Paediatric Palliative Care Social Worker

**Join a compassionate and expert paediatric social work team where meaningful connections, professional growth, and truly impactful work go hand in hand.**

**Remuneration**: $61.35 - $62.84 per hour + super + salary packaging
**Employment Type**: Permanent Part Time
**Position Classification**: Social Worker Lvl 4
**Location**: John Hunter Children's Hospital
**Hours Per Week**: 24
**Requisition ID**: REQ588519
**Applications Close**: Wednesday 20th August 2025

**Where you'll be working**:
The John Hunter Children's Hospital social work team is passionate and dedicated to providing support and therapeutic intervention to patients and their families. We are a team with a vast amount of experience and knowledge. You will be surrounded by welcoming social workers keen to share their expertise and provide lots of support to you in your new role. We have regular team meetings and safety huddles to ensure clear communication, access to team consultation and maintaining positive team rapport.

**About the role**:
A typical week for a paediatric palliative care social worker blends emotional support, crisis intervention, care planning, and inter-agency coordination. This involves one on one sessions (face to face or over the phone) with children and/or families providing psychosocial support and assessment, attending weekly IDT meetings, home visits, liaising with external stakeholder, advocating for children/families and providing ongoing education and support to staff throughout the district regarding social work in paediatric palliative care.

The successful applicant will be well-supported by a friendly and experienced social work team, including guidance from the team manager and regular supervision aligned with AASW guidelines. A comprehensive orientation manual ensures a smooth transition into the role, covering everything from practical logistics to technical systems. Ongoing learning is a key part of our team culture, with access to monthly team education sessions, John Hunter Hospital social work department education, paediatric grand rounds, Schwartz Rounds, and HETI's extensive online training. We actively encourage and support staff in pursuing both internal and external professional development opportunities.

**About you**:
Key Skills and Attributes We're Looking For:

- Emotional Resilience and Self-Awareness
- Child Protection Knowledge and Mandatory Reporting
- Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Clinical Social Work Competence
- Ethical Integrity and Professional Judgement

Attributes We Value:

- Ability to stay calm and grounded under pressure
- A collaborative, team-focused approach
- Commitment to trauma-informed and culturally safe practice, especially when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Adaptability and a proactive mindset

**Requirements**:

- Tertiary qualifications in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer.
- Minimum 3 years clinical experience that demonstrates skilled expertise and knowledge in Paediatric Palliative Care.
- Eligibility to drive and willingness to travel for work purposes.

**What we can offer you**:
At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

- Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
- Proximity to shopping and other services
- 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
- Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance
- Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing
- Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members

**Additional information**:

- An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part time and temporary part time vacancies.
- We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

**Need more information?**
1) Click here for the Position Description

**Information for Applicants**:
**This is a Category A position**. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with**NSW Health policy directive **PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases** for Category A positions prior to offer.**All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health's commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All curre