Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery

• Senior executive appointment on a five year fixed term contract.
• Parramatta South or Campbelltown campus, flexible work arrangements.
• Competitive senior salary plus 17% Super and Leave Loading.

Lead a nationally recognised School preparing the next generation of nurses and midwives.

The Opportunity

As Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, you will lead one of the University’s largest and most influential academic schools. Working in partnership with the Executive Dean, you will guide the School’s strategic direction in alignment with Western’s commitment to student success, impactful research, Indigenous acceleration, and community engagement. Your leadership will support excellence in teaching, research performance, operational delivery, student outcomes, and partnerships across the health sector.

In this role, you will oversee curriculum innovation, accreditation, workforce planning, and quality assurance, ensuring programs meet the needs of our students, the profession, and the communities we serve. The School’s proximity to major Western Sydney healthcare facilities provides strong clinical partnerships, enhancing opportunities for student learning and research impact.

You will strengthen the School’s national and international profile by building high value collaborations with Local Health Districts, industry, accreditation bodies, and global partners. You will also drive research capability, mentor emerging academics, and support interdisciplinary activity across the Faculty of Health.

To learn more about the School, visit: School of Nursing and Midwifery | Western Sydney University

What Success Looks Like:

• Deliver a School strategy aligned with Faculty and University priorities, achieving excellence in teaching, research, and student experience.
• Strengthen partnerships with LHDs, industry, accreditation agencies, and community stakeholders to enhance curriculum relevance and graduate capability.
• Build a strong, supportive research culture that drives impactful outcomes across nursing and midwifery.
• Ensure sustainable operations including effective financial management, workforce planning, and academic governance.

Please refer to the Candidate Package for full details.

About You

• Doctoral qualification in Nursing or Midwifery, or in a related field, with eligibility for registration as a Nurse in Australia and evidence of meeting NMBA recency of practice requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supporting senior academic staff and driving performance, collaboration, and accountability across complex environments.
• National and international reputation in nursing or midwifery through research excellence or strategic leadership.
• Strong capability to build and sustain partnerships with health services, industry, accreditation bodies, and community organisations.

Benefits
We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Beyond a rewarding career, we offer a suite of benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and family wellbeing:

• Fitness Passport: Access hundreds of gyms and pools across the state through salary-packaging options.
• Onsite Childcare: Convenient facilities with exclusive staff discounts and salary packaging options.
• Financial Benefits: Salary sacrifice options for onsite parking and novated motor vehicle leasing,
• Holistic Support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with discounted retail and private health cover.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to Professor Sarah Lewis, Executive Dean, Health via sarah.lewis@westernsydney.edu.au
  Please include the job reference code.  
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, 30 April 2026.
• Employer Visa sponsorship will be provided if required.

How to Apply

Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered.

To express your interest in the role, please prepare the following application materials:

• A comprehensive academic CV detailing your positions held (with dates), key achievements, education, professional training, qualifications (including dates of completion), and a summary of your research activity and outputs.
• A candidate statement (maximum five pages) outlining your vision for the role, what you hope to accomplish, and how your experience and skills align with the selection criteria.
• Contact details for three referees, including your relationship to each referee and why you have nominated them. Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with you.
• Your earliest possible start date.

Belonging at Western

We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western
This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.