Donation Specialist Nurse - Intensive Care Services - Perm FT
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- South Western Sydney Local Health District
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- REQ635531 Requisition #
Requisition ID: REQ635531
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time working 38 hours per week
Remuneration: $135,826.04 - $138,534.10 per annum + 12% Superannuation + Salary Packaging
Location: Liverpool Hospital
Applications close: 08/02/2026
Contact: Michelle Dowd - Nurse Manager, Intensive Care Services on (02) 8738 3629 or 0467 706 395 or Michelle.Dowd1@health.nsw.gov.au
With your skills and experience, you can contribute to the millions of ways we're enriching health, and develop your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.
Achieve Something Great
As a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) / Donation Specialist Nurse (DSN) – Organ & Tissue Donation, you will play a vital role in enabling life saving outcomes across South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), with additional state wide responsibilities as required by the Organ & Tissue Donation Service (OTDS), in collaboration with local health district line management.
In this highly specialised role, you will lead and support organ and tissue donation activity by working closely with medical, nursing, and allied health staff involved in the donation process. You will deliver expert clinical guidance and targeted education, raising awareness of organ and tissue donation and embedding best practice across services.
Partnering closely with the Donation Specialist Medical (DSM), NSW Clinical Manager, and State Medical Director (SMD), OTDS, you will facilitate donation by identifying potential donors and supporting the conversion of eligible donors to actual donors. Through your clinical expertise, leadership, and compassionate engagement with families and healthcare teams, you will help ensure donation opportunities are recognised, managed ethically, and optimised with dignity and respect.
This is an opportunity to make a profound and lasting impact — supporting donor families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives while enabling the gift of life for others.
Are You the Right Fit?
You are an experienced, compassionate Registered Nurse with a strong acute clinical background and a commitment to patient and family centred care. You bring professionalism, emotional intelligence, and advanced communication skills to support families through sensitive, complex end of life conversations.
You will demonstrate:
- Significant acute care experience (ICU, Emergency Department, or critical care highly desirable), with sound clinical judgement and the ability to work autonomously in high pressure environments
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with families experiencing grief and crisis
- Confidence engaging in difficult, time critical discussions with empathy, clarity, and cultural sensitivity
- A collaborative approach, working effectively within multidisciplinary teams including ICU clinicians, medical specialists, coordinators, and external agencies
- High levels of resilience, adaptability, and emotional maturity, enabling you to manage the ethical and emotional complexities inherent in organ and tissue donation
- Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining high standards of documentation and attention to detail
- Flexibility and willingness to participate in an on call roster, including after hours, weekends, and public holidays, as required
- Capacity and willingness to travel within the local health district and, when necessary, across the state to support donation activity
- A commitment to continuous professional development, quality improvement, and evidence based practice in donation and end of life care
Selection Criteria
To help us assess your suitability for the role, please tell us as much as you can about yourself in response to the questions below.
1. Do you currently hold Authority to Practice as a Registered Nurse with AHPRA, relevant post-registration qualification and at least 5 years full time equivalent experience (min. 3 years in a relevant area)? Please attach a copy of your AHPRA registration and associated qualifications with your application.
2. Can you describe your experience supporting patients and/or families during end of life care or other highly sensitive clinical situations? In your response, please include the clinical context (e.g. ICU, Emergency Department, acute ward), how you approached communication and shared decision making with families, and how you managed your own emotional responses while maintaining professionalism.
3. This role requires participation in an on call roster and travel within the local health district and, at times, across the state. Please outline your capacity and willingness to meet these requirements, including any previous experience working on call or across multiple sites, and how you manage flexibility, fatigue, and work–life balance in such roles.
If you’d like more details, we’re here to help.
Position Information
Applicants will be assessed against the criteria in the Position Description.
How to Apply
Read our application guide and tips for improving your application.
Diversity, Culture & Inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to accessibility and a supportive recruitment experience. If you require adjustments or assistance during the application process, please contact SWSLHD-EmploymentHub@health.nsw.gov.au
We value the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our workforce and are committed to fostering a respectful and welcoming environment. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, neurodivergent individuals, those from Refugee, multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Aboriginal Workforce
For Aboriginal candidates who would like to talk to our Aboriginal Workforce Team, please contact SWSLHD-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au. Support is also available through the Stepping Up website.
More Than Just a Job – Why Work With Us?
Financial Perks
12% superannuation
Salary packaging and novated leasing via Smart Salary
Annual leave with 17.5% leave loading (for full-time and part-time staff)
One extra day off each month for full-time employees
Work-Life Balance
Flexible work options, including hybrid and varied hours (depending on the role)
Paid maternity and parental leave
Generous leave options like long service and carers leave
Grow Your Career
Access to learning opportunities through our dedicated Education and Organisational Development team, who support staff with training, workshops, and career development programs.
Health & Wellbeing
Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport
Free and confidential support for staff and their families via our Staff Wellbeing and Support Service (EAP)
Wellbeing programs that promote mental health, resilience, and balance
Additional Information
Temporary visa holders
May be considered if no suitable citizen or permanent resident is found.
Vaccination Requirements
All staff must meet NSW Health’s vaccination and screening requirements before starting.
Child Safe Employment
South Western Sydney Local Health District is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.
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