums, and building a strong clinical culture across a multi-disciplinary team aligned to WCHN values.
The Candidate
You will be a senior clinical leader with current registration as a Nurse or Nurse/Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and significant experience in leading clinical practice at a strategic level. You will bring demonstrated expertise in clinical governance, practice standards, clinical supervision, workforce development, and quality improvement.
You will have a strong track record in embedding evidence-based practice and driving innovation in clinical care. Experience in leading multidisciplinary clinical teams and fostering a person-centred, culturally safe care environment is essential. You will demonstrate collaborative leadership, a deep commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD communities, and the ability to influence clinical practice at a system level. Postgraduate qualifications in Maternal, Child and Family Health or a related field are highly desirable.
We invite you to discuss this exciting opportunity with Lynette Taylor from the HardyGroup M: +61 (0)431 293 861 / E: ltaylor@hardygroupintl.com
Women's and Children's Health Network
The Women’s & Children’s Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia’s largest specialist facility for women’s and children’s health. We are the leading provider of care for children with acute and chronic conditions in South Australia, and the State's largest maternity and obstetric service. We also provide important community-based services. At the core of everything we do is our unwavering commitment to our purpose: To strengthen the health and wellbeing of future generations. WCHN puts consumers and community at the centre of everything we do.
The WCHN strives to inspire and engage our people to realise their full potential, investing in continuous learning opportunities that empower individuals to grow, innovate and lead with confidence. By fostering a culture of mentorship, collaboration and skill building we ensure our leaders are equipped to inspire teams, drive meaningful change and create lasting impact.
The WCHN works in partnership with clients, families, the community and other service providers to promote, maintain and restore the health of all patients in our care.
WCHN puts consumers and community at the centre of everything we do to ensure that we:
- provide outstanding care and service
- enhance our culture and leadership
- design and deliver a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- strengthen partnerships and expand innovation
- inspire others, share specialist knowledge and deliver excellence through research, education and learning
- deliver an integrated WCHN.
The Women’s and Children’s Health Network includes the following health services:
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- Aboriginal Health Division
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- Child and Family Health Service
- Child Protection Service
- 3D Health Service
- Health and Recovery Trauma Safety Services
OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
At the Women's and Children's Health Network, our story starts with our consumers and communities who are at the centre of everything that we do.
Vision: Healthy communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Purpose: To strengthen the health and wellbeing of future generations.
Values: Compassion, Respect, Equity, Accountability, Together for Excellence – CREATE.
Together
Administrative Structure
The Women's and Children's Health Network is one of 10 publicly funded South Australian Local Health Networks delivering hospital and community-based services.
The WCHN is led and managed by the Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Graham, who reports to the WCHN Governing Board. The Governing Board is responsible and accountable to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.
WCHN's Executive structure includes both strategic and clinical leadership positions, and has been designed to ensure that the WCHN is able to successfully respond to the objectives of the Government's health agenda.
Child and Family Health Service
The Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) is a statewide primary health service of the Women's and Children's Health Network providing a range of health and development services to children from birth to 5 years.
Becoming a parent is exciting, tiring and terrifying all at the same time. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in feeling a mix of emotions and there are many support services available for advice and guidance.
CaFHS services are free to all families in South Australia with children from birth to 5 years. For families experiencing added challenges, CaFHS offers more intensive support over a longer period to help families meet the health and development needs of their child.
CaFHS employs a range of clinical and support staff including nursing and allied health (social work and psychology) professionals who are supported by Child and Family Support Consultants, and Aboriginal Cultural Child and Family Support Consultants who ensure the delivery of culturally responsive care.
Child and Family Health Nurses are registered nurses who possess professional knowledge and skills about child health and development that help to nurture and support environments in which babies and children can thrive and grow.
Our staff have advanced clinical skills across a range of areas in child and family health that enables them to provide best practice care including:
- Breastfeeding
- Settling
- Sleeping
- Nutrition
- Child health and development
- Infant mental health
- Parental mental health
- Health promotion
- Adjusting to parenting and family life.
About CaFHS Brochure (549KB PDF)
STRATEGY 2026
Role Specification
As an integral part of the Women’s and Children’s Network, CaFHS is committed to living the WCHN CREATE values of Compassion, Respect, Equity, Accountability and Together for Excellence.
The Clinical Practice Director - CaFHS Statewide, works collaboratively with the Director – Operations/ Program Manager - Operations and is responsible for the oversight and strategic leadership of the clinical direction of the service and oversight of the Model of Care, standards of care, workforce, practice development, and ensuring alignment to organisational strategic priorities. The position provides high level clinical guidance, clinical supervision, translating evidence to practice and ensuring consistency in clinical care across the service. This includes oversight of the models of care, ensuring contemporary service provision and developing strong consumer engagement across the service.
The role provides leadership to clinical staff: providing high level clinical advice, clinical service planning, evaluating practice culture, clinical research, practice development, and the role may include sessional clinical practice responsibilities.
Employees in this role accept accountability for the governance and practice standards of nurses/midwives, the effective implementation of corporate systems to support, evaluate and consistently improve nursing/midwifery practice and healthy work environments, and for the cost-effective provision of health services within their span of appointment.
Direct/indirect patient/client care
- Lead the ongoing development and oversight of the clinical strategic direction for Child and Family Health Services across South Australia, ensuring services are contemporary, evidence-based and consistent.
- Provide high-level advice to the Director to inform the clinical positioning of the service within the broader early years sector.
- Liaise between Clinical Networks and Health Units in regard to nursing/midwifery practices that will achieve enhanced patient/client journeys and population health targets;
- The role may be sessional in combination with clinical practice responsibilities. For example, clinical practice at advanced or extended level (Nurse/Midwife Consultant, Nurse Practitioner);
- Oversee the standards of nursing and midwifery clinical practice;
- Build a culture which is patient/client centred and where patient/client engagement is encouraged.
Support of health service systems
- Develop an integrated, collaborative and evaluative practice culture for Level 3 and/or 4 Nurse/Midwife Clinical Consultants and Nurse Practitioners across span of appointment;
- Provide collegiate and professional leadership to and for Level 3 and/or 4 Nurse/Midwife Consultants, Nurse Practitioners, and (where appropriate) other classifications of nurses and midwives and members of a multidisciplinary team within span of appointment;
- Co-ordinate the participation of nurses/midwives in clinical guideline and protocol development between Health Units and Clinical Networks.
- Initiate systems and processes to ensure consistent clinical practice and procedures to ensure appropriate clinical outcomes, including leading and monitoring quality and service improvement activities
Education
- Hold a contemporary professional practice portfolio containing professional development evidence commensurate with the level of autonomy, authority and influence expected of the role;
- Develop, and encourage a learning environment by mentoring and promoting team development and individual capacity building
Research
- Collaboratively develop and monitor a strategic framework for clinical nursing/midwifery research and practice development in the South Australian public sector
Professional leadership
- Provide high level advice to Health Units, Community Services and/or Clinical Networks on extended nursing/midwifery practice issues;
- Participate in clinical services planning and review at State level;
- Professional leadership of nursing/midwifery clinical leaders to achieve effective and consistent clinical practice development;
- Provide strategic leadership for innovation, change processes, and coordinated responses to emerging service and workforce needs within span of control;
- Contribute and provide state-wide leadership, advice and planning nationally and state-wide on nursing and midwifery professional issues;
- Actively participate in internal and external advisory groups, expert panels, working groups and/or committees.
Improve clinical care for infants, children and families
- Lead inter-professional clinical practice across CaFHS statewide teams in line with the strategic direction of CaFHS inclusive of clinical supervision.
- Promote a team environment that fosters learning and development, positivity, acknowledges differences and encourages creativity, innovation and honesty.
- Integrate contemporary information and evidence with professional experience to support the decision making, innovative thinking and objective analysis that are expected at this level. e.g. Expert clinical knowledge underpins and informs the ability to support, lead and/or provide expert clinical care to improve and optimise care for infants, children and families.
- Support leadership to provide expert inter-professional clinical care and interventions to children and families.
- Ensure that service provision is person centred, contemporary, professionally and effectively conducted by contributing to the development of an inter-professional approach and culture which is highly responsive to the needs of infants, children and families.
- Supervise clinical leadership in an inter-professional primary health care setting to apply nursing/midwifery expertise to assess infants, children and families, select and implement different therapeutic interventions and/or support programs and evaluate program outcomes.
- Contribute expert nursing/midwifery assessment and advice to clinical teams to achieve integrated inter-professional care within a risk management framework.
- Develop excellence in clinical practice as the leading provider of child and family health services.
View the comprehensive Key Result Areas and Responsibilities in the Role Description.
1. Clinical Leadership and Service Improvement
Demonstrated ability to lead the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of contemporary, evidence-based nursing/midwifery clinical practice in child and family health services. Proven capacity to drive quality improvement, monitor clinical outcomes, and foster a patient/client-centred culture that enhances the journey of infants, children, and families across South Australia.
2. Professional Expertise and Advanced Clinical Practice
Advanced clinical practice expertise with the ability to lead and deliver expert clinical care and interventions within an inter-professional primary health care setting. Ability to integrate contemporary evidence with professional experience to support innovative clinical decision making, and to supervise and mentor advanced practice clinicians such as Nurse Consultants and Nurse Practitioners.
3. Strategic and Professional Leadership
Proven capability in providing high-level professional and strategic leadership to multidisciplinary teams, senior clinicians, and across organisational and system boundaries. Experience in contributing to clinical service planning at local, state and national levels and influencing the broader nursing/midwifery and early years sectors through participation in advisory groups, panels, and networks.
4. Service Integration, Collaboration and System Leadership
Demonstrated success in building integrated, collaborative service systems across health units, clinical networks and partner agencies to achieve enhanced population health outcomes. Capacity to lead and coordinate clinical guideline development, promote consistency in clinical practice, and foster a culture of shared accountability for quality and safety in care delivery.
5. Education, Mentoring and Workforce Development
Proven ability to foster a positive learning environment, mentoring and developing the professional capability of clinicians at all levels. Demonstrated commitment to advancing professional practice through the development of a professional portfolio, contribution to clinical education and supervision, and promotion of a culture of inquiry, innovation and excellence.
6. Research, Evidence Translation and Innovation
Demonstrated experience in developing and leading clinical research initiatives and practice development frameworks in the public health sector. Ability to translate evidence into clinical practice, lead innovation and change processes, and contribute to the advancement of child and family health services through strategic thinking and forward planning.
Educational/Vocational Qualifications
- Registered or eligible for registration as a Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and who holds, or who is eligible to hold, a current practicing certificate OR
- Registered or eligible for registration as a Nurse/Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and who holds, or who is eligible to hold, a current practicing certificate
Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills: (related to the role and expressed in a way which allows objective assessment):
- Effective leadership skills including highly developed skills in communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and negotiation.
- Demonstrated commitment to closing the gap and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal mothers, babies, children, families and communities through inclusive and culturally informed policy and system culture.
- Demonstrated ability to participate in and contribute to key decision-making processes at a senior and strategic level.
- Demonstrated ability in the leadership and facilitation of workplace cultural and clinical practice change management
- Proven ability to perform effectively under pressure and prioritise workloads.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a service including resource management.
- Demonstrated flexibility, innovation and creativity which can be applied to the hospital setting, particularly in regards to the provision of nursing/midwifery services.
Experience
- Registered Nurse/Midwife with at least 5 years post registration experience.
- Experience implementing practice change and embedding evidence-based practice
- Demonstrated extensive clinical experience in collaborative development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of planned interventions for infants, children and their families with high or complex health needs.
- Experience in the supervision of senior clinical staff
- Experience in clinical leadership and the facilitation of service planning to ensure best practice underpins the development of services provided.
- Experience in developing policies and procedures in the relevant area of clinical practice.
- Experience as a leader or manager in the health care industry.
- Experience in managing and leading complex projects
- Experience in leading services or organisations through times of extensive change
- Experience in applying contemporary management processes and practices in a health care setting
- Experience in leading quality improvement initiatives in health care settings
- Experience in managing large numbers of staff from various multidisciplinary backgrounds.
Knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, industrial agreements, standards, codes, ethics and competency standards.
- Knowledge of Quality Improvement Systems as applied to a hospital setting.
- Knowledge of contemporary nursing/midwifery and health care issues.
- An understanding of working within a project management framework.
- Knowledge of the child protection system in South Australia and understanding of legislation and policies affecting practice.
- Knowledge of perinatal, maternal and infant mental health
Direct Reports:
- Allied Health Advanced Clinician/Educator (AHP4)
- Aboriginal Clinical Lead
- Consultant Paediatrician
- Clinician Perinatal Mental Health
- Connect and Care Navigator (ForWhen)
- Nurse Consultant – Enhanced Care
- Nurse Educator
Internal
- Maintains close collaborative working relationships with all level 5 and 6 Nursing and Midwifery, and Allied Health Directors.
- Responsible for the operational line management of all level 3 and 4 Nurses/Midwives, Allied Health and Medical clinical leads within the span of the position.
- Maintains cooperative and productive working relationships within all members of the health care team.
External
- Maintains relationships with non-government organisations or other government organisations to meet the needs of the client group.
Major challenges currently associated with the role:
- Providing strategic and operational leadership for nursing/midwifery and other services within the scope of role.
- Accountable for the service/s human, financial and material resources within scope of the role and promoting a culture of due diligence.
- Building a culture of quality and safety that is patient/client centred.
- Leading innovation and change management to address emerging service and workforce needs within span of control.
- Ensuring consistency of practice across the state and ensure best practice is implemented across CaFHS continuously improving practice
- Working to improve community engagement and confidence in CaFHS
To be discussed with HG Principal Consultant.
Service Location: CaFHS - 295 South Terrace, Adelaide 5000 SA
CaFHS is a Statewide Service – Travel to metropolitan and
country locations will be required.
Classification: RN/M5.2
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 29th June 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5021
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga via azuniga@hardygroupintl.com / +61 (0)494 101 082
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
- 4.Completed Pre-Employment Declaration form
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Lynette Taylor
HardyGroup Executive Director, Search & Recruitment
M. +61 (0)431 293 861
E. ltaylor@hardygroupintl.com
Living and working in Adelaide
Adelaide is one of the world’s most livable cities, perfectly positioned just a short drive from some of Australia’s most unique, globally renowned regions, so whether you choose city, suburban or country life, South Australia offers something for everyone.
South Australia is one of the more affordable places to live and work in Australia, with more than two-thirds of residents owning their homes. Adelaide continues to be one of the most cost-competitive markets for setting up business and leasing office space, and the regions are even more affordable.
A short drive from Adelaide is the Adelaide Hills which are brimming with wildlife encounters, cultural discoveries, wineries and some of the best scenery. The Barossa Valley and Clare Valley are about a two hour drive north, the Fleurieu Peninsula one hour south, and Kangaroo Island accessible within a few hours by ferry or 30 minutes by plane.
South Australians love to play and watch sport, and for many it’s a passion and a way of life. Adelaide Oval is one of the nation’s most highly-regarded sporting venues, and plays host to Australian Rules Football, Cricket as well as concerts and other events. The Vailo Adelaide 500 is an annual event and the Adelaide Street Circuit is world renowned both for the excellent racing and the race atmosphere that takes over the city. LIV Golf Adelaide offers an unparallelled weekend of golf, food and entertainment as well.
Whether you are looking for things to do in Adelaide’s city or are seeking to visit South Australia’s beautiful regions, you will be amazed by the diversity of experiences on offer.
South Australia prides itself on nurturing a diverse cultural experience: from food and wine through to hosting outstanding world-class art, cultural and sporting events. Many of Australia’s best wine regions are also spread across South Australia, and with more than 200 cellar doors on Adelaide’s doorstep that are well worth a visit.
You will find it all in Adelaide and South Australia
Adelaide is the perfect starting point for your South Australian travel adventure. You can swim with dolphins, climb ancient mountain peaks, feed kangaroos, drink the world’s finest wine, and much more. You’ll love exploring South Australia.
- Adelaide City: Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery of South Australia, South Australian Museum, the State Library of South Australia, Government House and Old and New Parliament House.
- Beaches and Coastline: Glenelg, Fleurieu Peninsula
- Adelaide Hills: Cleland Wildlife Park, Beerenberg, Hahndorf
- Regional South Australia: Kangaroo Island, Flinders Ranges
- Wine Regions: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley
ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.