Director, Rural Health BRCS

Location: Bathurst Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Health

• Part-time 0.6 FTE, fixed term to March 2027 position
• Salary: $230,375 - $238,446 per annum, plus 17% Super and Leave Loading (Pro-rata)
• Academic Level E (Professor) salary commensurate with experience

Strategic lead for rural health research, education and clinical integration

The Opportunity

Western Sydney University is seeking to appoint a Director, Rural Health at Bathurst Rural Clinical School. This senior leadership role provides an exciting opportunity to lead a highly integrated academic-clinical environment focused on improving rural health outcomes, workforce development, and community engagement. Based in Bathurst, this role is pivotal to the strong collaboration and partnership with North Coast Medical Education Collaboration (NCMEC), Lismore and across the NSW rural environments.

You will provide strategic leadership across research, education and clinical engagement activities, supporting the delivery of high-quality medical training in rural settings. The role is key in strengthening partnerships with health, community, non-health related organisations, and key stakeholders to enhance rural workforce, rural research and clinical education.

You will play a key role in curriculum leadership, workforce development, and fostering a culture of excellence in research, teaching and service. Coming from a clinical environment is not essential but would be beneficial in the work, and collaboration with rural clinicians.

What Success Looks Like

• Provide strategic leadership for rural health research, education and workforce initiatives
• Develop and strengthen the delivery of high-quality teaching and supervision across undergraduate and postgraduate programs
• Lead and grow a strong rural health research profile through high quality publications and external grant activity
• Strengthen partnerships and relationships with all key stakeholders including but not limited to Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Ministry of Health and rural health services and communities
• Through strong strategic leadership, enhance the rural multidisciplinary training program ultimately supporting student experience, progression and rural career pathways
• Drive integration between academic, clinical and community health priorities

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

You are an experienced and dynamic senior academic with a strong commitment to rural health, education, research, and leadership.

For Professor Level

• Distinguished academic leadership with an outstanding research and teaching track record
• Demonstrated experience in leading large programs, teams or academic units
• National or international recognition in rural health or related field
• Strong record of research funding, publications, and impact
• Proven ability to build partnerships and influence across sectors

Essential Requirements

• A PhD in a related discipline
• Demonstrated leadership in rural health, education and or clinical services
• Desirable but not essential, Medical qualification with relevant specialist training
• Fellowship of a relevant professional college (or equivalent)
• If a Medical qualification is held, current registration, or eligibility for registration, with the Medical Board of Australia, AHPRA
• If clinical, eligibility to hold a clinical appointment within a rural health service

Benefits

We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.

Application Details

Position Enquiries: Direct to Professor Slade Jensen S.Jensen@westernsydney.edu.au Please include the job reference code REF1460P.

Closing Date: 11:59pm, Friday 24 July 2026.

Working Rights: You must provide evidence of working rights in Australia at application.

How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered. As part of your online application, you will be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

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.
• 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.