Early Career Mental Health Clinician (Social Work)

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.

• Brimbank Melton Infant, Child and Family Health and Wellbeing Hub
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Fixed Term/ Full Time

About the Role

The RCH Mental Health Department offers Early Career Mental Health Clinicians a two-year program where they will develop skills and experience to work effectively with children aged 0-11 and their families. These clinicians will spend one year working in the Brimbank Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local, and one year in our Infant, Child and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing services.

The Brimbank Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local currently operates from Sunshine (and will permanently operate from Caroline Springs at the end of 2025) as a hub with paediatrics, allied health, lived experience, mental health and family services working in an integrated model of family-centred community care. Mental Health Clinicians contribute to integrated assessment, intervention and support to children and their families aged 0-11 with moderate psychosocial and developmental challenges, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention and empowerment of families and communities, consistent with the recommendations that came out of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2021).

You will be responsible for:

• Engaging children and their families in recovery-focused clinical care
• Providing evidence-based interventions
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and agency partners to provide high quality inter-disciplinary care.
• Progressively developing knowledge, skills and experience to work confidently with increasing autonomy during the two-year program.
• Participation in professional development activities to ensure that best clinical practice is maintained.

Your skills and experience

• Approved degree in Social Work from an accredited course/university and eligibility for membership with AASW
• Meeting AASW accreditation standards for Continuing Professional Education.
• Upholding the AASW Code of Ethics.
• Desire for a career in mental health with children aged 0-11 and their families.

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

About the Department

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s final report was released in March 2021. It set out a blueprint for a future mental health and wellbeing system in Victoria to be achieved through a series of structural, cultural and clinical reforms to be implemented over ten years. Recommendation of the Final Report is to establish three Infant, Child and Family Health and Wellbeing Hubs, as the first Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services for infants and children aged 0-11 and their families. One of these first three hubs is located in Brimbank Melton and the RCH Mental Health Service was chosen to provide the mental health component of the hub.  The hubs fully integrate paediatrics, mental health and family services under the one roof so that families can receive the services they need in the one place.

For further information about careers in our Mental Health Department click here: https://www.rch.org.au/careers/career_pathways/Mental_health_careers/

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Culture of continuous improvement

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 Gareth Simpson, Team Coordinator, Email: Gareth.simpson@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 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

Are you ready to join our team? 

 Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close: 8 September 2025