Job description
Agency Department of Health Work unit General Services

Job title Nurse Unit Manager Consumer Engagement Team/Patient Advocate Designation Senior Professional Officer 1

Job type Full time Duration Ongoing
Salary $136,380 - $152,357 Location Darwin

Position number 12550 RTF 359606 Closing 04/11/2026
Contact Officer Maree McHarg on 08 8922 8841 or [email protected]
About the agency http://www.health.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=359606

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – Inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.

Primary objective
Provides a recognised reference point and consistent broad level of influence regarding service planning and delivery to multi-disciplinary clinicians
across a defined practice area.
Context statement
The Manager Consumer Engagement Team provides strategic leadership for consumer engagement, patient advocacy and complaints
management across Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals. Working closely with executive leaders, clinicians and community stakeholders, the
position promotes the rights, interests and experiences of patients, families and carers, ensuring consumer perspectives inform service planning,
delivery and evaluation. The role leads the Consumer Engagement Team to strengthen culturally responsive, inclusive and person-centred care
for the diverse Northern Territory community. Through management of complex consumer issues and strategic advice, the position drives quality
improvement, service excellence and positive consumer experiences across RDPH.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Lead consumer engagement across RDPH to ensure diverse voices, representative of the NT population (service users) are included in shaping

and evaluating service provision.
2. Advance the rights and interests of all patients and potential patients across RDPH in cooperation with executive and senior staff across both

campuses.
3. Provide high-level strategic advice and direction to ensure service design and delivery is aligned with evidence based best practice and

community needs.
4. Specialist advice, consultations, problem solving and analytical counsel to other professionals across all divisions and disciplines at RDPH.
5. Lead and manage the Consumer Engagement Team.
6. Develop Consumer Engagement Team priorities and design relevant performance reporting and monitoring.
7. Provide culturally responsive, inclusive high-level advice to enhance whole-of-service capacity across RDPH.
8. Follow defined service quality standards, work health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken in order to

ensure high quality, safe services and workplaces.
9. Foster a positive workplace culture through exemplary leadership practices and role modelling behaviour.
Selection criteria
Essential
1. A degree level qualification which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers or an Australian Health

Practitioners Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) registered Psychologist, a Nurse with appropriate post graduate qualifications or other appropriate
university qualifications, including counselling or mediation qualifications

2. Extensive experience in addressing and resolving complex and challenging patient issues and/or complaints in a hospital
3. or health context.
4. A thorough understanding of policies and procedures relevant to Acute Care and best practice complaints handling and
5. resolution in a hospital setting.
6. 4. Demonstrated high-level interpersonal communication and negotiation skills working with diverse teams at all levels
7. across the hospital and within the community.
8. 5. Proven ability to work independently, apply time management skills to effectively organise workloads, including
9. attendance or coordination of meetings dealing with complex multifaceted issues.
10. 6. Demonstrated high level analytical, research, problem solving, and risk management ability including highly developed
11. oral, listening and written skills.
Further information
Positions may be subject to pre-employment checks such as immunisation requirements, working with children clearance notice and criminal
history checks. A criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history. For immunisation
requirements - Category A (direct contact with blood or body substances) or Category B (indirect contact with blood or body substances), check
with contact person for requirements.
Approved: October 2026 Dr Sara Watson, General Manager, RDH





Page 1 of 3

Job description
Agency Department of Health Work unit General Services

Job title Nurse Unit Manager Consumer Engagement Team/Patient Advocate Designation Nurse Level 6

Job type Full time Duration Fixed up to 2 years
Salary $149,765 - $157,329 Location Darwin

Position number 12550 RTF 359606 Closing 04/11/2026
Contact Officer Maree McHarg on 08 8922 8841 or [email protected]
About the agency http://www.health.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=359606

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – Inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.

Primary objective
Provides a recognised reference point and consistent broad level of influence regarding service planning and delivery to multi-disciplinary
clinicians across a defined practice area.
Context statement
The Consumer Engagement Manager (Nurse Unit Manager Level 6) provides strategic leadership for consumer engagement, patient
advocacy and complaints management across Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals. Working closely with executive leaders, clinicians
and community stakeholders, the position promotes the rights, interests and experiences of patients, families and carers, ensuring
consumer perspectives inform service planning, delivery and evaluation. The role leads the Consumer Engagement Team to strengthen
culturally responsive, inclusive and person-centred care for the diverse Northern Territory community. Through management of complex
consumer issues and strategic advice, the position drives quality improvement, service excellence and positive consumer experiences
across RDPH.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Provide contemporary human, material, and financial resource management for defined area of practice.
2. Support delivery of excellence in nursing/midwifery care by modelling advanced knowledge, skills, and behaviours for the provision of

client care and facilitating less experienced staff to develop appropriate skills, knowledge, abilities, and attitudes.
3. Demonstrate NTH values - safe; responsive; kind – in all decision-making and interactions with consumers and colleagues.
4. Follow defined service quality standards, work health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken in

order to ensure high quality, safe services and workplaces.
5. Foster a positive workplace culture through exemplary leadership practices and role modelling behaviour.

Selection criteria
Essential
1. Current registration with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or eligible for same.
2. Demonstrated high-level leadership and management skills including strategic thinking, practical people management, and the ability

to successfully support change in a dynamic multi-disciplinary environment.
3. Demonstrated ability to analyse service performance and implement evidence-based initiatives to improve client outcomes, program

functions, and organisational efficiency.
4. Demonstrated ability to facilitate a positive work environment, modifying work practices where necessary to meet the needs of

healthcare consumers and staff.
5. Demonstrated use of effective communication skills to maximise productive working relationships, including with relevant specialists

and executive management, and manages conflict to promote co-operation, teamwork and understanding.
6. Demonstrates and applies highly developed knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural issues, influences and sensitivities

that influence health care provision for individuals and groups.
Desirable
1. Graduate Diploma, or equivalent, beyond entry to practice relevant to specialty area.
Further information
Ongoing appointment is subject to attainment of Graduate Diploma, or equivalent, beyond entry-to-practice relevant to specialty. The
preferred or recommended applicant will be required to hold a current working with children clearance notice and undergo a criminal
history check. A criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is relevant to the position. This role carries specific
immunisation requirements.



To be eligible for appointment you will be required to meet the immunisation requirements associated with
Category A healthcare workers (direct contact with blood or body substances). Please contact [email protected] for
further information.

Approved: 28 March 2025 Adjunct Associate Professor Kellie Wilton, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer

Page 2 of 3

Job description
Agency Department of Health Work unit General Services

Job title Nurse Unit Manager Consumer Engagement Team/Patient Advocate Designation Nurse Level 6

Job type Full time Duration Ongoing
Salary $149,765 - $157,329 Location Darwin

Position number 12550 RTF 359606 Closing 04/11/2026
Contact Officer Maree McHarg on 08 8922 8841 or [email protected]
About the agency http://www.health.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=359606

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – Inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.

Primary objective
Provides a recognised reference point and consistent broad level of influence regarding service planning and delivery to multi-disciplinary
clinicians across a defined practice area.
Context statement
The Consumer Engagement Manager (Nurse Unit Manager Level 6) provides strategic leadership for consumer engagement, patient
advocacy and complaints management across Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals. Working closely with executive leaders, clinicians
and community stakeholders, the position promotes the rights, interests and experiences of patients, families and carers, ensuring
consumer perspectives inform service planning, delivery and evaluation. The role leads the Consumer Engagement Team to strengthen
culturally responsive, inclusive and person-centred care for the diverse Northern Territory community. Through management of complex
consumer issues and strategic advice, the position drives quality improvement, service excellence and positive consumer experiences
across RDPH.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Provide contemporary human, material, and financial resource management for defined area of practice.
2. Support delivery of excellence in nursing/midwifery care by modelling advanced knowledge, skills, and behaviours for the provision of

client care and facilitating less experienced staff to develop appropriate skills, knowledge, abilities, and attitudes.
3. Demonstrate NTH values - safe; responsive; kind – in all decision-making and interactions with consumers and colleagues.
4. Follow defined service quality standards, work health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken in

order to ensure high quality, secure services and workplaces.
5. Foster a positive workplace culture through exemplary leadership practices and role modelling behaviour.

Selection criteria
Essential
1. Current registration with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or eligible for same.
2. Graduate Diploma, or equivalent, beyond entry to practice relevant to specialty area.
3. Demonstrated high-level leadership and management skills including strategic thinking, practical people management, and the ability

to successfully support change in a dynamic multi-disciplinary environment.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyse service performance and implement evidence-based initiatives to improve client outcomes, program

functions, and organisational efficiency.
5. Demonstrated ability to facilitate a positive work environment, modifying work practices where necessary to meet the needs of

healthcare consumers and staff.
6. Demonstrated use of effective communication skills to maximise productive working relationships, including with relevant specialists

and executive management, and manages conflict to promote co-operation, teamwork and understanding.
7. Demonstrates and applies highly developed knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural issues, influences and sensitivities

that influence health care provision for individuals and groups.

Further information
Ongoing appointment is subject to possession of Graduate Diploma, or equivalent, beyond entry-to-practice relevant to specialty. The
preferred or recommended applicant will be required to hold a current working with children clearance notice and undergo a criminal
history check. A criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is relevant to the position. This role carries specific
immunisation requirements. To be eligible for appointment you will be required to meet the immunisation requirements associated with
Category A healthcare workers (direct contact with blood or body substances). Please contact [email protected] for
further information.

📌 Nurse Unit Manager Consumer Engagement Team/Patient Advocate (Darwin)
🏢 Department Of Health
📍 Darwin