Senior Mental Health Clinician

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 Mental Health Clinician – Mental Health

• Hub of medical precinct in Parkville, Melbourne
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Fixed Term, Part Time position until March 2027

About the Role:

This is a Fixed Term Part Time position to cover extended leave for 12 months at 0.4 FTE/30.4 hours per fortnight within Mental Health.

You will be responsible for providing high quality evidence-based mental health care for children and their families who have been referred by Wadja Paediatricians, through skilled consultation, assessment, treatment, and communication with internal and external stakeholders. This will be undertaken in partnership with Aboriginal Health Workers within Wadja Aboriginal Family Place, and the RCH Koori Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer. In addition, you will provide consultation and direct assessment and interventions for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander adolescents admitted to the Banksia Ward, in partnership with the Banksia clinical team.

Classification for this position is multidisciplinary - Grade 3 Allied Health, Grade 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 $40,639 to $49,562 per annum, plus superannuation.

What You’ll Achieve:

• Manage a complex and varied clinical caseload
• Provide high level of clinical expertise with independent decision making
• Work in collaboration with multidisciplinary team
• Communicate effectively with patients and families to ensure their understanding and that their needs and views are included in plans and actions

Your Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated commitment to work and contribute as part of a team
• 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:

RCH Mental Health (RCH MH) comprises community and hospital-based services, including mental health services provided by the Wadja Aboriginal Family Place.  The Wadja Aboriginal Family Place is a culturally sensitive service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. Staff of Wadja Aboriginal Family Place advocate for and provide emotional and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families who attend outpatient clinics, the Emergency Department, and families who have a sick child in hospital.  The Wadja Health Clinic is a weekly general medicine outpatient clinic for Aboriginal children and young people, staffed by two general paediatricians, a paediatric fellow, four Aboriginal case managers and an Aboriginal Health Worker.

What We Offer:

• Parkville location and close to public transport
• Professional development and special events

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 via Ph:03 9345 5545 OR 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 14 April, 2026.