Community, Maternal and Child Health Nurses jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

Nursing registration is national, not state-based — one NMBA registration through Ahpra covers you in every state and territory, with no separate state licence. Community and child health nursing is nonetheless one of the most jurisdictionally variable fields in nursing, because the service model itself is set by each state. What varies: who employs you (a state health service, a local council, an Aboriginal community controlled health organisation or a not-for-profit provider); the entry qualification for maternal and child health roles, which is materially higher in Victoria; the state immunisation schedule and the authorisation that lets a nurse administer vaccines without a prescription under state drugs and poisons law; mandatory child protection reporting obligations, which differ in scope by state; and working-with-children or vulnerable-people registration, which is issued separately in each jurisdiction and is always required for this work.

the Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Health Services delivers the Maternal and Child Health service through community health centres under the ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreement. Medicines and immunisation are governed by the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 (ACT). Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration is mandatory under the ACT background-checking scheme.

New South Wales

Child and family health nursing sits within Local Health Districts under the Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award, delivered through Early Childhood Health Centres and the Sustaining NSW Families home visiting program. Immunisation is authorised under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW) and Regulation. A Working With Children Check is mandatory and NSW mandatory reporting obligations apply under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.

the Northern Territory

Community and child health nursing is delivered by NT Health and by Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, with public sector nurses under the Northern Territory Public Sector Nurses and Midwives' Enterprise Agreement. The Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 (NT) supports remote area nurse practice, and remote clinics work to the CARPA Standard Treatment Manual. An Ochre Card is mandatory. Remote postings typically require a 4WD licence, cultural orientation and comfort with autonomous practice.

Queensland

Child health services run through Queensland Health's Hospital and Health Services, with nurses covered by the Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health and Department of Education) Certified Agreement. Immunisation and nurse-supplied medicines are authorised under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (Qld) through Extended Practice Authorities, and the Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse pathway supports remote community practice. A Blue Card is mandatory. Mandatory child protection reporting applies under Queensland legislation.

South Australia

The Child and Family Health Service, part of the Women's and Children's Health Network, delivers universal child health contacts, with nurses covered by the Nursing/Midwifery (South Australian Public Sector) Enterprise Agreement. Immunisation is authorised under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA). A DHS Working with Children Check is mandatory, and SA operates a universal home visiting contact for newborns.

Tasmania

The Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS) delivers child and family health nursing statewide within the Department of Health Tasmania, under the Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Award and Agreement. Medicines and immunisation fall under the Poisons Act 1971 (Tas). Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) is mandatory — Tasmania's broader vulnerable-people scheme rather than a child-only check.

Victoria

Victoria is the clear outlier: the Maternal and Child Health service is delivered by local councils, not health services, so many MCH nurses are council employees covered by a local government enterprise agreement or the Local Government Industry Award 2020 rather than a health agreement. Victoria uniquely requires MCH nurses to hold registration as a registered nurse and a registered midwife plus a postgraduate maternal and child health qualification. A Victorian Working with Children Check is mandatory, and medicines and immunisation are governed by the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic).

Western Australia

Child health nursing is delivered through the Child and Adolescent Health Service in the metropolitan area and the WA Country Health Service in the regions, under a WA state industrial agreement. Immunisation and community medicines are governed by the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 (WA), with structured arrangements supporting remote area nurses in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields. A Working with Children Check (WA) is mandatory.