The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network is seeking an exceptional and visionary Nursing Director to lead the newly expanded Non-Inpatient Forensic Mental Health Services portfolio. This pivotal executive nursing leadership position presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of forensic mental health service delivery across community, prison and custodial settings, while improving outcomes for consumers, enhancing workforce capability and strengthening community safety.
As part of a significant service expansion and investment in forensic mental health services, this newly established role will provide strategic and operational leadership across the non-inpatient Forensic Mental Health Services. The position will play a critical role in building contemporary, sustainable and integrated models of care that strengthen continuity of care across prison, inpatient and community settings.
Reporting directly to the Divisional Director Nursing, Division of Forensic Mental Health, the Nursing Director will be accountable for nursing governance, professional leadership, clinical excellence, workforce strategy, service development and operational performance across a growing multidisciplinary portfolio.
The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership during a period of significant service growth and transformation. Lead the establishment and implementation of new non-inpatient forensic mental health service models. Drive innovation, service integration and improvement across community, prison and custodial mental health services. Foster a culture of clinical excellence, safety, accountability and person-centred care. Develop and strengthen multidisciplinary teams to meet increasing service demand and complexity. Build productive partnerships across health, justice, correctional and community sectors. Ensure effective governance, risk management, legislative compliance and financial stewardship.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong track record in leading large-scale service redesign, organisational transformation and complex projects within healthcare environments. They will possess the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, navigate ambiguity, influence diverse stakeholders and deliver sustainable change that strengthens clinical services, workforce capability and organisational performance
The successful candidate must be a contemporary nursing leader with exceptional strategic capability, highly developed relationship management skills and a proven ability to lead complex health services through periods of change and growth.
To be considered for this position, you must hold registration or eligibility for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Possess extensive senior leadership experience within mental health, forensic mental health or complex healthcare environments. Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary services, large workforces and major service reform initiatives. Expertise in clinical governance, workforce development, quality improvement and operational management. Outstanding communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills. Have a commitment to innovation, consumer-centred care and building high-performing workplace cultures.
If you are an accomplished nursing executive who is passionate about transformational leadership, service excellence and improving outcomes for some of our most complex and vulnerable consumers, we invite you to apply for this unique leadership opportunity.
About Adelaide:
Adelaide is consistently recognised as a city that artfully combines its compact charm and world-class cuisine with picturesque nature escapes. Ranked one of the worlds “Most Liveable Cities” and “Most Beautiful Cities”, Adelaide provides something for everyone combining a wonderful mix of nature with nearby beaches, rolling hills and wildlife and culinary delights with fine dining restaurants, award-winning cafes, bustling food markets and booming boutique bars. Events like the LIV Golf, SANTOS Tour Down Under, Adelaide Fringe and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival add extra appeal to living here.
About Us:
The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is a leading provider of public healthcare services in South Australia, and one of the largest employers in northern Adelaide.
NALHN serves over 400,000 people in northern Adelaide with a comprehensive range of high-quality healthcare services, including emergency, surgical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric, oncology, geriatric, palliative care and rehabilitation, and mental health care, as well as primary health care services with a focus on community health promotion and chronic disease management.
With a commitment for ongoing upgrades to our facilities and the introduction of new services, our priority is delivering exceptional health and wellbeing services that enhance the quality of life for our community.
With over 7,500 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.
Our Local Health Network Sites and Services:
NALHN provides a range of hospital (inpatient), outpatient, community and home-based services across multiple sites in Adelaide’s north and north-eastern suburbs, including Aboriginal health, mental health, and GP services.
Lyell McEwin Hospital – the major hospital in northern Adelaide for emergency care, complex and multi-day surgery, medicine, obstetric, paediatrics and outpatient services.
Modbury Hospital – a general hospital with emergency care, elective surgery, medicine, outpatient and sub-acute services, rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care.
Mental Health Services – adult and older persons mental health services and statewide forensic mental health services, across hospital and community settings.
Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services – provides culturally responsive primary healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in-hospital and across four community sites.
Primary Health Care Services – including GP Plus sites at Elizabeth, Modbury and Gilles Plains.
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):
Immunisation Risk for this position is – Category A (direct 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: 950109
Enquiries:
Dylan Carter
Nurse Manager
Phone: 0478 967 509
E-mail: Dylan.Carter@sa.gov.au
Application Closing Date:
6 November 2026 – 11.55PM
Role Description and Further Information:
950109 - Nursing Director - RN5 - Forensic Mental Health - Role Description.pdf
For more information about Mental Health Nursing at NALHN visit our Mental Health Nursing Careers page.
For more information about Mental Health vacancies at NALHN visit our Careers in Mental Health page.
* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information.
