Senior Clinical Psychologist - Identified

Deliver culturally grounded mental health care that builds trust, strengthens community connection, and supports Aboriginal families through every step of their journey.

Remuneration: $72.97 - $77.16 per hour + superannuation + salary packaging
Location: Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal Mental Health & Social Emotional Wellbeing Service (YAMHS) | Awabakal and Worimi Country
Employment Type: Permanent Part Time
Position Classification: Senior Clinical Psychologist
Hours Per Week: 14
Requisition ID: REQ650700
Applications Close: Monday 27th April 2026

YAMHS respectfully acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the custodians of the land in which our mental health facilities are located. We pay our respects to our Elders who are the knowledge holders of our culture and who keep our traditions, rituals, song lines alive. We respect the continuing connection to sky, land, rivers, seas and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and its interconnectedness to social, emotional, physical, spiritual mental health and wellbeing. We acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within our district, the staff who work with us and the Aboriginal services and organisations who partner with us to improve mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our footprint. We ask all those that walk, work and live on traditional Aboriginal lands to be respectful of culture and traditions.

This is a position identified for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people on the basis of a genuine occupational qualification under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants must demonstrate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status in addition to addressing the selection criteria. 

Where you’ll be working:

Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal Mental Health & Social Emotional Wellbeing Service (YAMHS) is an Aboriginal-led specialist service within Hunter New England Mental Health. We provide culturally grounded mental health care across emergency departments, inpatient units, and community settings, through three key service streams: 
 

• Adult Mental Health In-Reach
• Cultural Healing Assessment Response Team (HART) – delivering clinical and social emotional wellbeing support
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Care Coordination (Wiyillin Ta)

As a stand-alone acute service, YAMHS delivers holistic, wrap-around support for Aboriginal people experiencing acute mental health needs. We work in partnership with consumers, families, communities, and clinical teams to provide culturally safe, integrated care across the lifespan.

Our work is highly relational and focuses on strengthening engagement, improving access, and supporting safe transitions across the mental health system.

Our Team & Culture

YAMHS is a culturally strong, supportive and collaborative team that values: 

• Cultural knowledge and lived experience
• Connection to community and kinship
• Teamwork and shared decision-making
• A commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

You will be part of a team that works alongside both community and clinical services to deliver care that is respectful, responsive and grounded in culture.

About the role:

No two days in YAMHS are the same. You will work across emergency departments, inpatient units and community settings, supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children/young people/families experiencing acute mental health needs.

Your week will involve building trusting relationships with children/young people/families through high level specialist consultancy in care coordination, clinical yarning and culturally safe engagement through:

• Provision of high quality, patient/consumer-focused, evidence-based psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes of patients and/or consumers and families/carers.
• Guidance of service planning and development, helping managers respond effectively to changing demand and children/young people/family needs that are inclusive and responsive to Aboriginal Communities.
• Provision of supervision, consultation and clinical leadership.
• Supporting safe transitions between services, including early discharge planning and community follow-up.

• Connecting with families, kinship networks and community where appropriate.

You will be part of a highly relational, fast-paced environment, where your role helps create safety, improve engagement, and support better outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people navigating the mental health system.

At YAMHS, we are committed to supporting staff to feel safe, confident and capable in their role. You will be part of a culturally strong, supportive team that values learning, growth and connection. 

Orientation and Induction

 You will receive a comprehensive orientation program, including:

•  Introduction to YAMHS Model of Care and ways of working.

• Orientation to emergency, inpatient and community mental health settings.
• Shadowing experienced psychology staff and support with transition into the role.

On-the-Job Support

• Ongoing supervision and guidance from HOD Psychology, YAMHS Operational manager, CAMHS service manager/ CAMHS and YAMHS Team leaders.

• Daily team support, including access to multidisciplinary team discussions.
• Opportunities for debriefing and reflective practice.
• A team environment that prioritises cultural support and peer learning.

Education and Training Opportunities

You will have access to:

• Cultural support and strengthening of practice within the YAMHS model of care.

• Opportunities to build on skills in communication, engagement, training and care coordination.
• Aside from normal supervision requirements as a psychologist you will also receive 2hrs paid leave of clinical cultural supervision monthly (or banked up to 6hrs every 3 months). The Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) framework takes place through connected learning that is safe and helps maintain cultural wellbeing in the workplace - it is a strengths based model that supports a professional Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander leadership workforce.

 YAMHS is committed to building the Aboriginal mental health workforce with opportunities to grow within YAMHS and the broader health system.

About you:

We are seeking people who are passionate about supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people children/young people/families and communities, and who bring a strong commitment to clinically culturally safe, respectful care.

Non-negotiable (essential attributes)

• Strong cultural awareness and respect for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people children/young people/families and communities, culture, kinship and community.

• Ability to build trusting, respectful relationships through genuine engagement (e.g. clinical yarning).
• Compassion, empathy and emotional intelligence when working with our mob in distress.
• Ability to lead and work collaboratively within a team.
• Apply higher level independent clinical judgement.
• Reliability, professionalism and accountability in a clinical environment.
• Ability to evaluate efficiency of therapy in individual and group situations.

What can be learned on the job

• Application of YAMHS cultural healing model of care in practice.

What will set you apart

• Excellent Cultural Clinical leadership and innovation.
• Connection to community and understanding of local context.

• Experience working with our mob or in community services.
• A willingness to lead a strong, culturally safe clinical team environment whilst working in collaboration and alongside Team Leader.

Requirements:

• Completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council accredited postgraduate clinical psychology qualification of no less than two years full time duration or recognised equivalent, displayed on the Psychology Board of Australia website.

• Generally registered as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia with area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology, with not less than 12 months full time equivalent on Year 5 of the Clinical Psychology pay scale.

Additional Information:

• To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

• An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part time and temporary part time vacancies. 

• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.   

How to apply:

Click apply online, submit your information and resume, and address the criteria listed below providing examples that demonstrate your ability.
 

1. Extensive effective experience in assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical outcomes with diverse patient and/or consumer populations.

2. Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and an understanding of the issues that impact on delivery in relation to the field of psychological practice.

Need more information? 

  1) Click here for the Position Description 
  2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Bron Rose on Bron.Rose@health.nsw.gov.au