Central Gippsland Health (CGH) is a sub-regional health service and the major provider of health and aged care services in the Wellington Shire. We are located in the City of Sale which is 215 km east of Melbourne. The City of Sale is an ideal access point for the magnificent Gippsland Lakes, 90 Mile Beach and the Victorian Alps.

Nurse Unit Manager – Wilson Lodge & Specialist Dementia Care Unit

An exciting opportunity to lead an established residential aged care service while helping shape the future of specialist dementia care at Central Gippsland Health.

Central Gippsland Health is seeking an experienced and motivated Nurse Unit Manager to provide leadership and operational oversight of Wilson Lodge, including our new Specialist Dementia Care Unit (SDCU) currently under development.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to join us at an exciting time of growth and service development. Alongside leading the day-to-day operations of Wilson Lodge, you will play an important role in establishing the new SDCU and supporting its transition into operation.

About the role

As Nurse Unit Manager, you will provide overall leadership and management of Wilson Lodge, with responsibility for workforce, care governance, quality and safety, operational performance, resident experience and continuous improvement.

You will also provide management oversight of the new SDCU and work closely with a dedicated Clinical Nurse Consultant – SDCU, who will provide specialist clinical leadership and dementia expertise within the unit.

You will have the opportunity to help shape the SDCU as it develops, including its workforce, culture, operational processes and integration within the broader Wilson Lodge service.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strong, visible and supportive leadership across Wilson Lodge and the SDCU.
• Leading workforce planning, recruitment, performance and staff development.
• Ensuring safe, high-quality and person-centred care for residents.
• Providing operational and management oversight of the SDCU as it is established and commissioned.
• Working collaboratively with the SDCU Clinical Nurse Consultant and multidisciplinary team.
• Leading quality, safety, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Building a positive workplace culture where staff feel supported, valued and confident in delivering excellent care.
• Developing strong relationships with residents, families, employees and key stakeholders.

About you

We are looking for a nurse leader who is passionate about aged care, people and service improvement.

You will bring strong leadership and communication skills, sound clinical and operational judgement, and the ability to engage and support teams through change.

Experience in residential aged care, dementia care and/or nursing leadership will be highly regarded, along with an understanding of contemporary aged care quality, safety and regulatory requirements.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is excited by the opportunity to lead an established service while helping us build something new.

Why join us?

This role offers an opportunity to have a genuine influence on the future of residential aged care and specialist dementia care within our community.

You will be supported by the Director of Aged Care Services, the specialist SDCU Clinical Nurse Consultant and broader CGH clinical, education, People and Culture and corporate support teams.

With the SDCU currently under development, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to be involved from the beginning — helping to establish the workforce, culture and operational foundations of a service designed to provide specialised care for people living with severe and complex dementia, closer to home.

If you are an experienced nurse leader looking for your next challenge and would like the opportunity to lead, influence and help shape an exciting new model of care, we would love to hear from you.