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Working or volunteering for Very Special Kids offers a unique, rewarding and fulfilling opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of children, young people and families facing childhood life-limiting illness. Our circa 100 employees and more than 600 volunteers provide essential, free-of-charge paediatric palliative care services across Victoria.

Culture at Very Special Kids

At Very Special Kids, we cultivate a nurturing and inclusive culture that prioritises the empowerment, support, and safety of our team members as they care for children and families.

We value teamwork, collaboration, and personal growth, creating a positive atmosphere that encourages professional development and wellbeing.

Our goal is for our workforce to reflect the diverse community we serve.  We continually seek to employ people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, with a disability, Aboriginal Australians and varied cultural backgrounds.

Why work at Very Special Kids

Learning and development – we are committed to providing programs and opportunities to develop and maintain a highly skilled workforce, including formal and on the job training, and professional development allowance.

Benefits – employees can access discounted health insurance, wellbeing support, an immunisation program, a very special discounts program and free onsite parking.

Careers – we offer generous study leave and study assistance to all employees, a learning and development allowance and annual performance reviews.

Compensation – as a not-for-profit organisation, all employees are entitled to salary packaging benefits including novated car leasing and generous leave entitlements. Service delivery staff receive added value through their enterprise agreement.

Meet some team members

Meg - family support team leader

Meg has been with Very Special Kids since 2013 and worked with us in the early 2000s. Meg is the Team Leader of our highly professional Family Support Team.

 

Meg has a Bachelor of Science Health from the University of Texas, San Antonio, a Bachelor of Social Work, and a Master of Social Work, both from the University of Melbourne. She is also undertaking a PhD at the University of Melbourne, researching the lived experiences of bereaved siblings aged 5years to 12years. Her specific areas of practice include grief and bereavement counselling and support, psychosocial support, advocacy, play-based counselling with children, children’s rights, community education and program development.

 

Meg facilitates the Very Special Kids Children’s Advisory Group, where members are responsible for sharing ideas, views, insights, reflections and providing input into the way Very Special Kids supports children within the organisation.

 

Meg is EPEC paediatrics trained and is a member of the International Work Group of Death, Dying and Bereavement.

 

Cat - donor relations lead

Cat joined Very Special Kids in May 2021 after many years working with children’s charities.

 

The former primary school teacher is now part of the team who raise the valuable funds that keeps Very Special Kids open and free to families.  “Knowing that every dollar I am able to raise goes towards the crucial programs and services helping the very special children and families in our care, keeps me motivated.”

 

And on working with Very Special Kids, Cat says: “I feel grateful every single day to work for Very Special Kids – what a very special bunch of people! You’d be hard pressed to find a more rewarding and heart-warming organisation to work for. All our colleagues live and breathe the ethos, and as a result I get to work with such kind, caring and genuine people every day.”

 

Jaffa - very special therapy dog

There is one thing that certainly brightens up a child’s day at Very Special Kids House – and that is when Jaffa makes her way into the room.

 

Jaffa has been with us since February 2021 and is much loved by staff, volunteers and, most importantly, the kids.

 

Jaffa is gentle, calming and highly intuitive. She is trained to help children and young people turn the pages of their books and offers encouragement to initiate movement during their physiotherapy sessions.

 

Many children have fallen asleep with Jaffa by their side, and she has also helped children reluctant to get out of bed and encouraged them to take the leash and walk her up and down the path or onto the front lawn for a game of fetch.

 

Time spent with Jaffa can also be meaningful to a child who is missing their own pet at home, bringing normality to their stay.

 

Jaffa creates a relaxed environment in the hospice, enabling children and young people to feel comfortable, settled and supported. She not only provides physical comfort to assist children in regulating their emotions when adapting to new and unfamiliar situations, but her interventions also provide pure joy.

 

Current vacancies

Clinical nurse educator

 

Permanent part time – 0.8 to 1.0 FTE available

 

View role

We have an exciting opportunity available for clinical nurse educator based at Very Special Kids House in Malvern.

 

Working in our hospice, the Clinical Nurse Educator is responsible for:

– Designing and implementing continuing professional education programs including clinical competency assessment tools that promote excellence in paediatric palliative care nursing practice.
– Completing skills analysis and formulating individual development plans when necessary to ensure competence within the nursing and personal care teams.
– Coordinating and/or teaching theoretical and practical paediatric palliative care nursing education within programmes, study days, and/or activities.
– Working effectively as a hands-on part of a skilled, creative, professional, and compassionate team.
– Ensuring all clinical nursing practice and delivery of care of the shift is consistent with Very Special Kids and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Standards, NSQHS Standards and accepts responsibility for professional activities that support service delivery and the professional development of self and others.

 

To be successful in this role you will have:

– A minimum of 5 + years post-graduation Registered Nursing experience
– Paediatric nursing experience within a community, hospital or hospice setting
– Experience in an education role in a health setting
– Experience in caring for children and young people with life limiting conditions (highly desirable)

 

Click here for position description.

 

Applications are open until Thursday 31 October. Please include a cover letter, addressing the key selection criteria and an updated copy of your resume via jobs@vsk.org.au. We will review applications as they are received.

Registered nurses

 

Full and part time positions available

 

View role

We currently have a number of exciting opportunities for full time and part time Registered Nurses to join our team. If you are passionate about caring for children and are seeking more purpose, fulfilment, and connection in your everyday work – Very Special Kids might be your perfect fit.

 

Working in our hospice, the Registered Nurse is responsible for:

– Ensuring all clinical nursing practice and delivery of care of the shift is consistent with Very Special Kids and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Standards, NSQHS Standards and accepts responsibility for professional activities that support service delivery and the professional development of self and others.
– Providing comprehensive, safe, evidence-based practice to facilitate optimal care; performing self-assessment of scope of practice and competence related to assigned responsibilities.
– Provision of high-quality care to the children and families accessing Very Special Kids House is demonstrated.
– Works effectively as a hands-on part of a skilled, creative, professional, and compassionate team.

 

Our preference is that you will be a Registered Nurse with at least 2 + years post-graduate Registered Nursing experience, however if you have less experience but have a passion for providing holistic, family centred care we welcome your application.

 

Click here for position description.

 

Applications are open until Thursday 31 October. When applying, please include a cover letter, addressing the key selection criteria and an updated copy of your resume to jobs@vsk.org.au. We will review applications as they are received.

Personal care workers

 

Full and part time positions available

 

View role

We currently have a number of opportunities for full time and part time Personal Care Workers to join our team. If you are passionate about caring for children and young people are seeking more purpose, fulfilment, and connection in your everyday work – Very Special Kids might be your perfect fit.

 

Working in our Sister Margaret Noone Hospice, Personal Care Workers are responsible for:

– The delivery of individualised, high quality holistic care to children and young people and their families accessing Very Special Kids.
– Working effectively as part of a skilled, creative, professional, and compassionate team
– Participate in the coordination of play, therapies and activities for the children and young people at Very Special Kids
– Assist and support the Allied Health and Nursing team in the delivery of programmes and care.

 

Our preference is that you will have at least 12 months previous experience working with children within the health, disability, and/or the palliative care sector, or in aged care along with a Cert III in Disability or similar qualification. If you have less experience but have a passion for providing holistic, family centred care we welcome your application.

 

Click here for position description.

 

Applications are open until Thursday 31 October. Please include a cover letter, addressing the key selection criteria and an updated copy of your resume via jobs@vsk.org.au. We will review applications as they are received.