Help establish Rivivo’s nursing service

Rivivo is seeking an experienced nursing leader to guide the establishment and ongoing delivery of its nursing service for people receiving alcohol and other drug treatment and rehabilitation.

This is an opportunity to shape clinical practice, build a nursing team and embed safe, compassionate, evidence-based care from the outset.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Nursing will provide professional, clinical and operational leadership for nursing services.

Working alongside the Medical Director, Program Manager and broader leadership team, you will translate Revivo’s clinical governance framework into everyday practice. You will lead nursing workforce development, service readiness, quality improvement and accreditation preparation, followed by ongoing oversight of nursing care and performance.

Key responsibilities

- Lead the establishment and operation of nursing services, including clinical workflows, policies, equipment readiness and staff orientation.
- Provide after-hours nursing leadership and support for clinical and operational escalation as part of the agreed on-call roster
- Recruit, develop and support the nursing team, with transparent responsibilities, appropriate supervision and a culture of accountability.
- Manage nursing rosters, staffing levels, skill mix and resources in response to patient acuity and service requirements.
- Establish systems for verifying registration, assessing competence and supporting nurses to practise within their scope.
- Oversee safe assessment, withdrawal monitoring, medication administration, care planning, clinical handover and discharge coordination.
- Implement effective responses to physical and mental health deterioration, suicide and self-harm risk, and clinical emergencies.
- Lead nursing contributions to clinical governance, risk management, incident review, complaints management and open disclosure.
- Coordinate nursing accreditation readiness and support implementation of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
- Monitor clinical indicators, audit findings and patient feedback, and lead measurable improvements.
- Prepare reports for the Chief Executive Officer and relevant governance committees, escalating significant risks promptly.




- Manage the nursing budget and contribute to service planning and sustainable resource use.
- Partner with patients, families, carers and the multidisciplinary team to support individualised care and continuity of treatment.

Essential selection criteria

Registration and qualifications

- Current general registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, administered through Ahpra, with no conditions or restrictions incompatible with the role.
- A completed postgraduate qualification in nursing leadership, health service management, alcohol and other drug nursing, mental health or a related field.
- Compliance with applicable professional registration standards and a demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development.

Leadership and operational management
- Substantial nursing experience, including demonstrated achievement in a senior nursing management or leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience managing nursing teams, including recruitment, rostering, supervision, performance management and workforce development.
- Ability to plan staffing and skill mix according to clinical risk, patient acuity and service demand.
- Experience managing budgets, resources and competing operational priorities.
- Ability to lead change, establish clinical systems and translate organisational plans into practice.

Clinical capability
- Demonstrated experience in alcohol and other drug nursing, including withdrawal management and care of people with co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Sound clinical judgement in recognising and escalating withdrawal complications, physical deterioration, mental health crises and suicide or self-harm risk.
- Demonstrated understanding of medication safety, including controlled medicines and medicines used in withdrawal and dependence treatment.
- Commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and non-judgemental care.

Governance, safety and quality




- Demonstrated knowledge and practical application of the NSQHS Standards, clinical governance and accreditation preparation.
- Experience in clinical risk management, incident investigation, audit and quality improvement, with examples of resulting practice improvements.
- Working knowledge of legislation and regulatory requirements relevant to the service, including private hospital operations, medicines management, privacy, consent and occupational health and safety.
- Ability to analyse clinical and operational information and provide clear reports and recommendations.

Communication and professional values
- Strong communication, conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals and program staff.
- Commitment to partnering with consumers and providing culturally safe care, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Ability to foster a respectful workplace where staff can raise concerns and contribute to improvement.
- Competence with electronic clinical records, incident reporting systems and standard business software.

Desirable selection criteria
- Previous experience as a Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing or equivalent senior leader.
- Experience commissioning a hospital, establishing a new clinical service or leading significant service expansion.
- Experience in a private hospital providing inpatient withdrawal management or rehabilitation.
- Experience leading an accreditation assessment and implementing subsequent improvement actions.
- Experience supporting opioid agonist treatment and coordinating care with community prescribers and pharmacies.
- Experience working with governing bodies, Medical Advisory Committees or other clinical governance committees.
- Relevant professional credentialling, such as a recognised alcohol and other drug nursing credential.
- Experience incorporating consumer feedback and lived experience into service design.

Employment requirements Appointment is subject to verification of registration, qualifications, professional references, Australian work rights and satisfactory role-related pre-employment screening.

Pay: $109,000.67 – $160,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

📌 Director of Nursing - Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation (Thomastown)
🏢 Rivivo Health
📍 Thomastown