The Registered Nurse (RN) Refresher Program

Job Description:

Part Time (0.6 - 0.8 FTE) Fixed term (8-10 weeks)
Commencing 1st June 2026

The Registered Nurse (RN) Refresher Program provides scholarship and clinical support to RNs seeking an opportunity to return to practice or refresh skills in the acute or sub-acute hospital setting.

SVHM is offering Registered Nurses the opportunity to confidently re-enter the nursing workforce or refresh prior skills and return to the acute setting in a supported program. This structured Refresher program combines education ward-based clinical learning and dedicated support to help you build clinical confidence and strengthen contemporary nursing skills.

$10000 Department of Health scholarships are available* to assist eligible candidates with the costs associated with participation including living expenses and travel while completing the unpaid program.

This supported RN Refresher program is designed for Registered Nurses who are looking to:
Return to clinical practice after a period away from nursing
Refresh and consolidate skills to return to nursing in either a subacute or acute setting

External and internal applicants are welcome to apply

Participants will benefit from:
Clinical Experience: Gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting supported by expert nurses and a dedicated nursing leadership team.
Clinical Supervision: Participate in a fully supported program working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse for the duration of the program. You will receive structured guidance feedback and support from nursing educators and peers to consolidate your clinical skills safely and confidently.
Professional Development Opportunities: Attend orientation and structured study days including completion of SVHM Mandatory training requirements to support safe practice and contemporary clinical standards.

Clinical Areas Available:
The RN Refresher program will be delivered at St. Vincents acute hospital sites (St Vincents Hospital Melbourne Fitzroy St. Vincents on the Park East Melbourne or St Georges Health Service Kew). Positions are available across acute services:
Neurosurgery
Orthopaedics
Gastroenterology Urology and Colorectal
Upper Gastrointestinal Hepatobiliary and Breast and Endocrine
Plastics Vascular and Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
Cardiothoracic
Renal Rheumatology and Endocrinology
General Medicine
Haematology and Oncology
Cardiology

Positions are also available in the following clinical areas:
Perioperative services including Scrub-Scout Anaesthetics Endoscopy Day Procedures.
Subacute services including Rehabilitation and Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM)

Please nominate your preferred clinical speciality within your cover letter noting this cannot be guaranteed.

About You:
You are a motivated and compassionate nurse looking to take the next step in your career through specialty practice. You will bring:
Previous experience as a Registered Nurse outside of an acute setting.
A strong commitment to ongoing education and professional growth
A patient-centred approach delivering safe and high-quality care
Initiative and advocacy for the safety and wellbeing of both patients and colleagues
A willingness to fully engage in the Refresher program including attendance at training and study days and completion of mandatory training activities

Qualifications Skills and Experience

To be eligible for the St. Vincents RN Refresher program you will have:
Current Nursing Registration: Current nursing registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (via AHPRA) without conditions.
Educational Background: A degree in General Nursing that meets the registration requirements of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) standards or equivalent.

Professional Experience:
o Internal applicants: SVHM RNs currently employed with previous nursing experience in an area outside of their usual employment seeking to refresh skills. Applicants must have a minimum of 12 months acute nursing experience within their nursing career.

o External applicants: RNs who are not currently employed as an RN or with previous nursing experience in an area outside of their usual employment seeking to refresh skills. Applicants must have had a minimum of 12 months acute nursing experience within their nursing career.

* Previous experience in preferred area is desirable
Scholarship Eligibility: Participants must not have previously received a Department of Health scholarship to complete a nursing or midwifery refresher program.
Commitment to Employment: Agree to complete the program and seek employment in the targeted clinical area of practice in the Victorian public health sector following completion of the program. Be able to commit to a minimum of 3 shifts per week with 2 being on consecutive days.
Current Working Rights: Applicants holding a valid visa are welcome to apply; however visa conditions must permit full participation in the Refresher Program and must not restrict the required work hours or program commitments.

Current Working Rights: Individuals applying for refresher program scholarships are not required to be Australian or New Zealand citizens Australian permanent residents to Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders. However they must ensure the conditions of their visa do not impede them from undertaking the refresher program.

Working at St. Vincents:
St Vincents Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a premier teaching research and tertiary health service provider. SVHM delivers a wide array of adult clinical services and operates under the core values of Compassion Justice Integrity and Excellence.

What We Offer:
Salary Packaging: Maximise your take-home pay with our salary packaging options.
Employee Benefits: Enjoy a range of benefits including the Employee Assistance Program Fitness Passport and exclusive discounts and promotions through our Foundation.
Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement and continuous professional growth.
Culture of Improvement: Be part of a culture dedicated to continuous improvement.

To Apply Please Include:
1) Cover Letter addressed to the RN Refresher Program Education Coordinator.
Highlight your interest and benefits of the RN Refresher program for your career progression. Explain how your clinical practice aligns with SVHMs mission and values.
Ensure you clearly identify your preferred clinical area preference with up to four (e) maximum preferences.
For example 1) Neurosurgery 2) Orthopaedics 3) Plastics Vascular & ENT 4) Cardiology
* Previous experience in preferred area is desirable
Refer to our SVHM RN Refresher website for available clinical areas.

2) Curriculum Vitae
Professional References. For internal candidates this will need to include 1 direct line manager. For external candidates this will need to include 2 direct line managers.

Application Timeline:
Opening Date: Monday 9th March 2026
Closing Date: Sunday 22nd March 2026

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is essential to our mission and diversity reflects the community we serve.

To find more information about the program and review the associated Position Description click here.

For more information regarding our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment opportunities at SVHM please visit our website.

Closing Date:

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincents we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming safe equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information visit https:// or get in contact at

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct