Clinical Services Director
Women's and Children's Services
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Western Health
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 one of Victoria’s most dynamic and fast-growing Women’s and Children’s health services, with a focus on clinical excellence, patient-centred care, and service innovation.
- Senior medical leadership opportunity overseeing divisional performance, clinical governance, and workforce strategy across maternity, gynaecology, neonatal, and paediatric services.
- Influence the future of healthcare delivery in Melbourne’s west, partnering with a dedicated multidisciplinary team and contributing to the region’s major health infrastructure expansion.
The Opportunity
Western Health is seeking an experienced senior medical leader to take on the role of Clinical Services Director – Women’s and Children’s Services. This is a rare opportunity to shape the strategic and operational direction of a growing division that delivers high-volume, high-impact care across multiple campuses, including the purpose-built Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital. With major population growth and new infrastructure on the horizon—including the future Melton Hospital—this is a pivotal time to lead innovation and service excellence at scale.
The Role
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, the Clinical Services Director is accountable for the delivery of clinical governance, operational and financial performance, and culture across the Division. The role oversees services spanning maternity, gynaecology, neonatal, and paediatric care across Sunshine, Bacchus Marsh, Melton, and Sunbury. Working in close partnership with the Divisional Director, the CSD will lead strategic planning, drive continuous improvement, and foster collaborative, high-performing multidisciplinary teams that deliver Best Care to the communities of Melbourne’s west.
The Candidate
You are a senior medical specialist (FRACP, FRANZCOG, or equivalent) with demonstrated leadership experience in complex, tertiary-level clinical environments. While current AHPRA registration is not required at the time of application, you must be eligible and willing to obtain registration to practice in Australia. You have a strong track record of driving service performance, embedding clinical improvement initiatives, and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care. You bring strategic insight, sound financial acumen, and a collaborative leadership style. Postgraduate qualifications in management, health administration, or leadership would be highly regarded. Western Health’s ongoing growth and expansion will require a significant uplift in medical workforce capacity. Candidates from outside Australia are encouraged to apply. If this role is not the right fit, other senior medical opportunities within the service may also be available. You are encouraged to explore these opportunities with us.
We invite you to discuss this exciting opportunity with Lynette Taylor from the HardyGroup M: +61 (0)431 293 861 / E: ltaylor@hardygroupintl.com
Western Health
Western Health is one of the largest providers of healthcare in Victoria, caring for a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing community of almost one million people in Melbourne's western suburbs. With more than 12,500 staff, Western Health provides 800,000+ occasions of care every year.
Western Health manages acute public hospitals comprising Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women's and Children's), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital, Bacchus Marsh Hospital and Melton Regional Hospital. Western Health also operates Sunbury Community Hospital, Boollam Boollam in Williamstown, Melton Health and Community Services, Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre, Caroline Springs Community Health Centre, Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh, and the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre in Sunshine.
Western Health provides a comprehensive, integrated range of clinical services from its various sites ranging from mental health and wellbeing services, and acute tertiary services in areas of emergency medicine, intensive care, medical and surgical services, through to subacute care and onsite and virtual ambulatory clinics. Western Health's specialised services include oncology, renal, women's health including maternity, chronic disease, geriatrics, and cardiology.
Western Health provides a combination of hospital, community-based and in-reach services to aged, adult and paediatric patients and newborn babies. Western Health also provides the primary health care service at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and offers drug health and addiction medicine support through its inpatient service and community Drug Health Service.
Western Health has a strong philosophy of working with our local community to deliver excellence in patient care.
Our Purpose
Leading the delivery of a connected and consistent patient experience and providing the best care to save and improve the lives of those in our community most in need.
Our Values
Compassion - consistently acting with empathy and integrity.
Accountability - taking responsibility for our decisions and actions.
Respect - for the rights, beliefs and choice of every individual.
Excellence - inspiring and motivating innovation and achievement.
Safety - prioritising safety as an essential part of everyday practice.
Five Strategic Directions
The Strategic Plan is underpinned by 5 strategic directions that guide our approach to work, our planning and design, and our decision making. The directions have remained constant as these continue to be relevant to guide Western Health into the future, with refreshed initiatives and programs of work sitting underneath.
Our strategic directions are:
1. We partner with patients, consumers, families and carers
Our patients, consumers, their families and carers are actively involved in their care and the design of approaches that support their choices and individual needs.
2. We care for our people
Our staff and volunteers are supported, engaged and equipped to embrace a dynamic future.
3. We deliver services for the future
Our services are developed to improve access to high-quality, connected care and deliver better health outcomes for our community.
4. We are better together
Our respectful relationships with our community, system-wide partners and each other drive collaboration and better outcomes.
5. We discover and learn
Our commitment to innovate, discover and learn inspires us to shape the healthcare of the future.
Women’s & Children’s Services
The Division of Women’s & Children’s Services at Western Health is responsible for the provision of inpatient and ambulatory care across Maternity, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Paediatric Services. The Division provides both elective and emergency Maternity, Gynaecology and Neonatal care and aims to ensure the provision of safe, coordinated, person-centred, right care through a consistent, multi-disciplinary partnership approach.
The Division of Women’s & Children’s Services continues to expand and develop to meet the Western region’s population growth, care complexities and demand. The service has seen significant growth over the last 4-5 years across all program areas in assisting to meet regional support requirements. The purpose-built Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s (JKWC) Building at Sunshine Hospital, and the delivery of services at Bacchus Marsh Hospital following amalgamation continues to support the growth of the service, with planning commenced for the New Melton Hospital in 2029 providing services for women and children.
Paediatric and Neonatal services are currently provided at Sunshine (JKWC), Bacchus Marsh, and Melton campuses encompassing both inpatient and ambulatory care.
In 2023/ 24 in the Women’s and Children’s Divisions activity included more than:
- 8,000 total babies were born: on average 19-20 babies per day
- 6,589 babies were born at Sunshine Hospital
- 616 babies were born at Bacchus Marsh Hospital
- 1,594 neonates accessed Newborn Services
- 2,980 women accessed inpatient Gynaecology services
- 3,542 children were admitted
- 28,722 children were cared for in the Sunshine Hospital Emergency
- 167,065 episodes of ambulatory care were provided.
The Women’s & Children’s Division provides care across a number of sites within the Western catchment, including Sunshine, Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Sunbury. The Division collaborates with several other Divisions within Western Health and partners with external health services and community services to ensure the provision of Best Care for our community.
The Division will continue to innovate and develop more services and model of care options across Western Health to ensure Best Care for the community of Western Melbourne.
Check out the design of the new Melton Hospital!
Set to become Australia’s first all-electric hospital, designs reveal key internal and external spaces, including the main entrance, façade and patient rooms – focusing on natural light, access to nature and outdoor spaces.
The Victorian Government has committed more than $900 million to deliver a new Melton Hospital in 2029.
The brand-new hospital will support the growing and diverse communities of Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Melton, Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne. It will ensure the people of Melbourne's west get the care they need, close to home.
The Melton Hospital will include a 24-hour emergency department, at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, maternity and neonatal services, mental health services, radiology services and ambulatory care.
Once completed, Melton Hospital will have the capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.
The hospital will be Victoria’s first all-electric hospital.
The Exemplar Health consortium has been awarded the contract to deliver the new Melton Hospital, with major construction underway. Construction of your new Melton Hospital is on track for completion in 2029.
Role Specification
The Clinical Services Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Western Health will work in partnership with the Divisional Director (DD) and is accountable for leading and managing the divisional units to meet Western Health’s strategic plans and the provision of Best Care for our consumers.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer aligned to this Division, the successful applicant will ensure the successful achievement of operational, financial, safety, quality and performance goals for the Division whilst embedding a culture of continuous improvement to meet business and organisational priorities.
Key accountabilities will include:
- Delivery of agreed annual business/operational plans.
- Financial performance within allocated budget.
- Developing and maintaining high standards of clinical governance.
- Promoting excellent patient experiences.
The role is responsible for ensuring that each unit has high performing multidisciplinary teams which operate professionally and collegially, to support a culture of excellence in clinical practice at Western Health.
The Clinical Services Director will provide stewardship and work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to:
- Create a culture within the division that supports staff engagement, organisational commitment and job satisfaction.
- Ensure that the division is an employer of choice that can attract and retain high performing individuals.
- Provide access to educational programs for junior medical staff (JMS) and ongoing professional development for senior medical staff (SMS).
- Undertake medical workforce planning in conjunction with medical workforce unit as required.
- Establish clear performance expectations for SMS and provide developmental support to meet these expectations.
- Support established and emerging researchers to promote a thriving research culture within the division and the organisation more broadly.
- Facilitate effective collaboration between medical teams to provide Best Care, mitigate risk, and improve patient experience within the division.
- Act as a conduit for information flow to and between the Executive and each clinical unit within the division.
- Provide leadership for expanded collaboration with other health services and service providers to establish wider regional clinical services
Operational & Financial
- Develop with the Divisional Director a divisional operational plan in alignment with Western Health’s strategic plan and the Operations Directorate business plan.
- Ensure the divisions medical workforce are operating efficiently and effectively to meet operational, clinical and financial targets annually.
- Develop fiscal responsibility, sustainability and accountability across the division.
- Delivery of outcomes identified in the Statement of Priorities as agreed between Western Health and the Department of Health.
Governance
- Support organisational quality improvement initiatives within the division, including regular audits and mortality & morbidity meetings.
- Develop appropriate governance structures and processes within the division for the provision of Best Care.
- Support the appropriate appointment and credentialling of medical staff within the division.
- Participate in the Medical Executive on call roster to support functions such as Organ donation, Needle Stick Injury and complex clinical decision making.
- Ensure JMS training, work experience and supervision meets regulatory standards set out by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) and relevant Speciality Colleges.
Culture
- Create an environment within the division where all staff are nurtured and supported to achieve their full potential.
- Promote a culture of quality and safety.
- Provide leadership support for all direct reports, appraise their performance and provide appropriate professional training and development opportunities.
- Build relationships across other divisions to drive positive change initiatives that will improve staff engagement and patient experiences.
- Lead and promote a culture of wellbeing in alignment with Western Health Values and related Programs eg Empower.
In addition to the key responsibilities specific to your role, you are required to deliver on the Key Organisational Accountabilities which are aligned with the Western Health strategic aims.
View the comprehensive Key Result Areas and Responsibilities in the Role Description here.
Qualifications
Essential:
- Specialist Medical Registration with AHPRA and appointable as a SMS member at Western Health.
- Fellowship of a relevant Australian medical specialty College.
Technical Skills/ Experience
Essential:
- Relevant clinical and management experience in a tertiary health service.
- Proven leadership of large multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to shape future direction of a division within a large organisation.
- Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of clinical service improvement initiatives.
- Financial management skills with ability to review cost structures and deliver services within budget.
- An understanding of clinical governance, accreditation and clinical risk management processes and the ability to integrate these into a quality and safety program.
- Demonstrated commitment to research, education and training.
- A good understanding of best practice Human Resources and Industrial Relations approaches as related to public hospital medical practitioners, and well-developed negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
- Well-developed communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills, including the ability to foster effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated record of valuing, motivating and mentoring staff as a leader and manager.
- Ability to be an effective leader, peer and valued member of Western Health’s senior medical leadership by stimulating constructive debate and supporting colleagues to meet organisational objectives.
- Proven ability in building and maintain high performance teams focused on achieving strategic outcomes.
- Ability to translate Western Health’s strategic plan into practical outcomes at a divisional level.
Desirable:
- Postgraduate qualifications in health service management, management or business (desirable)
- Higher research degree (desirable)
Reports To: Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Operational) & Chief Medical Officer (Professional)
Direct Reports: All Divisional Heads of Units
Internal:
- Chief Executive
- Executive Directors
- Chief Operating Officer
- Deputy COOs
- Divisional Directors
- Clinical Service Directors
- Deputy EDONs
- Deputy CMOs
- Director Medical Workforce Unit
- Director Office for Research
- Director Medical Education
- Directors of Training
- Educational Supervisors
- Director Simulation Program
- Director Employee Relations, Business Partnerships and Injury Management
- Director, People and Culture Operations and Workforce Systems
- Director Digital Health
- CMIO
- Operational Managers
- Finance Business Analysts
External:
- Department of Health
- Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria
- Safer Care Victoria
- Universities
- Specialty Colleges
- Other health services
The key challenge/outcomes for this role will be identified in the incumbent’s performance plan and should align with Western Health’s Strategic goals, organisational business plan and directorial business plan.
A key focus is the delivery of outcomes as identified in the Statement of Priorities as agreed between Western Health and the Department of Health.
Key challenges and priorities for this role include the following;
- Ensure the Division achieves its key quality, performance, fiscal and operational deliverables.
- Lead the Division to meet organisational priorities, strategic and business plan objectives.
- Ensure delivery of “Best Care” across the Division.
To be discussed with HG Principal Consultant
Service Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Division: Women's and Children's Services
Classification: HM43
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5209
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.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
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
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One of Melbourne's many art-covered alleyways. Photo Credit.
Carlton
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Napier, Albion and Rose Street's are great spots for a coffee and shop in Essendon. Photo Credit.
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Williamstown
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Point Cook Coastal Park. Photography Credit.
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Geelong
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Flinders Street Station at night. Photo Credit
A wide variety of housing options are available, from contemporary city apartments to spacious suburban homes. Neighbourhoods have their own unique character, whether it’s the beachside charm of St Kilda, the urban energy of Fitzroy, or the family-friendly feel of suburbs to the east. Melbourne also offers a reliable public transport system, including trams, trains and buses, making it easy to navigate.
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Carlton Gardens. Photography Credit.
Essendon
Essendon, Melbourne, is a desirable suburb known for its blend of urban convenience and a family-friendly atmosphere. It offers a mix of charming, tree-lined streets, excellent schools, and a strong community feel. Its proximity to Melbourne's CBD, coupled with good transport links, makes it attractive to both families and professionals.
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Williamstown Beach. Photo Credit.
Point Cook
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Point Cook | Walker Corporation. Photo Credit.
Geelong, VIC. Photography Credit.
Geelong Grammar School. Photo Credit.
Melbourne combines culture, lifestyle, and liveability, making it an ideal place to settle and enjoy all that a world-class city has to offer.
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