Primary Infant Psychiatrist - Community

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.

Primary Infant Psychiatrist - Community:

• Excellent employee benefits including salary packaging
• Work for  Australia’s leading Children’s Hospital
• Challenging and rewarding work environment

About the Role:

This is a Permanent Part Time position at 0.3 EFT within RCH Mental Health based in the Community.

You will be responsible for providing leadership to the mental health care of infants and young children (0-4 years) in the community mental health teams.

Classification for this position will be in accordance with AMA Victoria – Victoria Public Health Sector Medical Specialists Agreement 2022–2026.

What you’ll achieve:

• In conjunction with other Infant Mental Health (IMH) clinicians in the community MH teams to provide mental health assessment and therapeutic intervention for the referred infants and pre-schoolers In conjunction with other Infant Mental Health (IMH) clinicians in the community MH teams to provide mental health assessment and therapeutic intervention for the referred infants and pre-schoolers
• Develop and deliver with the IMH coordinator and clinicians, evidence-informed therapies for distressed infants and families referred to RCH
• Provide cover for the hospital based infant psychiatrists whilst they are on leave
• Provide leadership in creating and delivering training in infant mental health at basic and advanced levels, for all staff
• Provide leadership in creating a supervision structure and matrix for consultant psychiatrists, psychiatry trainees and the multidisciplinary group of staff
• Ensure the currency of skills in staff through ongoing refresher training and high quality supervision
• Provide leadership in creating and maintaining the model of care for 0-4 years mental health and ensuring it is most up to date and evidence informed
• Support engagement of parents with lived experience in developing services for infants and toddlers and parents providing a voice for young children
• Ensure that clinical work and care procedures are accurately and promptly documented
• Participate in the on call roster for psychiatrists' pro-rata 
• Lead and participate in Quality Activities in the RCH Mental Health Service and contribute to a culture of evidence-based practice, continual learning and improvement

Your skills and experience:

Essential:

• Specialist Medical Practitioner registration with AHPRA
• Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists or equivalent qualification
• Completion of accredited postgraduate training in child and adolescent psychiatry
• Completion of further recognised training in infant psychiatry
• Several years’ experience in infant mental health working at consultant level
• Excellent clinical skills and a commitment to professional development
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team including senior medical, junior medical, nursing and allied health staff

Desirable:

• Accreditation as an RANZCP Supervisor
• An interest in teaching and research with publications in refereed journals in the field of mental health

If this sounds like you, 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, three multidisciplinary community-based teams located at Travancore, St Albans and Hoppers Crossing, the Banksia Ward (adolescent mental health inpatient unit), Hospital Consultation-Liaison mental health team, Child and Youth HOPE team, ED mental health team.  Each team is led by a partnership between a Team Coordinator/s 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. RCH Mental Health has undergone an exciting transformation and expansion in the community as we implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. The transformation allows 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.

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Professional development and special events
• Culture of continuous improvement

Other requirements:

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Current NDIS Worker Screening Check, or willing to obtain
• 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.

You must attach certified credentials and a completed “SMS Application for Appointment Form”

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 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 02 February, 2026.