Empower meaningful change as an Occupational Therapist Level 1/2, transforming lives through specialist rehabilitation, collaborative care and a renewed sense of independence.

Remuneration: $40.05 - $57.14 Per Hour + 12% Super + Salary Packaging

Employment Type: Temporary Part Time until June 2027

Position Classification: Occupational Therapist Level 1/2

Hours Per Week: 14

Location: Hunter Valley Mental Health Service, Maitland

Requisition ID: REQ706187

Applications Close: Monday 23rd November 2026

? About the Role

As part of our dedicated mental health team, you’ll deliver high-quality, evidence-based clinical care to patients and their families/carers, drawing on your clinical expertise to support positive health outcomes, promote recovery and enhance overall wellbeing.

Reporting to the Community Team Manager, you’ll receive ongoing professional guidance, comprehensive Mental Health Service orientation and access to regular in-service education, with encouragement and support to pursue relevant internal and external training opportunities to further strengthen your clinical knowledge and career development.

? Where You’ll Be Working

Join the Hunter Valley Lower Mid North Coast Mental Health Service, an integral part of HNELHD’s Mental Health Network, delivering specialised, high-quality mental health care to individuals experiencing severe and complex mental health challenges.

Based in Maitland, you’ll be part of a progressive and integrated service supporting people living with a range of mental health conditions, including mood disorders, psychosis, eating disorders and personality disorders, as well as those navigating the impacts of significant life events. Our approach is grounded in recovery-oriented, person-centred care, with a strong focus on supporting individuals to achieve meaningful outcomes and improved quality of life.

Our comprehensive service model brings together community-based mental health teams and acute inpatient services, including a 24-bed psychiatric unit at Maitland Hospital and a 20-bed unit at Manning Base Hospital. This connected approach ensures continuity of care across the mental health journey, from support within the community and home-based treatment through to inpatient care and post-discharge follow-up.

Working across a diverse geographical area, our teams support communities throughout Maitland, Dungog, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, the Upper Hunter, Taree, Forster, Gloucester, Bulahdelah and surrounding Lower Mid North Coast locations.

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 career 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

Essential Requirements:

- Occupational Therapist with current Authority to Practice with AHPRA.

If this sounds like you,



we would love you to apply:

? Person-centred care: Deliver compassionate, individualised care and provide sound clinical advice to patients and their families/carers, guided by departmental policies and the expertise of senior clinicians.

?️ Clinical excellence and accountability: Uphold the highest professional, legal and ethical standards, ensuring care reflects evidence-based practice, best-practice principles and National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

? Professional judgement: Practise confidently within your scope of practice, recognising when to seek guidance and support from more experienced clinicians to ensure safe, high-quality care.

? Professional growth: Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning, active participation in professional networks, continuing education and regular professional practice supervision.

✨ Continuous improvement: Contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives in collaboration with senior clinicians, helping strengthen clinical practice and enhance patient outcomes.

? Collaborative partnerships: Build strong working relationships with multidisciplinary colleagues, community organisations and external service providers to promote coordinated care and seamless transitions between services.

? Comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation: Undertake functional and psychosocial assessments to identify individual strengths, needs and occupational performance, informing team-oriented, goal-directed rehabilitation and recovery plans.

? Evidence-based interventions: Design, deliver and evaluate tailored individual and group interventions that address functional, occupational, social and psychoeducational needs while building practical skills, resilience, independence and self-management.

? Community connection and inclusion: Work in partnership with non-government organisations and community services to establish meaningful support networks and create opportunities for patients to participate in purposeful community-based activities.

? Recovery-focused care coordination: Coordinate care for consumers with complex mental health needs, bringing together appropriate clinical and community supports to facilitate recovery, strengthen independence and achieve meaningful, goal-oriented 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 part time vacancies.
- 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 Safe 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 [email protected] 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 Recent 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.

How to apply:

Click apply online, submit your information and resume, and address the criteria listed below providing examples that demonstrate your ability.

- Demonstrated effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage time and set priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Need more information?

- Click here for the Position Description
- Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Darren Bowd on [email protected]

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: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

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

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 new 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 [email protected] or 1300 40 25 23.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such 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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📌 Occupational Therapist Level 1/2 (Maitland)
🏢 NSW Health
📍 Maitland