The Practice Development Nurse (PDN) plays a pivotal role in supporting and enhancing clinical excellence across the PM@H service.
This position combines advanced clinical nursing expertise with leadership in education, quality improvement, and professional development.
Working closely with the Nurse Unit Manager, Acting Nurse Unit Managers, and multidisciplinary team members, the PDN promotes evidence-based practice, supports workforce capability, and contributes to the ongoing growth and innovation of the service.
A regular day will see you:
• Lead and support clinical education, training, and professional development activities across the PM@H service.
• Promote evidence-based practice and contemporary nursing standards to ensure safe, effective, and person-centred care.
• Mentor, coach, and support nursing staff through competency assessment, clinical skills development, and ongoing learning programs.
• Facilitate quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, research, and service development initiatives. About you You are an experienced and motivated nursing professional who is passionate about clinical excellence, education, and improving patient outcomes. You have strong leadership and communication skills, enjoy supporting the development of others, and thrive working both autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment. You'll bring with you:
• Minimum five years post-registration nursing experience.
• Demonstrated experience in haematology, medical oncology, and/or surgical oncology nursing within an acute hospital setting.
• Experience working within a Hospital in the Home (HITH) or community-based healthcare service.
• Previous Practice Development Nurse (PDN) experience.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead education, mentoring, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives. Our benefits We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
• Generous salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• Discounted health insurance and eye care
• A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
• Public transport options at our doorstep and end-of-journey facilities for cyclists
• Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
• Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
• Five weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading, monthly ADOs and purchased leave options
• Employee Assistance Program Inclusion and belonging Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles. Join us! If you feel this role is right for you we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory police check, and may require a valid Working with Children Check. Many staff are required to be vaccinated against, or demonstrate immunity to, COVID-19, influenza, and a range of other diseases. Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply. For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Michelyn Treadwell, Nurse Unit Manager, at Michelyn.Treadwell@petermac.org. Application closing date: 11:59pm Wednesday 30 September 2026 Please note: Applications will be assessed upon receipt, and this vacancy may close early if a suitable candidate is appointed. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Position Summary The role of Practice Development Nurse at Peter Mac is a leadership role. The position represents a proficient role within the Peter Mac Professional Practice Model (PPM) at Peter Mac. The role requires a proficient level of knowledge and skills in clinical practice, education and leadership and competent skills in research. The role exists to:
• Provide practice development of clinical practice within the PM@H service, as well as facilitating the development of the knowledge and skills of the clinical nurses to enable safe and effective patient care.
• Co-ordinates education programs/activities within the department including: staff orientation, staff preceptorship, training and assessment programs and in-service activities.
• Partnering closely with the department Nurse Unit Manager and Acting Nurse Unit Managers to ensure evidence based clinical practice, systems and processes within the department to ensure best patient outcomes
• Drive and role model evidence based practice and continuous quality improvement in clinical practice
• Provide clinical support to nurses to support ongoing practice development
• Partnering with the divisional Clinical Nurse Educator and the wider Community of Practice of Educators and PDNs in planning and implementing education and training activities within the department and contributions within the Nursing Service Programs
• Embed evidence-based practice within the department
• On the road clinical assistance to PM@H community nurses Enterprise Agreement Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement Classification or Salary Range RN Grade 4A HITH/PAC YW15/YW12 Immunisation Risk Category Immunisation Category A Key Relationships Internal Nurse Unit Manager Associate Nurse Unit Managers Practice Development Nurses Clinical Nurse Educators Academic Nursing Unit Research Nurses Clinical Nurse Leader Groups Clinical Nurses Multi-Disciplinary Health Care Teams Patients & their Carers External Professional organisations of clinical relevance Practice Development Nurses from other organisations Skills Essential Requirements Current AHPRA registration Postgraduate Certificate in cancer nursing and/or education equivalent Demonstrated expertise and at least 5 years’ experience in cancer and surgical nursing Developing ability to effectively lead local teams Well- developed communication and presentation skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other computer skills CVAD and chemotherapy administration competent (minimum module 1) Credentialed Competency Assessor Current and Valid driver’s license Desirable Requirements Active participation in local nursing leadership forums Clinical Research Fellowship or equivalent Participation in local/international practice development activities Commitment to preparation at diploma/masters level Previous Education/PDN experience Key Accountabilities Key Accountabilities Demonstrated By / Key Performance Indicators 1. Facilitates quality patient outcomes through a patient centred environment based on best practice standards Facilitate a culture of clinical effectiveness through reflection on nursing practice that identifies and explores patient care issues Facilitation of the review and critique of evidence through advocacy and support for a culture of research utilisation Utilisation of best available evidence to effect practice change to improve patient outcomes Review and development of competencies in partnership with the Nursing Service, and other strategies to meet identified practice development needs in order to achieve best practice 2. Empower clinical nursing staff through facilitation of orientation and preceptorship, to achieve safe clinical practice PDN in collaboration with NUM, preceptors, and clinical educators, assumes responsibility for: Ensuring all new nursing staff attend hospital, nursing and ward orientation Ensuring all nursing staff complete mandatory competencies Ensuring all nursing staff complete identified core PMCC competencies Ensuring all nursing staff have super nummary time at the start of their time at PM@H Assessing and identifying development needs of all nursing staff Providing dedicated clinical support to address identified development needs for all nurses for a minimum of one day / week for first month of employment Meeting ongoing learning needs identified by competency and development reviews as outlined in ward orientation Develop and complete annual review of PM@H orientation program/manual Maintain department competency data Oversee preceptorship program within PM@H Key Accountabilities (Contd..) 3. Facilitates excellence in clinical nursing practice and supports ongoing professional development Each member of nursing staff has an individual learning and development plan based on a needs analysis and their personal preferences and goals Develops and implements a flexible and innovative continuing education program for PM@H that reflects the identified learning needs of nursing staff Records of professional development activities are maintained to enable nursing staff to compile a professional practice portfolio Facilitates opportunities for staff participation in professional organizations and participation in ongoing teaching, learning and networking activities is encouraged. Maintains staff competence in clinical skills by working as credentialed competency assessor for all PM@H core competencies (CVAD, Chemotherapy, Cannulation and BLS) Lead PM@H representation at committees/work groups as delegated by the Nurse Unit Manager Review and development of PM@H policies and procedures as delegated by Nurse Unit Manager Support model of care change for PM@H Foster a positive culture and facilitates practice changes in the department 4. Assumes a role of clinical and professional leadership through accountability for own professional development and practice Active membership within the Community of Practice team of Nursing Practice Development and Educator team at Peter Mac Demonstrated excellence in patient centred, evidence based nursing practice Demonstrating professional leadership through active involvement in nursing education at Peter Mac with the contribution of at least one presentation per year Active membership of relevant professional organisation(s) in order to promote reflection and review of clinical practice Attends at least one national or international conference of clinical, professional relevance per year Submission of at least one abstract for a conference presentation per year Formally appraises own performance against the Position Description at least annually __________________________________________________________________________________________________ For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion. Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing. WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally. Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.
