Mental Health Educator - SAPHER Project

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards. 

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

About the role:

This is a Fixed Term, full-time position until 30/06/27 at 80 hours per fortnight. 

Launched in 2021, the RCH Campus Mental Health Strategy has driven integrated, evidence-based mental health research, education, and care, and is now in its final delivery stage.

Under the Strategy, the SAPHER Project modernises mental health risk screening and management at RCH, including the development of a Risk Assessment and Formulation Tool (RAFT) — created with clinicians, children, and carers, based on best-practice risk management for ages 0–18.

Reporting to the Director, Mental Health (SAPHER Project Clinical Lead), this role works within the SAPHER project team to support clinical staff across the hospital and community services of the RCH Mental Health Service.

Internally, this position will be known and/or referred to as: Mental Health Educator - SAPHER Project, Mental Health Educator- SAPHER project, RCH Campus Mental Health Strategy.

Classification for this position will range from:

• 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)
• Psychologist Grade 3 Year 1 – Year 4 (PL1-PL4)
• Clinical Nurse Educator NP 75-77

What you’ll achieve:

The role provides education, training, supervision, mentorship, consultation, and capacity building to embed the routine use of the Risk Assessment and Formulation Tool (RAFT) and multidimensional risk formulations into clinical practice. This work supports the delivery of high-quality tertiary mental health care for infants, children, and young people aged 0–18 years. As a member of the SAPHER project team, the Mental Health Educator will contribute to this key project by supporting clinicians to confidently apply risk formulation in routine practice.

Your 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

Desirable:

• Additional formal training in risk screening, assessment and management systems
• Demonstrated experience in teaching and supervision of specialist mental health clinical staff
• 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

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 Professional 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

For Nursing applicants:

• Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) administered though the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA)
• Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing, Education, Paediatrics or equivalent
• Clinical Nurse Educator or equivalent

If this sounds like you, or if you would like more information, please click here to view the position description.

About RCH Mental Health:

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 an Intake and Assessment Team based at Parkville and three multidisciplinary community-based teams located at Travancore, St Albans and Hoppers Crossing.  The Community teams are led by a partnership between a Team Coordinator and a Consultant Psychiatrist, with the Team Coordinator responsible for the operational functioning of the team, and the Consultant Psychiatrist accountable for driving high quality clinical care across the Team. Following the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health services, RCH Mental Health in the community focuses on the tertiary specialist mental health of infants and children 0-11 years. This transformation allowed RCH Mental Health to help more infants and children and their families and implement contemporary models of care that best meet the needs of the families we serve and support them to use their collective strengths for recovery and hope. The RCH Child HOPE team focuses on 5-11 years and on the early intervention and prevention of suicides

What we offer:

• Salary packaging option with our partner, SmartSalary – Increase your take home pay by up to $11,500 per annum (and other additional salary-enhancing options!)
• Workplace culture of continuous improvement, growth, support and training
• Clinical Education Hub on-site to support continued training and professional development
• Hybrid work model, if applicable to role
• Convenient location & close to public transport
• Staff immunisation drives
• Special events
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Support for working mothers including two on-site Early Learning Centres, flexible working arrangements, breast feeding and pumping facilities 
• Help when you need it most! Staff counselling, financial coaching, legal support, nutritional support and specialist helpline services, and more through our EAP partner, Converge
• Unlimited access to select fitness facilities in your local area via Fitness Passport
• Enjoy the convenience of an on-site retail precinct, featuring a range of shops, cafés, and food outlets (retail discounts & more)

Other requirements:

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
• Valid Working with Children Check
• 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 Dr Chidambaram Prakash, Director Mental Health on (03) 9345 5505 or chidambaram.prakash@rch.org.au

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: 04 August 2026.