- Northern Adelaide Local Health Network – Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospitals – Elizabeth Vale and Modbury
- Salary: $167,282 p.a. plus Superannuation and Salary Sacrifice benefits – RN5.2
- Ongoing Full-Time
About the Role:
Are you a strategic and inspiring nursing leader ready to make a lasting impact on surgical and anaesthetic services?
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is seeking an exceptional Nursing Director to provide visionary leadership across the Division of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthesia. This senior role offers a rare opportunity to influence health outcomes in one of South Australia’s most diverse, dynamic, and rapidly growing communities while shaping the future of nursing practice.
In this pivotal position, you will provide overarching strategic, operational, and corporate leadership for nursing services across surgical specialties and anaesthesia. With accountability for governance, quality, and performance, you will ensure nursing services are delivered safely, sustainably, and in line with best practice, while fostering healthy, inclusive, and high‑performing work environments.
As Nursing Director, you will set direction and lead with purpose by:
- providing strategic leadership and governance for nursing services across Surgical Specialties and Anaesthesia
- championing patient-centred care, clinical excellence, quality improvement, and workforce capability
- leading and supporting a diverse leadership cohort, including Nurse Unit Managers, Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioners, and the Theatre Sterilising Unit Manager
- collaborating across multidisciplinary, organisational, and external networks to promote integrated and seamless models of care
- driving innovation, change management, and service improvement to meet evolving clinical and operational needs
- ensuring effective resource management, financial responsibility, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements
To be eligible for this position, you must be registered or eligible for registration as a Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and who holds, or who is eligible to hold, a current practicing certificate. Qualifications in and/or experience in a Surgical or Anaesthetic setting is highly desirable.
About You:
Success in this role calls for demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary teams in a complex health environment. A minimum of five years’ post‑registration experience is essential.
You are also recognised for your:
- highly developed communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills
- ability to perform effectively under pressure and prioritise competing demands
- experience leading complex projects and services through periods of significant change
- strong background in quality improvement, contemporary management practices, and innovation
- sound knowledge of relevant legislation, industrial agreements, professional standards, and ethics
- understanding of Work Health and Safety principles, the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, and health accreditation requirements
- proven expertise in clinical governance, risk management, and contemporary nursing practice
- a strong commitment to cultural safety, equity, respectful relationships, and workforce wellbeing
If you are motivated to shape the future of surgical and anaesthetic nursing, and lead with inspiration and integrity, we look forward to receiving your application.
About Us:
The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is a leading provider of public healthcare services in South Australia.
NALHN serves over 400,000 people in northern Adelaide with a comprehensive range of high-quality medical services, including emergency, surgical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric, oncology, geriatric, palliative care and rehabilitation, and mental health care. Recently, NALHN has upgraded its facilities and plans to expand further. The network provides primary health care with a focus on community health promotion and chronic disease management. With nearly 6,500 employees, NALHN emphasises quality care and a supportive work environment guided by respect, integrity, and accountability. Our core values foster excellence, innovation, and equitable health outcomes.
At NALHN Everyone Has a Story, Everyone Matters, Everyone Contributes and Everyone Grows.
Benefits of working at NALHN:
From salary packaging to flexible working arrangements, a large range of opportunities for movement and career progression, you’ll find there are lots of benefits of working with Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Salary packaging is an option for saving money by paying for some of your everyday expenses from your salary before it is taxed.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants from interstate or overseas.
NALHN supports and fosters a culture in which employees feel they belong and feel safe at work. The culture aims to encourage all people to use their talents and to be valued and rewarded for their contributions.
SA Health is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTIQA+SB community and people who live with disability and/or neurodivergence.
We are committed to making workplace adjustments to provide a positive and supportive work environment. You are encouraged to let us know if you have any support or access requirements during the recruitment process and beyond to ensure you can perform at your best.
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check.
Check(s):
- DHS Working With Children Check (WWCC)
- National Police Check (National Police Certificate) for general employment probity, vulnerable person-related employment and aged care sector screening – apply to any of the accredited bodies approved to offer a service direct to the public. Accreditation is provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. See our National Police Certificate accredited bodies page for links to lodge screening requests.
Immunisation Risk for this position is – Category B (indirect contact with blood or body substances)
SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job Ref: 934498
Enquiries:
Julia Strawbridge
Divisional Director (Nursing) DSSA
Phone: (08) 8182 9233
E-mail: julia.strawbridge@sa.gov.au
Application Closing Date:
15 May 2026 – 11.55PM.
Role Description and Further Information:
934498 - Nursing Director - Division of Surgical Specialties and Anaesthesia - RN5.2 - role description.pdf
* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information.
