Senior Clinician Infant Mental Health

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.

Senior Clinician Infant Mental Health

• Hub of medical precinct in Parkville, Melbourne
• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Parental Leave cover until mid-2027

About the Role

This is a Fixed Term position to cover Parental Leave for 12 months, at 0.8 FTE/60.8 hours per fortnight within the Infant Mental Health team.

You will be responsible for providing high quality tertiary mental health care for infants and pre-schoolers who are inpatients of medical and surgical wards, and those with severe chronic illness requiring frequent hospital admissions. The role provides specialist clinical care for patients and involves specialist Infant Mental Health assessment, case planning, treatment and outpatient follow-up.  The service also provides specialist primary, secondary and tertiary consultations to internal and external stakeholders.

Classification for this position is multidisciplinary Gr 3 Allied Health, Gr 4 Nursing:

Occupational Therapist (YB24-YB27)

Psychologist (PL1-PL4)

Social Worker (YC46-YC49)

Speech Pathologist (YB51-YB54)

Registered Psychiatric Nurse (NP75-NP77)

FTE base salary $92,944.80 to $123,905.60 per annum, plus superannuation.

What you’ll achieve:

• Deliver excellent evidence-based practice Infant Mental Health assessments and interventions.
• Provide high level of clinical expertise with independent decision making
•  Work in collaboration with multidisciplinary team
• Promote and develop partnerships with healthcare and community providers as well as discipline networks

Your skills and experience

• Proven capacity for clinical leadership in a team environment and ability to work well as a senior team member
• Current AHPRA registration or membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, or Speech Pathology Australia
• Post graduate qualification or undertaking a post graduate course
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in health or related field

If this sounds like you, click here to view the position description.

About the Department

The Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health (RCH MH) is a Level 5 tertiary Infant, Child & Youth Area Mental Health & Wellbeing Service covering the North and Western metropolitan catchment area.  It comprises community- and hospital-based services and provides recovery focused interventions for infants and children up to 12 years of age and their families (18 years for inpatient services).  It is a multidisciplinary psychiatric service that includes specialties like Lived Experience, Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Speech Therapy.

The Infant Mental Health program works with infants and preschoolers 0-4 yrs across both community and hospital-based services and is led by a partnership between the Team Coordinator and Consultant Psychiatrist.  The team’s primary role is to support the mental health of infants and preschoolers through direct clinical care, consultancy, education, and to build capacity in the field of Infant Mental Health.

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay by up to $11,500 per annum! 

• Looking for a new set of wheels to get you to the office? We offer Novated Leases through our partnership with SmartSalary 

• Support for working mother including dedicated feeding facilities and access to 2x onsite childcare centres 

• Retail discounts & more – ask your manager for a breakdown of our Staff Wellbeing Benefits! 

• Discounted Private Health Insurance 

• Help when you need it most! Staff Counselling, financial coaching, legal support, nutritional support, specialist helpline services, and more through our EAP partner, Converge 

• A commitment to workplace health, safety and wellbeing with our internal wellbeing calendar of events and services. 

• Newly introduced Occupational Violence and Aggression training for all staff in line with our OVA Strategy – because your safety at work is our priority! 

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 Dave Reid, Hospital Specialties Coordinator, Ph: 03 9345 5545 Email: dave.reid@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 13 A[ril 2026