Lead with Culture, Expertise & Impact | Mental Health Intake Clinical Lead - Bring advanced clinical leadership and culturally responsive practice together to deliver holistic, person-centred mental health care that honours culture, connection and self-determination.

Remuneration:$83,670 - $144,021 Per Annum (Dependant on qualifications) + 12% Super + Salary Packaging
Position Classification:Clinical Nurse Specialist Gde 2 , Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor Lvl 3, Occupational Therapist Lvl 3, Psychologist, Social Work Lvl 3
Employment Type:TemporaryFull Time until February 2027
Hours Per Week:38
Location: Hunter Valley Mental Health Service
Requisition ID:REQ
Applications Close:Monday 5th October 2026

About the Role | Mental Health Intake Clinical Lead

As the Mental Health Intake Clinical Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping timely and coordinated access to specialist mental health care. Using your advanced clinical expertise and sound professional judgement, you’ll provide clinical leadership across the receipt, triage and management of referrals into, within and from the service, ensuring each person is connected with the most appropriate care and support pathway for their needs.

This is a role that combines clinical leadership, autonomy and collaboration, with the opportunity to influence how people access care while supporting secure, responsive and person-centred outcomes.

Reporting directly to the Team Manager, you’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team and draw on the support of experienced senior clinicians, the Clinical Coordinator and Service Manager.

From day one, you’ll be supported through a comprehensive Mental Health Service Orientation, complemented by ongoing in-service education, clinical support and opportunities to participate in relevant internal and external professional development.

Your growth matters. You’ll be encouraged to build on your clinical expertise, expand your leadership capability and pursue professional development opportunities aligned with your area of practice - helping you thrive as a Mental Health Intake Clinical Lead.

Where You’ll Be Working | HVLMNC Mental Health Service

Join the Hunter Valley Lower Mid North Coast Mental Health Service (HVLMNC), a connected community mental health service comprising Care Coordination, Intake and Acute Care teams across Taree, Forster, Gloucester, Bulahdelah and the Hunter Valley.

Based at 560 High Street, Maitland, you’ll be part of the Hunter Valley team while working within a broader service network supporting communities across the region.

HVLMNC operates as an acute outpatient mental health service, providing specialist consultation, assessment, treatment and follow-up for adults and their families. The service supports people throughout their mental health journey, including the transition from hospital back into the community.

Working collaboratively with consumers, families, clinical teams and support services, you’ll contribute to coordinated care through medication monitoring, psychoeducation, relapse prevention, psychiatric review coordination and connection with appropriate community supports.

Be part of a multidisciplinary service where collaboration,



continuity of care and responsive mental health support come together to help people achieve their goals and maintain wellbeing within the community.

What we can offer you:

At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- Ongoing professional development opportunities across the administrative network
- Career progression opportunities within NSW Health
- Annual leave and paid parental leave for eligible employees
- Salary packaging options to increase take-home pay
- Fitness Passport and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support wellbeing

- Must hold a qualification in one of the following: Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Counsellor (Degree in Bachelor of Health Science Mental Health, Djirruwang Program) which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association / provisional or general registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Eligibility to drive in NSW and willingness to travel for work purposes which may involve driving long distances.

Deliver culturally responsive, consumer-centred care that respects self-determination and places the cultural, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, families and carers at the heart of care.

Provide culturally informed clinical leadership and advocacy, supporting holistic approaches to mental health care and recognising the importance of connection to family, community, culture and Country in wellbeing.

Apply advanced clinical expertise to assess, plan, coordinate, deliver and evaluate high-quality specialist mental health care for consumers experiencing mental illness alongside complex psychosocial needs.

Provide advanced discipline-specific interventions and care coordination, working collaboratively with consumers, families, GPs, community organisations and other key stakeholders to achieve meaningful, person-centred outcomes.

Work with a high degree of autonomy, confidently delivering advanced clinical services and exercising professional judgement while requiring minimal direct supervision.

Contribute to service excellence and innovation through planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting on clinical services, identifying opportunities to strengthen effectiveness, efficiency and outcomes.

Lead continuous improvement in clinical practice, embracing opportunities to develop innovative approaches that enhance service delivery, consumer experiences and mental health outcomes.

Bring your dedication, professionalism, and heart for healthcare to our team - we can’t wait to hear from you!

Additional information:





An eligibility list will be created for future temporary full or part time vacancies.

This position is full time; however, part time/job share arrangements may also be considered.

Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Protected Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact ***************@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support.

To be eligible for employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport, or hold an appropriate visa that allows you to live and work in Australia. Employment of a temporary visa holder will only be offered in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

Need more information?

For role related queries or questions contact Renae Blanch on ************@health.nsw.gov.au

Information for Applicants:

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit:

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit:

This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All current employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging: is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via *********@salarypackagingplus.com.au or .

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefitssuch as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

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📌 Mental Health Intake Clinical Lead (Maitland)
🏢 NSW Health
📍 Maitland