In this section
The RCH offer a range of benefits which support and reward staff both personally and professionally.
The health and wellbeing program is designed to build and strengthen the RCH Community.
The program is focused on three key themes, these include; physical health and wellbeing, emotional health and wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
Employee Assist Program
The RCH has engaged the services of an external Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider who specialise in providing confidential counselling and consulting services that focus on the early assessment and prevention and/or remediation of personal problems experienced by employees or members of their families. Open 24 hours a day seven days a week. EAP frequently provide a range of seminars on a wide range of topics including financial, legal, health and wellbeing as well as on-site support for health and skin checks.
To read more about this confidential service and for details on how to access the EAP, please click here.
Staff immunisation
All staff are eligible for immunisations such as influenza, hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Due to recent legislation, all patient facing employees are required to be annually vaccinated against influenzas. All RCH staff are required to have received two COVID-19 vaccination doses plus a booster unless subjected to an exemption.
RCH Ski Club
The Royal Children’s Hospital Alpine Club offers hospital staff and their families the opportunity to spend time together in the Victorian Alps at low cost. The Club is an informal and friendly group, which has contributed greatly to its success. The Club has two lodges with accommodation available for rental throughout the year by Club members and their guests. The lodge at Mount Buller is large and modern, sleeping 26 guests in two to four bedded rooms. The Mount Hotham lodge is older and slightly smaller accommodating 22 guests; it is likely to be renovated in the near future.
Both lodges provide warm family atmospheres from which to enjoy your winter skiing or summer mountain holiday, at fantastic rates. To find out more about this staff benefit and details on how to apply for membership, please visit the following website https://www.rchalpineclub.org.au/content/about.aspx
As an employee of the RCH, you are entitled to numerous financial benefits across salary packaging, superannuation and financial consulting services.
Salary packaging
Do you want to save in excess of $2,900 every year on average? As an RCH employee, you can! Employees can salary package $9,010 every Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year on every living expenses such as mortgages, rent and utility bills and can further package up to $2,650 for meal entertainment and accommodation. Further information is available on the Smart Salary website or call 1300 4 SMART (476 278) to book your one-on-one appointment with a Smart Salary consultant.
A key component of our service delivery is the ongoing education of our staff. The RCH have dedicated departments each facilitating development in their core professions including nursing, medical and allied health.
In addition to professional development and organisational wide competencies, RCH host hundreds of lectures and seminars that all staff are invited to attend.
Nurse education
The Nursing Education and Research Development Department offers RCH nurses a range of professional development opportunities across the continuum of their careers. The in-house programs support the development of skills and knowledge in areas such as competency development, preceptorship, resuscitation-based program, evidence-based, practice and research skills. For nursed interested in postgraduate study, the RCH partners with tertiary institutions to offer specialty certificate programs in paediatric, critical care and perioperative nursing.
Click here to find out more.
Allied health education
At the RCH, allied health staff are expected and encouraged to pursue continual professional education. Support is available to all allied health staff to further their professional education and development. Leave is available for study, conference or professional development purposes. The RCH has a Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation (RCHF) supported fund that can cover enrolment or attendance fees, travel and accommodation. The RCH also offers opportunities to allied health staff to apply for scholarships to support higher qualifications in their relevant field or area of clinical practice. These scholarships can provide financial assistance to meet course fees and offered twice a year.
Medical education
Continuing medical education (CME) is available for senior medical specialist (SMS) and is intended to assist in maintaining and enhancing the skills and knowledge of SMS practitioners through their professional development. Where eligible, SMS are able to attend professional conferences, courses, workshops or obtain professional reference materials.
Grand Rounds
The Grand Rounds seminar series is jointly sponsored by the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Royal Children's Hospital. It is the flagship educational meeting and takes place each week, at lunchtime on Wednesdays.
Early Learning Centre
The Royal Children's Hospital Early Learning Centre is registered for 120 equivalent full time children between 6 weeks and 5 years of age. Child care places are allocated to the Royal Children's Hospital staff, whilst our Kindergarten is open to the wider community. We are a fully accredited centre, utilising Hospital and Community resources within the City of Melbourne. The curriculum is based on play-based philosophy which invites individual child to be open-ended, hands-on and self-guided in their learning. The early learning Centre is open Monday to Friday from 6:45am to 6:30pm.
Parent rooms are located off Main Street on the ground floor, on the entry to each Ward on the floors of the IPU, in the RCH Early Learning Centre and in the family precinct on the ground floor. Breast pumps are available within these facilities.
Retail outlets
Food and retail outlets include a cafeteria, bakery and coffee outlet, gelato bar, 'grab and go' cafe, sandwich bar, sushi and Asian food, McDonald's, a convenience store, retail pharmacy and gift shop. They are all located on the Ground floor (Beach), in (or just off) Main Street. Trading hours vary, but many operate from 6:30AM to 10:00PM every day. Myki Top Up is available at the Chemist in Main Street on Ground floor (Beach) of the hospital.
Onsite car park
The car park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The car park is managed by Wilson Parking on behalf of Spotless for RCH.
Employees pay a discounted rate of $15 per day which can be salary packaged.
Salary deducted parking: RCH staff can apply for permanent parking which is salary deducted.
Click here to find out more
Bicycle storage
The RCH encourages employees to cycle and has a bicycle storage facility available 24 hours a day including public holidays, located on the lower ground floor and has unique access via Flemington Road. The storage facility is equipped with locker and shower facilities. Towels are also provided. See here
Access to the lockers is in the change rooms located via the Bicycle Storage. Accessible 24/7 including public holidays. Current wait list with limited availability.
Fresh towels supplied for staff daily. Access via bicycle storage. Entrance into hospital via ED. Accessible 24/7 including public holidays.