Working at the Roy Fagan Centre – A Career with Purpose
Who We Are
The Roy Fagan Centre (RFC) is Tasmania’s statewide specialised inpatient mental health facility for older persons, and part of Older Person’s Mental Health Service (OPMHS). We provide compassionate, person-centred care to individuals experiencing acute mental ill health, neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and complex psychiatric conditions. Our multidisciplinary team works across four purpose-built units, each designed to support dignity, safety, and therapeutic engagement.
What We Do
We deliver:
- Acute psychiatric care
- Dementia and neuropsychiatric treatment
- Geriatric rehabilitation
- Palliative and end-of-life care
- Rehabilitation and recovery-focused programs
- Support for families, carers, and community transitions
Our patients are older Tasmanians age 65+, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+, who require specialised mental health support. We also support individuals with young-onset neurodegenerative conditions.
Our Values and Culture
At RFC, live by the One Health CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. We also embrace:
- Flexibility and inclusivity
- Transparency and teamwork
- Holistic and trauma-informed care
- Collaboration with families, carers, and community partners
We foster a welcoming, non-clinical environment where music, nature, and creativity are part of everyday life. Staff are encouraged to personalise spaces, build meaningful relationships, and support consumers with empathy and respect.
To further enrich our culture, we actively implement the My Home Life program—an evidence-based approach that promotes quality of life for people living and working in care settings. Through this program, we focus on:
- Enhancing positive communication between staff, consumers, and families
- Strengthening relational care and emotional connection
- Encouraging shared decision-making and reflective practice
- Creating a culture of kindness, dignity, and mutual respect
My Home Life helps us ensure that every interaction is meaningful, every voice is heard, and every person—staff or consumer—feels valued and supported.
Why Work With Us?
As a manager and team, we offer:
- A deeply supportive and inclusive workplace
- Structured supervision, mentoring, and professional development
- Opportunities to specialise in dementia care, trauma-informed practice, and aged mental health
- Access to professional development opportunities tailored to your role and interests, including training in dementia care, trauma-informed practice, and mental health support.
- A vibrant, multidisciplinary team culture
- A chance to make a real difference in the lives of older Tasmanians
We value diversity, lived experience, and resilience. Whether you're a nurse, allied health professional, support worker, administrator, or environmental services, your contribution matters.
What We Look For
We seek individuals who:
- Are compassionate, curious, and collaborative
- Value dignity, autonomy, and person-centred care
- Are committed to continuous learning and reflective practice
- Can work respectfully with families, carers, and diverse communities
- Hold relevant qualifications and registration (e.g., AHPRA, NMBA)
Our Promise to Job Seekers
Join us and be part of a team that:
- Champions staff wellbeing and celebrates resilience
- Supports career progression and leadership development
- Creates a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment
- Delivers care that transforms lives—one moment, one act of kindness at a time
The Nursing Role
Nurses at the Roy Fagan Centre are at the heart of our care model, supporting older persons with complex mental health needs, neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and other age-related conditions. Our nursing team works within a multidisciplinary framework to deliver compassionate, person-centred care that prioritises dignity, safety, and emotional wellbeing.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Provides advanced clinical assessment and specialist practice within OPMHS.
- Undertakes complex clinical reviews, supports formulation and care planning, and guides evidence‑based interventions.
- Works closely with CNC/NUM to support clinical governance, risk management, and MDT participation.
- Acts as a senior clinical resource to nursing staff and supports skill development and reflective practice.
You will need:
- Extensive experience and strong clinical knowledge in mental health nursing, particularly in Older Persons Mental Health and dementia care, including the assessment and management of older adults with mental illness, cognitive impairment and BPSD across varied care settings.
- Demonstrated advanced written and oral communication, liaison, interpersonal and counselling skills within a multi-disciplinary team environment, including the ability to function confidently and negotiate recommendations for patient care across a wide range of stakeholder groups.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and documentation, including the Mental Health Act 2013, Guardianship and Administration Act, Right to Information Act, Work Health & Safety legislation, relevant statutory requirements and departmental policies and procedures.
Outline the key skills/requirements/Licenses of the role to set candidate expectations upfront detailed by the hiring manager/or from Selection criteria in the SOD.
Note: - Please refer to the Statement of Duties for all the selection criteria of this position to address in your application.
Why Tasmania:
The Department of Health Tasmania oversees various hospitals across the state, including the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, Northwest Regional Hospital, and Mersey Community Hospital, as well as district hospitals and ambulance services. Additionally, it provides community health, mental health, and primary healthcare services to the Tasmanian community through more than 300 sites.
Tasmania, Australia's only island state, offers unparalleled natural beauty and a luxurious lifestyle. Pursuing your health career in Tasmania’s public health system means building strong connections with colleagues and patients. It also means embracing a lifestyle where you can enjoy extraordinary experiences outside of work while making a significant impact on the community during work.
Details of appointment:
Permanent, full time, day worker (with on-call) position, working 76 hours per fortnight, commencing as soon as possible.
*notwithstanding hours to be negotiated with the successful applicant.
Applicants should note that, for a period of twelve months from the date of publication, this selection process may be used to fill subsequent or similar full time, part time, and casual vacancies.
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Salary: $109,767 to $115,813 per annum (Pro rata). Our Employer 12% superannuation contribution is on top of this amount.
- Salary range is in accordance with Nurses and Midwives (Tasmania State Service) Agreement 2023.
In addition, the following allowances calculated on the salaried incremental point may be available:
- Post Graduate Allowance of up to 10% based on qualification type
Salary Packaging:
You’ll have access to salary package a range of benefits including living expenses up to $9,010 + $2,650 in meal entertainment each FBT year + other benefits if eligible.
Benefits available to eligible candidates:
- Professional development.
- A range of leave entitlements, including study leave and Professional Development Support.
- Fitness Passport – You, and your family can access 40+ fitness facilities across Tasmania for just $14.50 per week per person, or $28.05 for a family.
- Department of Health has achieved the “Carer Accredited Employer Status” providing support to employees with caring responsibilities. (Find out more under the Carer Recognition Act 2023).
More information about our Employee Benefits can be found here
Eligibility:
Successful applicants will be required to meet the essential criteria:
Applicants should note the following criteria are desirable:
-
Extensive, relevant psychiatric nursing experience and/or is credentialed as a Mental Health Nurse by the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. or equivalent
-
Possess specialist tertiary graduate or post graduate mental health/psychiatric nursing qualification; or completed, prior to the transfer of nurse education to the tertiary sector, an accredited hospital-based program that led to registration as a psychiatric nurse by the relevant nurse regulatory authority within Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United Kingdom
Note: - Please refer to the Application Guide for more information of pre-employment check.
Download the Statement of Duties and any Associated Documents
We encourage you to review the Statement of Duties, Applicant Guide, prior to applying for an overview of the duties, program, selection process and application guidance.
Statement of Duties:
Application Guide:
How to apply:
Apply Online. Please click the "Apply" button on this screen to ensure that important questions about you are answered.
You will be prompted to complete a 1-2 page application detailing your experience, skills and knowledge as they relate to the attached Statement of Duties. A separate statement addressing the selection criteria in the Statement of Duties is not required.
For more information:
Applicants who require further information are encouraged to contact the Contact person for detailed information about the vacancy.
Stuart Beard
Director of Nursing
0499 874 501
stuart.beard@ths.tas.gov.au
What it is like working at the Department of Health?
Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence are the key values to work in Department of Health. Listen to some of the lived experiences from within the department through some of our wonderful staff and hear about their journey in relocating to Tasmania!
Make It Tasmania | Move for a great lifestyle
One Health Podcast - Spotify
One Health Podcast - Apple
Tasmanian Health Careers | Tasmanian
Department of Health has achieved the “Carer Accredited Employer Status” providing support to employees with caring responsibilities. (Find out more under the Carer Recognition Act 2023).
Respecting diversity is the foundation of everything that Department of Health do. This allows us to instil trust and collaborate through honest and fair communication and helps cultivate an environment of growth and innovation. We strongly encourage applicants from key communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living with disabilities.
