Job Description
Speech Pathologist Grade 2
- Full Time Fixed Term Position
- Hours: 80 Hours per Fortnight (with ADO)
- Salary: $ 90,235 to $ 103,724 per annum + Super + Salary Packaging
- Campus: Parkville
At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.
This is an exciting opportunity to recruit to a full-time, fixed-term Grade 2 Speech Pathologist 1.0EFT position (12-month parental leave backfill) within the Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department of this specialist cancer centre.
We are seeking a speech pathologist with clinical experience in head and neck cancer and who is passionate about working in the field of oncology. The successful applicant will provide evidence-based specialised speech pathology services to inpatients and ambulatory patients in a multidisciplinary care setting at the Peter Mac Melbourne and/or Moorabbin campuses.
This position is not directly linked with a specific clinical workload, however the successful applicant will work within the area of head and neck cancer - seeing patients across the entire trajectory including patients undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments, in addition to working with patients from other tumour streams.
This position includes the provision of education/training (including student supervision), involvement in quality improvement projects and research projects where applicable. We are seeking a hard-working clinician with excellent clinical, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills. This position is to start from Mon 23rd Nov 2026.
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
- Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
- Discounted health insurance and eye care
- A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
- Public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists
- Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces
- Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
- Five weeks annual leave, 17.5% leave loading & purchased leave
- Flexible, hybrid working practices
Inclusion and belonging
Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.
Join us!
If you feel this role is right for you, we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to satisfactory police check and may include vaccination requirements. Should you need assistance or require any adjustments or accommodations to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.
For further information about this opportunity, please review the position description and/or contact us for a confidential discussion.
Contact Person: Rhys Hughes - Senior Speech Pathologist
Contact Number: 03 8559 5221
Email: rhys.hughes@petermac.org
Applications Close 11:59: Thursday 1 October 2026
Position Summary
To provide assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties to inpatients and ambulatory patients. To perform the duties of this position efficiently to the standards of the department and the organisation. To perform the duties of this position independently, while identifying the need for, and seeking, support when required. The role may also include involvement in department quality, education/training, projects and research as required.
Enterprise Agreement
Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2021 - 2025
Classification or Salary Range
Grade 2 (VW1 – VW4)
Immunisation Risk Category
Immunisation Category A
Key Relationships
Internal
- All Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department members
- All members of the multidisciplinary patient care teams
- Food Services Department
- Allied Health Departments
External
- Effective working relationships with all parties involved with/impact upon patient care whether they are hospital, industry or community based
- Maintaining links with appropriate professional bodies
Education
Bachelor of Speech Pathology
Master of Speech Pathology
Skills
Essential Requirements
- Bachelor or Masters of Speech Pathology or equivalent
- Eligible for membership to Speech Pathology Australia (including eligible for Professional Self-Regulation program)
- Solid experience in the assessment and management of patients with swallowing and communication disorders in a major teaching hospital/acute care facility
- Competency and experience in undertaking and interpreting videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs)
- Experience in speech pathology student supervision
- Proven ability to work both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team
- Proven commitment to own professional development
- Flexible and patient focused approach to clinical workload
- High level verbal and written communication skills in addition to high level word processing and computer skills
- Strong organisational and time management skills
Desirable Requirements
- Competency and experience in tracheostomy management
- Competency and experience in the area of head and neck cancer including laryngectomy management
- Competency and experience in undertaking and interpreting fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
- Interest and experience in quality improvement activities and service development
- Interest and experience in clinical research
Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
Eligible for membership to Speech Pathology Australia (including eligible for Professional Self-Regulation program)
Key Accountabilities
Key Accountabilities Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators
- Clinical/patient care
- Effective in undertaking the planning, evaluation & implementation of speech pathology service delivery
- Demonstrates on-going commitment to providing evidenced based practice and improving the Speech Pathology service with particular focus on improving patient outcomes
- High level communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to consult, liaise and negotiate with patients, carers, family members, members of the wider community and other professions
- Works effectively as a member of the Speech Pathology team
- Assessment, intervention and multidisciplinary liaison relating to assigned inpatients within 24 hours of issue identification
- Effective management of ambulatory patients within assigned workload according to Department guidelines
- Manage a high quality, varied clinical caseload (approximately 70-80% clinical load)
- Application of sound theoretical principles to clinical practice
- Provision of expert advice to multidisciplinary team, patients and their carers
- Co-ordination and prioritisation of referrals
- Time management and flexibility, to ensure a safe and effective service
- 100% completion of all patient related documentation and statistics according to Department/organisational guidelines
- Effective representation at designated team and ward meetings
- Appropriate patient review, follow-up and communication as per Department guidelines
- Effective, timely and appropriate handover of ongoing issues within the Speech Pathology team and/or to other staff or healthcare provider
- Teaching and education
- Participates in relevant education/training appropriate to workload and position
- Contributes to the training and supervision of agreed students/other staff as appropriate
- Contributes to providing evidence based education to staff, colleagues and other health professionals in the area of speech pathology management
- Assists with and participates in speech pathology student placements including student supervision as required
- 100% participation in all department based continuing education programs (including critical appraisal, continuing education/clinical case conferences)
- Provides education and training to other health professionals, students and patients/carers as appropriate
- Contributes to the development and implementation of lectures/workshops/ inservices for the profession and Peter Mac in consultation with Head of Department
- Participates in the development and review of relevant education resources internally and externally as appropriate
- Quality improvement activities and service development
- Participation in development and reporting of agreed quality activities
- Participates and contributes to the Department quality improvement program including audits and KPI’s as appropriate, in consultation with Head of Department
Key Accountabilities (Contd..)
- Works effectively and contributes to relationships with key stakeholders
- Liaises with Head of Department/Speech Pathology team members to identify areas of potential improvement, develop processes to measure/improve systems and activities as agreed and promote best practice activities
- Contributes to the development and review of relevant policies, procedures and clinical guidelines where appropriate
- Acts as an advocate for development of speech pathology services within tumour streams
- Maintains and develops relationship with relevant Services and Departments to provide safe and appropriate care for patients
- Research and projects
- Participation in approved research activities and projects within the Department and organisation
- Collects data related to current research projects as required
- Develop, promote and contribute to evidence/best practice activities and research that lead to improved outcomes for patients in consultation with Head of Department/Speech Pathology team
- Contribute to raising the profile and position of the Speech Pathology team as a leader in oncology speech pathology
- Administration
- Active participation in Department based activities
- 100% participation in all department based meetings, planning activities (including strategic planning and business/operational planning) and continuing education programs
- Participation and rotation to other campuses as agreed
- Maintain all patient confidentiality as per Peter Mac policies and procedures
- Completion of agreed non-clinical activities as directed/in consultation with Head of Department/Speech Pathology team
- Professional development
- Works effectively as a member of the Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department
- Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development
- Maintain a high standard of knowledge and expertise in professionally relevant areas through ongoing education and professional development
- Has detailed knowledge of, and is able to access resources internally and externally to achieve positive outcomes
- 100% participation/adherence to both Peter Mac and departmental policies & procedures
- Knowledge and application of the principles outlined in relevant professional and organisational policies and acts (including Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice and the organisations Code of Conduct)
- Attends, participates and contributes to relevant seminars/conferences/special interest groups/other continuing education
- Participate in Department performance appraisal and supervision processes
- Perform other activities as requested by the Head of Department
- Information management and reporting
- 100% completion and maintenance of patient documentation within agreed timeframes (same day for inpatients; next working day for ambulatory patients) and adherence to Department documentation guidelines
- 100% correct completion and maintenance of workload statistical records by next working day
For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.
Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.
WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC
- Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
- Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
- We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.
