WSLHD Mental Health Service

Permanent 0.4 FTE Staff Specialist or

Fixed Term (until 30/06/2027) Visiting Medical Officer

PCYMHS - Whole Family Team To apply for this position, please complete an online application by clicking on the link below:

https://myclinicalprofile.com.au/OpenPositionLogin.aspx?UniqueId=8ac52e74-8f8d-4caa-9c81-cf4de9b40c13

Applications must be received by 5pm on the advertising closing date.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 27 OCTOBER 2026

Skills

Applications are invited from suitably registered and qualified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists for the above position(s) in the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) who have demonstrated skills and experience with:

- Assessment, diagnosis and management of children and families impacted by parental mental ill health and/or substance misuse.
- Managing complex presentations which includes impacts of trauma and disrupted attachments, neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioural and emotional disorders within a systemic framework, where children are at risk of removal from biological family.
- Ability to identify, document and escalate any child safety issues and have knowledge of the NSW child protection legislation.
- Ability to communicate effectively with children, adolescents, families and carers and use clear trauma informed, culturally safe communication.

Successful applicant will be highly motivated to work in a rewarding clinical practice with an established multidisciplinary Community Child & Adolescent Mental Health team, located at Rupertswood on the Mt Druitt Hospital campus. This role includes opportunities for supervision, consultation, teaching, and innovative research as part of the role. Successful applicants will be expected to provide admitting, consultative, and on-call services within the specialty as determined and required by the District.

Applicants expecting to be awarded Fellowship within three months, may be considered. If successful, the applicant may not be subsequently eligible to commence their appointment until after the relevant qualifications and requirements are formally completed.

The Perinatal, Child and Youth Mental Health Service in WSLHD provides inpatient and community mental health services to children, adolescents and families of Western Sydney impacted by symptoms of mental illness and mental distress. WSLHD is home to a rapidly growing multicultural population, as well as the largest metropolitan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia. WSLHD has higher than average rates of multiple psychosocial disadvantage that impacts adversely on mental health and wellbeing.

There are ongoing opportunities within this role for collaboration with local internal and external service providers to improve mental health outcomes for this group. The Service is currently undergoing a period of transition as we seek to meet the increasing clinical need for effective,



productive and accountable service delivery with Models of Care that are intrinsically client and family-centred and are informed by the impacts of transgenerational trauma.

The Whole Family Team (WFT) aims to address the needs of the families referred by Department of Communities and Justice, where parents/carers have mental ill health and/or substance use issues that impact on their parenting capacity. The WFT provides specialist comprehensive mental health and drug health assessments, and both family and individual interventions.

Essential Requirements For Appointment

- Possess or be eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia and Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists or equivalent as provided for in the Staff Specialists (State) Award/ Health Insurance Act 1997.
- Possess the RANZCP Certificate of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or equivalent or be within 3 months of completion of this qualification.
- Sound clinical knowledge in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry demonstrated through successful clinical practice in both inpatient and community mental health environments.
- Demonstrated high level skills and attributes appropriate for practice as a Senior Medical Practitioner including:
- Written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively and proactively with a multidisciplinary child and adolescent mental health team.
- Experience and involvement in quality assurance activities and evidence-based best practice
- Commitment to teaching and supervision
- Sound clinical knowledge of the sequelae of trauma and attachment disruptions on the developmental trajectory of all family members.
- Evidence of continuing medical education and self-monitoring reflective practice that supports credentialling to the position and is commensurate with the scope of practice requirements of the position.
- Familiarity with systemic thinking and its applicability when working with complex families impacted by parental mental ill health, substance misuse and child protection concerns.

Conditions of appointment are in accordance with the Staff Specialists (State) Award/ Health Services Act 1997 and Public Hospitals (Visiting Medical Officers Sessional Contracts) Determination 2014.

Selection Criteria

- Possess or be eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia and Fellowship of the RANZCP or equivalent as provided for in the Staff Specialists (State) Award/Health Insurance Act 1997.




- Successful applicants will hold a Certificate of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from RANZCP or equivalent and have experience in providing child and adolescent mental health psychiatry services.
- Demonstrated skills and attitudes appropriate for practice as a Senior Medical Practitioner including:
- Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously with medical and other health service colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary health care team.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues.
- Excellent organisational, clinical, supervision and collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to build respectful relationships.
- Capacity to maintain and develop knowledge, skills and professional performance to the level required for contemporary practice.
- Experience and involvement in quality assurance activities and translation of research into practice to improve patient safety and quality.
- Familiarity with systemic thinking and its applicability when working with complex family and treatment systems.
- Demonstrated ability to manage time and resources efficiently to contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system.
- Demonstrated aptitude for clinical leadership which is evidenced by:
- Systems thinking and risk-management aptitude within scope.
- Commitment to self -care and personal development.
- Capacity to maintain personal integrity, tolerate stress and demonstrate resilience.
- Commitment to building relationships, leading, and developing others.
- Results and outcome focused.
- Commitment to good governance, achieving effective clinical results and managing risks appropriately
- Demonstrated commitment to Education, Training and Research, as applicable to the position.

Working With Children Check Applicants must provide evidence of a Working with Children Check issued by the Office of Communities Commission for Children and Young People. For more information on how to apply for the clearance, please visit the Commission for Children and Young People website: https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/working-children-check The Position Description can be located via e-credential, please refer to the link below. To apply for this position, please complete an online application by clicking on the link below:

https://myclinicalprofile.com.au/OpenPositionLogin.aspx?UniqueId=8ac52e74-8f8d-4caa-9c81-cf4de9b40c13

Applications must be received by 5pm on the advertising closing date.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 27 OCTOBER 2026

CONTACT

Dr Lisa Newling Clinical Director PCYMHS

8890 6577

[email protected]

Gena Hughes A/Operations Manager PCYMHS

8890 6577

[email protected]

If you are having any issues regarding your application via e-credential, please contact the Specialist Medical and Dental Recruitment Unit on (02) 8838 2094 or via e-mail: [email protected]

📌 Permanent 0.4 FTE Staff Specialist or Fixed Term (until 30/06/2027) Visiting Medical Officer - PCYMHS - Whole Family Team - WSLHD Mental Health Service | APPLY VIA ECREDENTIAL (Sydney)
🏢 Western Sydney Local Health District
📍 Sydney