We invite you to join the RCH and help turn our vision 'a world where all kids thrive' into a reality!

Senior Mental Health Clinician - Night Duty only | Part-time, Fixed Term (until June 2027 - covering Secondment Leave) | 45.6 hours per fortnight/0.6 EFT | Night Shifts: 19:30-06:00 |

About the Role:

The Senior Mental Health Clinician role is a part-time, Fixed Term position to cover a secondment until June 2027 at 45.6 hours per fortnight/0.6 EFT, working within the Emergency Mental Health Department. We are seeking a Senior Mental Health Clinician who can cover night shifts (19:30 - 06:00).

This position will be responsible for working collaboratively with Emergency Department staff in managing mental health presentations, providing support to families and carers, liaising with emergency services, contributing to research and evaluation activities, and facilitating mental health promotion and education.

Classification for this position will range from:

- Grade 4 Registered Psychiatric Nurse (NP75-77)
- Psychologist Grade 3 Year 1 - Year 4 (PL1-PL4)
- Occupational Therapist Grade 4 Year 1 - Year 4 (HR9-HR12)
- Social Worker Grade 4 Year 1 - Year 4 (HR25-HR28)
- Speech Pathologist Grade 4 Year 1 - Year 4 (HR13-HR16)

Nursing - skills and experience:

Essential:

- Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) administered though the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA)
- A postgraduate diploma in psychiatric/mental health nursing or completion of a specialist undergraduate Mental Health Nursing program or a specialist post basic course of training which led to registration as a Division 3 Nurse
- Relevant clinical experience
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal and professional development, as evidenced by a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record or Professional Practice Portfolio (PPP)
- Proven capacity for clinical leadership in a team environment and ability to work as a senior team member
- Experience in providing quality clinical/professional supervision to staff and students
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience in mental health nursing

Desirable:

- Clinical experience in a tertiary mental health setting
- Demonstrated effectiveness in working in true partnership with other community mental health teams and community/family welfare agencies to plan and implement effective interventions for children and young people experiencing complex mental health problems
- Experience in supervising junior nursing staff and students
- Understanding of the healthcare sector and / or child development
- Completion of the Developmental Psychiatry Course (DPC)

Allied Health - skills and experience:

Essential:
• Tertiary Qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Current Registration as an Occupational Therapist or Psychologist with the applicable Health Practitioner Board or a qualified Social Worker or Speech Pathologist




• Minimum 5 years' relevant postgraduate clinical mental health experience

For Social Work applicants:
• Hold a degree in Social Work from an accredited course/university
• Be eligible for membership of AASW
• Meet AASW accreditation standards for Continuing Qualified Education
• Uphold the AASW Code of Ethics

For Occupational Therapy applicants:
• Hold an OT degree qualification or equivalent from an accredited course/university
• Be registered with AHPRA and as such have satisfied the requirements of continuing professional development and recency of practice
• Uphold the Code of Ethics, OT Australia

For Psychology applicants:
• Have completed an accredited Master or Doctoral program in a relevant area of practice recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia. (Note Master of Professional Psychology qualification does not meet this criterion)
• Hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (Board)
• Have a minimum 5 years professional experience as a Psychologist Grade 2 (or equivalent)
• Hold an Area of Practice Endorsement with the Board in a relevant area of practice for this role
• Hold Board-approved supervisor status, including Board-approval as a ‘Registrar Program Principal Supervisor'
• Continuously satisfy the Psychology Board of Australia's continuing professional development standards
• Uphold the Psychology Board of Australia's Code of Conduct
• Have an experience in clinical practice in the area of paediatric psychology
• Demonstrated experience in functioning independently as a psychologist and provision of a range of psychology services
• Demonstrated ability to supervise clinical staff and post-graduate students

For Speech Pathology applicants:
• Hold a degree in Speech Pathology from an accredited university
• Be eligible for Certified Practicing Membership with Speech Pathology Australia. Eligibility for Certified Practicing Membership must be maintained for the duration of employment in this role
• Uphold the SPA Code of Ethics

Desirable:

- Demonstrated effectiveness in working in true partnership with other community mental health teams and community/family welfare agencies to plan and implement effective interventions for infants and children experiencing complex mental health problems
- Completion of the Developmental Psychiatry Course (DPC) &/or post graduate training in relevant area

If this sounds like you, please see below for the position description:

- Senior Mental Health Nurse
- Senior Mental Health Clinician

About the Department:





RCH Mental Health is a Level 5 tertiary Infant, Child and Family Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and comprises community and hospital-based services. This includes three multidisciplinary community teams which are based in Travancore, St Albans and Tarneit, and a variety of Mental Health teams operating from the hospital. The Emergency Department Mental Health Team is based in the RCH Emergency Department and may consist of clinicians from a range of backgrounds such as speech pathology, nursing, social worker, occupational therapy and psychology.

Other requirements:

- Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain

- Valid Working with Children Check

- Current NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willing to obtain if applicable

- Compliance with RCHs "Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases" procedure

Application process:

To apply, you will need a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description.

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, we encourage you to apply promptly!

For more information about this position please contact ••••@rch.org.au / 93454786

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer staff benefits such as discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children's Hospital. Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children's Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption, and offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of background checks including reference checks.

Are you ready to join our team?

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" button

Applications close: 03 November 2026.

📌 Senior Mental Health Clinician (Parkville)
🏢 The Royal Children'S Hospital
📍 Parkville