Head of Clinical Governance

Competitive Remuneration + Generous Salary Packaging

Permanent, Full-Time Position

Sydney or Darwin location

CareFlight is an Australian “for purpose” aeromedical organisation voted consistently as one of Australia’s most trusted Brands. Our mission is to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community through delivering our charitable social purpose.

Proudly a 2023 HRD 5 Star Employer of Choice, we operate across Australia, with major base locations in NSW, and the NT. Our specially trained doctors, nurses and aircrew use helicopters, turbo prop aircraft, aeromedical jets and patient transport vehicles to provide critical support to over 8,500 patients each year. We also deploy medical professionals and aircraft in support of defence, government and commercial contracts, and energy and resource sector sites.

The role:

We currently have an opportunity for a Head of Clinical Governance to join the organisation and be a key member of CareFlight’s Information Clinical team.

Reporting to our National Medical Director and General Manager – Clinical, your objectives will be to act as the day-to-day lead for clinical governance, safety and quality in the organisation. As well as lead the CareFlight National Safety and Quality Health Standards (NSQHS) Accreditation Program and be the lead for the Clinical Safety, Quality and Excellence within the Clinical Executive.

About You

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Work collaboratively, with CareFlight’s Clinical Executive Committee, develop, implement and evaluate policies, procedures, standards and models related to clinical governance. Specific governance activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate clinical governance evidence and audit activities.
• Align SOPs across the organisation.
• Investigate clinical incidents.
• Report on clinical incident outcomes to the clinical executive and other health authorities as appropriate.
• Chair the relevant Clinical Safety, Quality and Excellence workgroups and participate in other clinical workgroups as needed.
• Communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of staff, including dissemination of new policies and procedures amongst the clinical teams.
• Liaise and consult effectively with national, state and local health services to maximise implementation of evidence based best clinical initiatives.
• In partnership with the Safety Committee team, participate in Quality improvement audits and projects to monitor implemented policies and procedures and to ensure implemented changes are being followed.
• Works with the clinical team to identify gaps and initiate collaborative research and improvements aimed at enhancing quality of care.

To be successful in this role you will have the following:

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in a clinical field (e.g., medicine, nursing, paramedicine, or allied health), with current registration or eligibility for registration with the relevant professional body (if applicable).
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in clinical governance, quality and safety, or healthcare risk management within a complex clinical environment.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical governance frameworks, patient safety principles, accreditation standards (e.g., NSQHS), and relevant healthcare legislation and policy.
• Proven ability to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical quality improvement initiatives and systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using data to inform strategy, monitor performance, and drive safety and quality improvements.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and build relationships across multidisciplinary teams and executive leadership.
• Experience in managing clinical incidents, conducting root cause analyses, and implementing system-wide learnings.

Desirable

• Flight nursing or retrieval paramedical experience.
• Current registration with AHPRA as a registered nurse or paramedic.
• Previous experience in a clinical leadership role.
• Experience with QIP Accreditation platform.
• Demonstrated understanding of prehospital and retrieval medicine & aeromedical operations.
• Demonstrated ability to scope and deliver projects through a multiskilled, geographically spread workforce.
• Current Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency registration.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high level advice to managers and leaders on quality and safety matters and respond to deadlines.
• Post graduate qualifications or working towards same in relevant related disciplines.
• Understanding of rural and remote health care delivery.

How to apply

If you would like to be part of our team, you can apply using the link below. Please ensure you attach a current resume and covering letter that addresses the role’s essential criteria. Applications for this opportunity will close on Thursday 7th August 2025.

For additional information, please contact recruitment@careflight.org

CareFlight values diversity in the workplace.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply.

All employees must comply with CareFlight’s Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP) as required by CASA and may be subject to random workplace testing.

Criminal Record and Working with Children Checks also apply.

CareFlight: ‘The next life we save could be yours’