Position Description
Professional Practice and Education Manager
To enhance workforce capability and consistency of care across residential and community services through structured education, coaching and professional practice leadership. The role supports Barunga Village’s clinical governance framework by translating standards and strategic priorities into confident, person-centred practice.
Position Summary
The Professional Practice and Education Manager is a senior RN3 leadership role responsible for strengthening workforce capability and embedding consistent, high-quality, person-centred practice across Barunga Village’s residential and community services.
The role leads the design and delivery of professional practice education and applied coaching to support safe care, with particular focus on dementia, palliative and end-of-life care and other priority clinical areas.
Working within the clinical governance framework and in collaboration with operational and clinical leaders, the position supports organisational capability, workforce development and the translation of learning into confident, consistent practice.
Key Responsibilities
Practice Leadership and Applied Education
- Lead the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of professional practice education and capability-building initiatives across Barunga Village’s residential and community programs.
- Liaise with clinical managers and direct care leaders to identify learning and capability gaps arising from consumer needs, practice standards, quality data, practical assessments incidents and workforce feedback, and implement agreed development pathways.
- Deliver structured education and applied coaching that strengthens person-centred practice and supports the implementation of the Butterfly Approach, with governance accountability for restrictive practice, positive behaviour support planning and cultural monitoring retained by the Care Manager (Butterfly Approach).
- Support translation of palliative care plans and end-of-life pathways into confident, consistent practice through applied education and practice support.
- Facilitate clinical preceptorship, onboarding and mentoring for new direct care staff and students, with a focus on safe and emotionally connected practice.
Clinical Quality and Professional Practice Support
- Promote evidence-informed practice and support implementation of clinical guidelines, systems and processes endorsed through the clinical governance framework.
- Provide practice-based coaching to staff, including support with complex decision-making, documentation and reasoning.
- Observe, review and provide feedback on clinical and care practice to support consistency with agreed standards and inform continuous improvement within the clinical governance framework.
Organisational Capability and Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with the Director of Residential Services and Chief Clinical Officer [MM1.1][CM1.2], and Director of Community Services to align workforce capability development with clinical governance, quality, risk and strategic priorities.
- Liaise with clinical managers and direct care leaders regarding education and professional practice support needs across their portfolios.
- Collaborate with People and Culture to ensure professional practice education complements organisational workforce strategy and aligns with mandatory training and governance requirements.
- Contribute to workforce capability planning, strategic initiatives and continuous improvement across the organisation.
- Role-model Barunga Village’s values through professional conduct, respectful communication and positive professional leadership.
Essential Criteria
- Registered Nurse (AHPRA Registered)
- Demonstrated experience in clinical education, coaching or capability development
- Strong clinical knowledge in dementia care and palliative care
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage staff at all levels in relationships that build trust, confidence and capability
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision and exercise advanced clinical reasoning
- High level of organisation, flexibility and initiative
- Commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality care
- Current NDIS Worker Screening (or willingness to obtain)
- Current driver’s licence (for community program support)
Desirable Criteria
• Experience working in aged care across residential and/or community settings
• Experience in a dedicated nurse educator, clinical coach or workforce development role
• Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (TAE40116) or willingness to complete
• Knowledge of the Aged Care Quality Standards and current sector reforms
Classification & Conditions
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Classification: Level 3 Registered Nurse (in accordance with the applicable Enterprise Agreement)
• Location: Barunga Village, with work across residential aged care, community care and retirement-living programs
• Reports to: Director of Residential Services
Some of the work perks:
• Maximise your take home pay with Not – For – Profit Salary Packaging up to $15,900 p/a;
• EAP – Employee Assistance Program;
• Social Club (conditions apply);
• Ongoing training;
• Opportunities to upskill;
• Flexible working arrangements (Manager discretion).
How to apply:
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter by Friday 20th of March 2026.
Each application will be reviewed as it is received and if suitable, offered an interview for further consideration. The position will be filled if the right candidate is selected. Therefore, Barunga Village reserves the right to close this job offer before this date. We encourage you to apply at your earliest convenience to be considered.
