Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent Position

Classification: Health Professional Level 3 (602736, LP7141)

Salary: $109,543 – $123,772 (Plus 12% Super)

Location: North Canberra Hospital

Section: Social Work and Psychology

Closing Date: 9th October 2025

Join a supportive, talented and growing team of social workers who celebrate share a commitment to social justice and transforming patient care through expert support and collaboration.

What can we offer you:

• City living without the traffic – click here to see why you should live in Canberra.
• Competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions within a tertiary hospital.
• Salary Packaging with many options that provide full fringe benefits tax concessions.
• Flexible working conditions.
• Reimbursement of relocation expenses for interstate candidates (subject to review and approval).

To find out more on what a career at CHS can give you, the benefits of working with us and why Canberra is Australia's happiest city click here: Benefits of working with us - Canberra Health Services (act.gov.au)

About the Role:

The Social Work and Psychology Department is a contemporary evidence-based service including around 17 FTE social workers providing high quality inpatient and outpatient care at North Canberra Hospital. The Department provides care and support to patients and families across critical and acute inpatient areas and specialised outpatients settings, including medical and surgical areas, intensive care unit, the emergency department, maternity and hospital in the home.

As a senior social worker you will provide a range of social work clinical services and support to patients, families and cares including;

• Assessments and interventions to address complex psychosocial needs. This may include working with traumatic injury, psychological trauma, family violence, new diagnosis, adjustment to health condition, management of chronic health conditions, loss and grief, safety concerns, mental health and alcohol and other drug issues.
• Referral and liaison with health and other service providers.
• Advocacy to promote and address patients’ needs.
• Counselling and emotional support.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate a positive patient journey and provide a high-quality clinical service.

Clinical supervision is provided through team and department structure. Access to formal professional development funds is available and outlined in our EBA.

You will play an integral part of the team, supporting students and junior staff.

Note: This position(s) may be required to participate in on call rosters, including weekends and to work Christmas shutdown periods. This duty statement outlines a range of possible duties that staff are expected to perform at this level. The emphasis placed on each duty will vary according to the requirements of each position.

For more information regarding the position duties click here for the Position Description.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

To Apply:

Please apply online by submitting a copy of your CV along with a maximum 2-page cover letter or pitch, a 2 page pitch describing your areas of interest within the acute hospital setting and responding to the following 3 questions. You should take into consideration the selection criteria (below) when drafting your response. Selection criteria are listed in the position description however a selection criteria report is not required and will not be assessed as part of your application.

1. The AASW Code of Ethics states that social work practice is informed by principles of the inherent dignity of humanity, human rights, and social justice. Please describe how you apply this in your practice using a case example. (Maximum 500 words) (SC 1, 2, 3, 5).
2. Standard 5 of the National Quality and Safety Health Service Standards (NSQHS) is Comprehensive Care. How do you or would you apply the requirements of Standard 5 when completing assessments and therapeutic interventions in an acute hospital setting? (Maximum 500 words) (SC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
3. Describe a time when you faced a personal or professional challenge that tested your values, beliefs, or assumptions. How did you respond, what did you learn about yourself, and how has this experience influenced your approach to working with others?" (maximum 500 words) (SC 3, 5).

This document is required and must be submitted to be considered for the role.

The recruitment process for this position will utilise a Joint Selection Committee (JSC), which includes a union representative, to ensure a fair and impartial evaluation of candidates based on merit.

***Please note applications submitted via an agency will not be accepted for this position***

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person centred care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website.

Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together

Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community

Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you would like further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Karen Dell [email protected].

A merit pool may be established from this recruitment process and will be used for the next 12 months to fill various positions both on a temporary and permanent basis with full-time and part-time opportunities available.