Careers
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.”
Belinda - physiotherapist
Belinda joined the team in 2017, in a newly created physiotherapy role at our children’s hospice, Very Special Kids House.
Belinda has relished the opportunity to develop the therapeutic offering in the hospice, helping children to do the things that really matter to them and their families. “There are so many more experiences for children and young people in the new hospice. In particular the hydrotherapy pool has become a popular facility where they can have fun, relax, exercise and play”.
Belinda says “While there are moments of sadness, there are also many magical moments of joy and making the most of every day. Very Special Kids is without a doubt my favourite place to work and I am certain I have the best job in the hospice!”
Current vacancies
Personal care workers
Full and part time positions
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.
As part of our diverse, expert team you will have access to education and training to enhance your personal and professional development; expert specialist resources; and the well-being support you need to make a bigger impact in the lives of children, young people, and their families.
Working in our children’s 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 Sunday 5 January 2025. 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.
Registered nurses
Full and part time positions
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.
As part of our diverse, expert team you will have access to education and training to enhance your personal and professional development; expert specialist resources; and the well-being support you need to make a bigger impact in the lives of children and their families.
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 Friday 3 January 2025. 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.
Commercial cook
4 to 5 days per week, Tuesday to Saturday
The commercial cook will be responsible for providing high quality and nutritious meals for up to eight children or young people in Very Special Kids House on any day tailoring meals to suit individual requirements.
You will bring with you experience in working in a commercial kitchen, hospital or residential setting. You will work collaboratively with the service delivery team to ensure our children and young people are provided with the highest quality meals and options.
Click here for position description.
Applications are open until Sunday 5 January 2025. 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.
Quality and infection control officer
Permanent part time – 0.6 FTE
Are you an experienced Quality Coordinator/Officer with Infection Control skills looking to work in an exciting environment with a passionate child and young person-centred team? We have a permanent position for two to four days per week at Very Special Kids House in Malvern.
We have an opportunity for a Quality and Infection Control Officer to join the Clinical Services team to support the management of clinical risk by monitoring and initiating improvements across the organisation. You will support organisational policy development, promote excellence in paediatric palliative care and ensure the organisation maintains NSQHS accreditation and ensuring regular audit activities are occurring.
To be successful you will ideally be APHRA registered, or degree qualified in health with a post graduate qualification in quality or risk management. You will have prior experience in similar role ideally in the community or a healthcare setting. Demonstrated experience and knowledge of quality management systems and with accreditation and quality improvement activities. You will have proven ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with multiple stakeholders within the organisation.
Click here for position description.
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.
Clinical nurse educator
Permanent part time – 0.8 to 1.0 FTE available
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.
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.
IT Manager
Permanent full time role
Reporting to the General Manager Business & Finance, we currently have a rewarding and dynamic role for a hands on IT Manager who will lead and direct team to ensure operational requirements are supported and enjoy responsibility for organisation-wide IT infrastructure management, business systems and IT project management.
In this role, your remit will include:
– IT governance, policies and processes, along with the equipment, data, human resources and external contacts (such as external IT support and suppliers) needed to ensure that our IT operations run smoothly and efficiently
– Analysis of hardware, software, networking components and data storage and consider the option of IT infrastructure deployment within a cloud computing system
– Monitor networks for potential security breaches and work closely with external support to mitigate cyber risk
– Identify how business requirements can be delivered by using IT capabilities and tools to ensure improved user experiences
– Lead the upgrade of our CMS which will involve a review of various products and vendors
– Work closely with the Salesforce Systems Administrator to ensure that our CRM has maximised functionality to enhance program outcomes.
About you:
– You’ll bring degree qualifications in I.T, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience
– 5+ years of experience in IT operations
– Experienced in leading and managing large IT projects and rolling out IT infrastructures across various technologies
– Excellent working knowledge of computer systems, security, network and systems administration, databases and data storage systems
– Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills
– Strategic thinking with demonstrated ability to develop and execute on strategic and operational plans
– Superior ability to analyse data and compile and present information, reports and correspondence
– Experienced in health services or a not for profit environment will be highly regarded
– Ideally experienced in leading and motivating a team or ready to start your leadership journey
– Your style will be authentic, empathetic, values driven and adaptable to be able to engage with stakeholders of all levels, internally and externally.
Click here for position description.
To apply, 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.