Req ID: 7776
Date: 31 Aug 2026
Site: VCCC (Parkville)
Location:
MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000
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Company: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Unit: Voluntary Assisted Dying
Division: Chief Medical Officer
Department: Chief Medical Officer
Enterprise Agreement: Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Sin
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Voluntary Assisted Dying
Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator
- Fixed term, full time role – 80 hours per fortnight with a monthly ADO
- Parkville location with flexible, hybrid working
- Up to $137,696 (pro-rata for part time) + salary packaging + super + 5 weeks annual leave
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) is a Victorian public health service and a world-leading comprehensive cancer centre, dedicated to excellence across all spheres of clinical care, research and education. We are home to the largest cancer research enterprise in Australia and provide treatment to around 40,000 people with cancer each year. Welcoming staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences is integral to fostering innovation and compassion, and delivering the best possible cancer care for our patients.
About the team
The Statewide Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Navigator Service provides expert support, navigation and coordination for patients, families and healthcare professionals navigating the Voluntary Assisted Dying process across Victoria. The service plays a critical role in promoting equitable access to VAD while ensuring safe, compliant and person-centred care under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017.
About the role
We are seeking a compassionate and highly skilled Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Care Navigator to join our specialist statewide service. This unique and rewarding role provides advanced clinical expertise, care navigation and coordination to support patients and families navigating the VAD pathway.
With legislative reforms coming into effect in April 2027, you will be instrumental in supporting the implementation of these changes, influencing practice development and helping clinicians and health services adapt to the evolving VAD landscape. Working across metropolitan Melbourne, you will collaborate with a range of stakeholders to ensure coordinated, patient-centred care.
A regular day will see you:
- Providing expert guidance to patients and families regarding VAD eligibility, processes and care pathways.
- Conducting comprehensive clinical and psychosocial assessments to support informed decision-making and care planning.
- Coordinating referrals, facilitating access to VAD practitioners and supporting continuity of care across acute, community, primary and palliative care settings.
- Delivering education, support and capacity-building initiatives for healthcare professionals, while contributing to the implementation of legislative reforms and service development.
About you
You are an experienced and compassionate healthcare professional with exceptional communication skills and a commitment to delivering person-centred care. You thrive in complex and sensitive environments, apply sound clinical judgement and are adaptable to changing healthcare contexts.
You'll bring with you:
- A tertiary qualification in a health-related discipline and current AHPRA (or equivalent) registration.
- Extensive clinical experience (typically 5+ years) in palliative care, oncology, chronic disease management and/or complex care coordination.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with patients, families, clinicians and other stakeholders.
- Advanced critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly within complex clinical and end-of-life care settings.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and adapt to rapidly changing environments.
- Knowledge of the Victorian healthcare system and relevant care pathways.
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
- Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
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 more information, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.
Laurie Draper, Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator
Phone: 0436 848 344
Email: [email protected]
Applications Close: 11:59PM Monday 14 September 2026
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Position Summary
The navigator service is a statewide service, hosted by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Victorians nearing their end of life who meet defined eligibility criteria are able to request assessment for Voluntary Assisted Dying under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigators are a small team of highly skilled clinicians. They are a point of contact for members of the public, health practitioners and health services across Victoria seeking information or support in accessing or delivering Voluntary Assisted Dying. The navigator service works with any health service or clinician, individual or family who seeks their input.
There are two key deliverables – 1) one-to-one support to individuals and families, and 2) building skills and capacity in the broader health service in supporting people in their care who want information or access to voluntary assisted dying.
The Navigators:
1. Provide information and practical support to people, carers and families, tailored to an individual’s circumstances, including identifying appropriate VAD referral pathways.
2. Support VAD assessing medical practitioners to navigate and comply with legislated processes.
3. Support the development of skills and capacity within the allocated region through ongoing professional education, supporting health services to develop, review or implement appropriate policies and procedures.
4. Identify local service gaps and contribute to improvement activities within the region and broader service as required.
Enterprise Agreement
NURSES AND MIDWIVES (VICTORIAN PUBLIC SECTOR) SINGLE INTEREST EMPLOYER AGREEMENT 2024-2028
Classification or Salary Range
Clinical Nurse Consultant CNC C (ZA7 - ZA8) or equivalent in Allied Health Discipline
Immunisation Risk Category
Immunisation Category B
Key Relationships
Internal • Health service clinical teams
External • VAD regional navigators
- Individuals requesting VAD, their families and their usual healthcare team
- VAD medical practitioners
- Primary Health Network/s
- Health services (public and private) clinical teams and leadership - GPs, specialists, end of life and palliative care services
- Residential aged care providers
Skills
Essential Requirements • Tertiary qualification in a health related field
- Relevant professional registration (e.g. AHPRA)
- Advanced communication skills (written, verbal and non-verbal) and strong interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with a wide range of people and services
- Demonstrated ability to apply adaptable problem solving, critical thinking and sound decision making
- Ability to work independently and prioritise workload in a fluctuating environment
- Demonstrated experience in implementing improvement initiatives
- Proficiency in core computer skills and commonly used health sector programs
- Willingness and ability to drive to attend home visits or health services (own vehicle or health service vehicle; note that travel costs are reimbursed if using own vehicle)
- Understanding of the Victorian health system and ability to identify appropriate referral pathways and/or coordinate access to voluntary assisted dying
Desirable Requirements • Clinical understanding of how accessing voluntary assisted dying may affect end of life care
- Experience in leading or contributing to cultural change that improves consumer or clinician experience
- Experience and expertise in community liaison, particularly with medical practitioners and health services
- Experience in developing and delivering education for healthcare professionals
- Comprehensive understanding of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017
Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
AHPRA Registration
Key Accountabilities
Key Accountabilities Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators
1: Information and support to individuals seeking voluntary assisted dying assessment
Provide information and practical support to people, carers and families, tailored to an individual’s circumstances, including identifying appropriate VAD referral pathways.
Information provided is timely, accurate and compliant with VAD legislation and processes
Individualised discussions reflect the person’s clinical, psychosocial and end of life context
Appropriate referral pathways are identified and facilitated, to VAD assessing doctors, health services and end of life supports
When ineligible, the person is linked to suitable alternative supports
Support Package information (funding to support equity of access) is provided appropriately to people seeking VAD and health professionals
Actions comply with Federal Criminal Code requirements
2: Information and support to VAD assessing doctors
Support VAD assessing medical practitioners to navigate and comply with legislated processes
Provide accurate and timely guidance and support to VAD assessing doctors with administrative requirements of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017
3: Information and support to clinicians and health services
Provide information and support about voluntary assisted dying, the legislation and process to participating and non-participating clinicians, health services and residential aged care
Be a source of expertise to health practitioners and health services with regards to voluntary assisted dying access and delivery
Ensure ongoing holistic healthcare by facilitating an appropriate communication pathway between all health care providers (including those participating and non-participating in voluntary assisted dying)
Coordinate and facilitate support throughout the Voluntary Assisted Dying process, including debriefing information and services where needed for health practitioners and staff following a voluntary assisted dying death.
Key Accountabilities (Contd..)
4: Build skills and capacity state-wide in supporting access to voluntary assisted dying
Ensure and support ongoing quality improvement and professional development in relation to Voluntary Assisted Dying
Be a reliable source of VAD expertise for clinicians and health services
Maintain effective communication pathways between all providers (participating and non participating) to support holistic care
Facilitate practitioner support throughout the VAD process as needed
Deliver ongoing education and upskilling on legislation and clinical considerations to clinicians, health services and relevant facilities as needed
Promote equity of access by collaborating with regional clinicians and health services to address barriers and support consistent VAD access
5. Identify service gaps and contribute to the planning and delivery of continuous service improvement.
Issues and risks are identified and solutions implemented to support equitable VAD access
Support growth and sustainability of the region’s VAD medical practitioner workforce through opportunities for doctors to complete the mandatory training and support to remain involved in VAD
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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.
