Lead Australia's peak body for maternal, child and family health nursing - 100% remote, work from anywhere in Australia
Are you a strategic leader who knows how to open doors, grow membership, and amplify a profession's voice? Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses Australia (MCaFHNA) is seeking an Executive Officer to drive our next chapter of growth and influence. 100% remote/work-from-home.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
MCaFHNA is seeking a dynamic and politically savvy leader to take on the inaugural Executive Officer role, a pivotal position that will shape the future of maternal, child and family health nursing across Australia.
This is your opportunity to lead the implementation of our new Advocacy and Engagement Plan and Membership Engagement Strategy, driving sector leadership, strengthening our professional voice, and facilitating sustainable growth for our organisation and profession.
As our foundation Executive Officer, you'll be instrumental in enhancing MCaFHNA's sector leadership, coordination, and advocacy capabilities. You'll work directly with our Board to build strategic partnerships, grow membership, and position MCaFHNA as the leading voice for our profession. The Executive Officer is a politically savvy leader who can navigate the complexity of the maternal, child and family health nursing profession and the broader system in which it operates. They will be a self-starter capable of working autonomously in a remote environment, agile and responsive to Board and member needs, and skilled at opening doors to advance MCaFHNA's strategic interests.
ABOUT MCaFHNA
Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses Australia (MCaFHNA) is the peak professional body for nurses working in the field of maternal, child and family health.
Originally formed as a peak body representing various state and territory organisations, in 2021 MCaFHNA shifted to a direct membership model and absorbed the state and territory child and family health nursing bodies.
MCaFHNA's vision is that Australia's children and families are supported to reach their full potential through a high quality, responsive, and culturally safe maternal child and family health system. Our goal is to promote child and family wellbeing by leading the growth and improvement of the maternal child and family health nursing profession.
We're now at an exciting juncture and ready to strengthen our advocacy, expand our reach, and deliver greater value to our members and the families they serve.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Advocacy
• Identify and engage with key decision-makers/stakeholders to advance MCaFHNA's interests and deliver on the MCaFHNA Advocacy Plan.
• Build sector leadership, coordination and advocacy capacity through national and international strategic communications and partnerships.
• Engage meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
• Demonstrate political acumen.
• Work with a diverse Board and engage effectively with members.
Member Engagement & Growth
• Lead the Membership Engagement Strategies to increase membership, improve engagement, boost service delivery, enhance retention, and recruit new members.
• Provide advice to the Board on how to advocate for the profession and for members to be supported appropriately across jurisdictions.
• Develop, implement and provide ongoing support for an effective member mentoring program.
• Develop and coordinate an effective scholarship program.
Professional Development
• Promote and coordinate educational events, information sharing opportunities, mentoring programs, forums, and scholarship programs to support members' professional growth and connection.
• Deliver successful events to enable information sharing, professional development, and networking opportunities.
Communication & Marketing
• Lead and implement the Membership Engagement Strategy to raise the profile of the profession and engage members, stakeholders, and key influencers.
• Develop strategies to enhance visibility of the profession and create sponsorship opportunities for MCaFHNA to expand reach and influence.
• Promote the benefit of attendance at the biennial national conference to professional leaders and key decision makers.
Financial Sustainability & Resource Development
• Advise and support the Board in identifying and securing opportunities for MCaFHNA to obtain external funding, contracts, grants, or sponsorship aligned with the organisation's ethical values.
Governance & Management
• Support excellence in Board performance and evaluation processes.
• Promote effective and accountable operation of all MCaFHNA Board Committees.
• Demonstrate understanding of board governance principles and risk management.
Project Management & Reporting
• Monitor and report on project activities against agreed project plans including MCaFHNA Advocacy and Engagement Plan and Membership Engagement Strategy.
• Prepare and provide written project updates to the secretariat for distribution to a Committee of the Board, or the Board, no less than seven (7) days prior to a meeting.
• Achieve key performance indicators established by the Board and fulfill assigned objectives with minimal supervision.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential:
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (e.g., child and family health, business, management, public policy, health administration, communications) OR equivalent demonstrated professional experience and understanding of the health sector / nursing profession context.
• Demonstrated experience in senior leadership roles within peak bodies, membership organisations, Not For Profit (NFP), or comparable environments (minimum 5 years).
• Demonstrated understanding in child and family health across state, territory and federal jurisdictions and systems.
• Proven track record of growing membership and engagement in a member-based organisation.
• Demonstrated political acumen, experience in advocacy, policy development, and representing organisational interests to key stakeholders.
• Financial management experience, including budget management and achieving sustainability in resource-constrained environments; and demonstrated success in obtaining funding grants, contracts or sponsorship.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to efficiently and effectively manage project priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with media engagement, policy submissions, and stakeholder communications.
• Experience supporting Boards and governance structures, with understanding of NFP regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated competency in data analytics including ability to prepare reports to meet the needs of key stakeholders, members and the Board.
• Ability to provide timely advice and recommendations to the Board of MCaFHNA on opportunities and risks.
• A positive solution focused attitude, with attention to detail and ability to meet tight and multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated capacity to work autonomously and remotely, with high levels of self-direction, initiative, and accountability, whilst managing multiple competing priorities.
• Evidence of acting with probity, ethics, and judiciousness in professional contexts.
Highly Desirable:
• Masters (or higher) qualification in health, management, business administration, public policy, or governance.
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
• Maintain a 'can-do' attitude combined with excellence, responsiveness and flexibility to actively achieve project outcomes.
• Extensive knowledge of state and national health systems and how child and family health services are delivered within different jurisdictions.
• Apply high level collaboration and negotiation skills.
• Proven competency in data analytics/research to understand, interpret and document issues, findings and results.
• Demonstrate writing and analytical skills, including policy briefs and position papers.
WHAT WE OFFER
• Competitive remuneration package: $140,000 - $150,000 per annum (plus superannuation).
• Inaugural leadership role: The opportunity to establish and shape a foundation position.
• Full flexibility: Remote working from anywhere in Australia.
• Meaningful impact: Make a genuine difference for children, families, and the nursing profession.
• Diverse engagement: Work with stakeholders across all levels of government and the health sector.
• Autonomy: Lead independently with Board support and trust.
• Possibility of extension: Subject to performance and MCaFHNA growing its membership and/or securing additional external funding.
ABOUT YOU
You're a self-starter who thrives in autonomous environments. You bring a 'can-do' attitude, you're politically savvy, and have the ability to open doors and build relationships that matter. You're comfortable navigating board governance, developing policy submissions, and engaging with stakeholders at all levels. You understand how to grow organisations, secure funding, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
Most importantly, you're passionate about advancing the maternal, child and family health nursing profession and supporting Australia's children and families to thrive.
REPORTING AND WORKING ARRANGEMENTS
• This is a full-time position for a fixed term of up to 2 years, with possibility of extension subject to performance and MCaFHNA growing its membership and/or securing additional external funding.
• The position is fully remote/work from home. The Executive Officer must be capable of self-directed work, maintaining productivity and communication standards without direct supervision.
• The position reports to the MCaFHNA Board of Directors, with day-to-day liaison through the Board Chair.
• Interstate travel may be required for select Board meetings, the biennial national conference, and stakeholder engagement activities.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit:
• Your resume (maximum 4 pages)
• A cover letter addressing the key selection criteria outlined above
• Contact details for two professional referees (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
Applications close: Early application is encouraged as the recruitment process may close early, otherwise 20 February 2026.
For confidential enquiries:
MCaFHNA is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
MCaFHNA acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of Country throughout Australia.