This opportunity closes on October 18th, 2026
Build First Step’s education capability and turn distinctive practice into high-quality learning.
First Step is seeking an experienced education leader to establish and grow a portfolio spanning clinical training pathways, student and registrar programs, professional education and scalable workforce-development products.
This is a practical leadership role for someone who can build partnerships and systems while also designing, developing and delivering education. You will work closely with clinicians, practitioners, educators and people with lived and living experience to translate First Step’s knowledge into learning that improves practice.
We are open to proposals for a casual or permanent part-time appointment, or a consultancy arrangement. The role is based at First Step, 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda, and reports to the CEO.
About First Step
First Step is a specialist centre for integrated medical, mental health and substance-use care, with an embedded community legal service.
We provide more than 14,000 bulk-billed or otherwise funded appointments each year to over 1,600 people. Our multidisciplinary team includes doctors, psychologists, nurses, psychiatrists, peer workers, care coordinators, lawyers and social workers working together to support people with complex, co-occurring needs.
Our vision is a community where people with complex, co-occurring needs can live well, be safe and be supported.
About the role
The Program Lead – Education and Training will lead First Step’s development as an organisation that excels in education.
The role has three connected priorities:
- Build First Step’s education capability, systems and partnerships with universities, accreditation bodies and training organisations.
- Strengthen existing education programs and establish new clinical training pathways, including GP registrar Extended Skills training and FAChAM registrar training.
- Develop scalable professional-development programs for Victorian alcohol and other drug and mental health workers, beginning with Comprehensive Integrated Care and followed by Trauma-informed Care and Employment Pathways.
You will combine education strategy with hands-on program design and delivery. This includes curriculum development, learner support, partnership management, co-design, quality assurance, evaluation, project governance, budget and risk management, and coordination of staff contributors and specialist contractors.
What you will do
Build our education capability
- Develop a staged education plan covering priorities, audiences, partnerships, systems, resourcing, governance and measures of success.
- Establish effective systems for curriculum development, learner administration, supervision, accessibility, quality assurance, evaluation and intellectual property.
- Build the capability of First Step staff, supervisors, facilitators and lived-experience contributors to participate in education.
- Develop relationships with universities, professional colleges, accreditation bodies and other education and training partners.
- Identify opportunities for accreditation, joint development, research and sustainable delivery.
Strengthen clinical education and training pathways
- Improve the recruitment, selection, induction, coordination and support of students and trainees.
- Strengthen existing programs, including University of Melbourne Juris Doctor placements and the SEMPHN-funded MATOD program.
- Lead the establishment of GP registrar Extended Skills training, including accreditation, partnerships, supervision and recruitment.
- Work with First Step’s clinical leaders and relevant training bodies to establish FAChAM registrar training.
- Monitor learner experience, educational quality, supervisor capacity, demand and outcomes.
Develop professional education programs
- Lead the development of First Step’s Comprehensive Integrated Care training program, drawing on our Practice Framework and the knowledge of staff and people with lived and living experience.
- Develop the subsequent Trauma-informed Care and Employment Pathways program.
- Create engaging, accessible learning for online self-guided delivery, facilitated education and workplace application.
- Develop case studies, activities, assessments, practical tools and facilitator resources.
- Test demand, coordinate beta delivery, evaluate outcomes and refine the programs.
- Develop the quality controls, pricing and delivery processes needed to make the programs repeatable and sustainable.
About you
You will bring substantial experience in education, curriculum design, learning and development, or organisational capability building within health, community services, adult education or a related field.
You will also have:
- Experience establishing or strengthening education programs, including learner recruitment, placements, induction, supervision, coordination, quality assurance and evaluation.
- A strong understanding of adult learning and instructional design across online, facilitated and workplace-based learning.
- The ability to build productive partnerships with universities, training and accreditation bodies, funders, clinical supervisors and other external stakeholders.
- The ability to draw out practitioner and lived-experience knowledge and translate complex evidence and practice wisdom into clear, accurate and engaging learning.
- Strong program-management skills, including work planning, budgets, risks, contractors, governance and delivery against milestones.
- Excellent facilitation, writing, editing and communication skills.
- Sound judgement when working with sensitive knowledge and differing professional perspectives.
- A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent substantial experience.
Experience in health-professional education, medical training, student placements, digital learning, accreditation, evaluation or sustainable education business models would be highly regarded.
Knowledge of mental health, medical, psychosocial or alcohol and other drug practice would also be an advantage.
The person we are looking for
You will be strategic and practical: able to build long-term organisational capability while delivering concrete programs and products.
You will be credible with clinicians and educators, respectful of lived and living experience, highly organised and comfortable working through ambiguity. You will care about educational quality, inclusion and preserving the integrity of First Step’s distinctive model.
Employment arrangements
First Step will consider:
- a casual appointment;
- a permanent part-time appointment; or
- a consultant proposal.
The role reports to the CEO and is based at First Step, 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda.
How to apply
Please submit:
- your current CV; and
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a cover letter explaining your interest in the role and how your experience relates to its major priorities.
Email First Step Chief Operations Officer Gayle Wood: [email protected]
Please also indicate your preferred employment or consultancy arrangement and your proposed availability.
A detailed position description is available with the advertisement.
First Step is committed to a culturally safe, trauma-informed and inclusive workplace.
