ASSOCIATE NURSE UNIT MANAGER (PERIOPERATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY)

Best suited for: Australian citizens, Permanent Residents, New Zealand citizens, and Subclass 485/491/191 visa holders seeking a senior perioperative nursing leadership opportunity with the Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN), South Australia.

Please note: International applicants are encouraged to apply. SA Health provides dedicated International Applicant Guidelines. Visa sponsorship may be available for eligible international applicants where approved by SA Health and subject to workforce requirements.

About This Opportunity

An exciting permanent opportunity is available for an experienced Associate Nurse Unit Manager – Perioperative Ophthalmology to join the Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) Surgical Services team in North Adelaide. Working in a permanent part-time capacity (0.42 FTE), you will provide clinical leadership within the Ophthalmology operating theatre while supporting the delivery of safe, evidence-based and person-centred perioperative care.

Reporting to the Nursing Director and working closely with the Nurse Unit Manager, you will coordinate perioperative nursing services, assist with operational management, mentor nursing staff, and contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives. This leadership role is ideal for an experienced perioperative Registered Nurse who enjoys balancing direct patient care with clinical leadership responsibilities.

Joining WCHN means becoming part of South Australia's leading specialist health service for women, babies, children and young people. Employees benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, salary packaging, wellbeing programs, flexible working arrangements, and a supportive multidisciplinary workplace committed to delivering exceptional patient outcomes.

Job Summary

• Position: Associate Nurse Unit Manager (LV2)
• Employer Name: Women's and Children's Health Network (SA Health)
• Employment Type: 0.42 FTE / Part-Time | Ongoing Permanent
• Required Education Level: Holding or eligible to hold a current practising certificate. Registered Nurse qualification with current (or eligible) registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA). Postgraduate perioperative nursing qualifications are highly desirable.
• Experience Required: Minimum 3 year's recent perioperative nursing experience, including demonstrated leadership or senior clinical experience within operating theatre or ophthalmology services.
• Work Arrangement: On-site
• Employment Location: North Adelaide, South Australia
• Salary: AUD $107,487 – $114,917 per annum (pro-rata) + 12% Superannuation, Salary Packaging and SA Health employee benefits.
• Application Deadline: 19 August 2026

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership while delivering safe, evidence-based and person-centred perioperative nursing care within Ophthalmology operating theatres.
• Perform Instrument Nurse and Circulating Nurse duties across Ophthalmology surgical lists on a rotating seven-day roster.
• Assist the Nurse Unit Manager with workforce planning, staff allocation, budgeting, resource management and operational service delivery.
• Coordinate patient flow to ensure efficient and high-quality perioperative services.
• Provide clinical supervision, mentoring and education to Registered Nurses, graduate nurses and nursing students.
• Promote compliance with National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards and SA Health policies.
• Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, evidence-based practice and change management projects.
• Foster a collaborative multidisciplinary team culture focused on patient safety, innovation and continuous professional development.

Skills & Requirements

• Professional Registration: Current registration, or eligibility for registration, with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA) and eligible to hold a current practising certificate.
• Perioperative Experience: Demonstrated experience in perioperative scrub/scout nursing, particularly within Ophthalmology surgical services or similar operating theatre environments.
• Leadership Capability: Proven ability to provide clinical leadership, supervise nursing staff, coordinate patient care, and support the operational management of a busy surgical unit.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal, communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Clinical Knowledge: Sound understanding of National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, infection prevention, risk management, and evidence-based perioperative nursing practice.
• Teaching & Mentoring: Experience supporting graduate nurses, students, and less experienced staff through clinical supervision, education, and mentoring.
• Organisational Skills: Ability to prioritise workloads, manage competing clinical demands, and work effectively with minimal supervision.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package ranging from AUD $107,487 to $114,917 per annum (pro-rata).
• 12% employer Superannuation contribution.
• Salary packaging benefits including up to AUD $9,010 for living expenses and an additional AUD $2,650 for meal entertainment each Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year.
• Access to the Fitness Passport program for employees and eligible family members.
• Free public transport to and from the Women's and Children's Hospital for eligible metropolitan SA Health staff.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential wellbeing support for employees and their families.
• Professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and career advancement opportunities.
• Relocation assistance may be negotiated for eligible applicants.
• Supportive multidisciplinary workplace focused on innovation, patient safety, and continuous improvement.

Important Applicant Information

• Application Methodology: Submit your application online through the SA Health Careers portal before the advertised closing date.
• Submission Requirements: Upload a current professional resume together with all documentation requested within the official role description.
• Assessment Criteria: Applications will be assessed against the advertised selection criteria, perioperative nursing experience, leadership capability, AHPRA registration, and relevant qualifications.
• Required Application Documents:
  • Current professional resume.
  • Nursing qualifications.
  • Current AHPRA registration (or eligibility).
  • Any additional supporting documentation requested in the official role description.

Eligible Applicants Included:

This opportunity is suitable for:

• Subclass 485 / 491 / 191 visa holders
• International Applicants
• Australian citizens
• Permanent Residents (PR)
• New Zealand citizens

About The Employer

The Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia's leading provider of specialist healthcare services for women, babies, children and young people. As part of SA Health, WCHN delivers world-class clinical care, education, research and innovation while maintaining a strong commitment to family-centred healthcare and continuous service improvement.

With a highly skilled multidisciplinary workforce and modern healthcare facilities, WCHN provides employees with outstanding career development opportunities, supportive leadership, flexible working arrangements, and an inclusive workplace culture focused on excellence, compassion, innovation and respect.

Applicant Safety & Screening Reminder

• Appointment is subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check.
• Applicants must meet SA Health immunisation compliance requirements before commencement.
• Applicants must maintain current AHPRA registration and hold a valid practising certificate throughout employment.
• Never pay recruitment fees, visa processing fees, or placement charges to secure employment.
• Do not include sensitive financial information or your Tax File Number (TFN) within your initial application documents.
• Original identification, qualifications, and professional registration documents may be requested during recruitment for verification purposes.

Original Source: SA Health Careers — Associate Nurse Unit Manager – Periop Ophthalmology WCH | Job Reference: 945064