Job Category -Management - Line - Clinical
Unique opportunity to join the largest health care provider in the Geelong region
Provide leadership to an established multidisciplinary team
Permanent full-time opportunity
About the role
Barwon Health's Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services (MHDAS) is seeking an experienced, values-driven Nurse Unit Manager to lead the Swanston Centre, our acute mental health inpatient unit in Geelong. The Swanston Centre supports consumers experiencing acute mental illness, working closely with community teams, triage, PARC, the Emergency Department and medical staff across University Hospital Geelong to ensure those most in need have timely access to care.
Reporting to the Program Manager – Acute Intervention Services, you'll provide leadership and operational management to bring the Mental Health Directorate's contemporary vision for inpatient care to life. This means instilling a recovery-oriented, consumer-centred approach grounded in evidence-based multidisciplinary practice, including embedding our peer support program and the use of Advance Statements. You'll also hold a significant service-wide portfolio and play a key role in senior leadership forums across the Directorate.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the coordination of bed flow, actively engaging in hospital-wide demand management processes to prioritise access for consumers in greatest need.
Drive continuous improvement, quality reporting, business planning and service development in partnership with the Program Manager – AIS.
Take accountability for budget development, workforce planning and prudent resource management in line with relevant legislation and Department guidelines.




What We Are Looking For
You're an experienced mental health nursing leader who builds engaged teams, leads change with confidence and thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment. You bring a coaching leadership style, solid clinical credibility and a genuine commitment to recovery-oriented care.
Please note Barwon Health will only contact you via our official email and never use unconventional means, such as text messaging or other services
Excellent working conditions and a strong sense of job satisfaction
A vibrant staff wellbeing program and access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
Attractive salary packaging benefits
Living expenses capped at $9,010
Meals and entertainment capped at $2,650
Diversity and Inclusion
Barwon Health is an inclusive and welcoming employer, committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve. We value and celebrate people of all genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, faiths, abilities, family structures, and identities, and encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Child Safety
We are strongly committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. Click here for further information on the Victorian Government's Child Safe Standards:
Additional information
All appointments are subject to:
Satisfactory Police Record Check
Immunisation Status Clearance
Working with Children Check (if applicable)
Contact person: Justine Maggs | Deputy Program Manager | AIS
Email: ******
Phone: **********
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Nurse Unit Manager, Swanston Centre (Geelong)
🏢 Barwon Health
📍 Geelong