Wiyiliin ta Senior Aboriginal Mental Health Clinician - Identified

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

Remuneration: $113,617 - $138,482 per annum (dependent on qualifications) + superannuation + salary packaging
Location: Site negotiable between Newcastle and Maitland | Awabakal and Wonnarua Country
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor Level 4, Occupational Therapist Level 4, Social Worker Level 4, Clinical Nurse Consultant Grade 1
Requisition ID: REQ662372
Applications Close: Monday 18th May 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:

• Complex clinical caseload, aligned to the CAMHS and YAMHS models of care, as well as undertaking clinical leadership roles within the clinical governance framework of YAMHS.
• Guidance of service planning and development, helping managers respond effectively to changing demand and client needs that are inclusive and responsive to Aboriginal Communities.
• Provision of high level mental health clinical services and advice to Aboriginal children/young people and their parents/carers/family complex through problem solving and advanced clinical reasoning skills.
• Supporting safe transitions between services, including early discharge planning and community follow-up.
• Connecting with families, kinship networks and community where appropriate.
• Expert clinical leadership and supervision to Wiyillin Ta team.
   

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 staff and gradual transition into the role.

On-the-Job Support

• Ongoing supervision and guidance from YAMHS Operational manager and 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.
• 4 hours paid leave of clinical cultural supervision monthly (or banked up to 12 hours 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.
• Good communication skills – able to listen, engage and share information clearly and respectfully.
• Reliability, professionalism and accountability in a clinical environment.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

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:

• For Occupational Therapist, Social Worker or Counsellor: Must hold as a minimum appropriate tertiary qualification in Occupational Therapy and general registration through the Australian Health practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or qualification in Social Work or Counsellor (Degree in Bachelor Health Science Mental Health, Djirruwang Program) which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association.
• For Clinical Nurse Consultant: Registered Nurse with current Authority to Practice with APRHA 
• For Clinical Psychologist: Generally registered as a clinical psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia with area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology via AHPRA. 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.
• For Dietitian: Must hold a bachelor or post graduate degree in nutrition and dietetics that provides eligibility for full membership of the Dietitians Association of Australia, or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer.
• Eligibility to drive in NSW and willingness to travel for work purposes.
• Extensive experience or demonstrated ability to work with acute mental distress in child and youth community mental health settings.

What we offer

At Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day:

• Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
• Proximity to shopping and other services
• ADO's each month (for full time employees)
• Salary packaging options
• Fitness Passport
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
• Opportunity to work and collaborate with a range of non-clinical and clinical professionals

 

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 full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies. 

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

• This position is full time; however, job share and/or part time arrangements will be considered.

How to apply:

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

1. Demonstrated expertise and advanced clinical reasoning skills in delivering culturally safe clinical child and adolescent and/or family systems practice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

2. Extensive experience in mental health assessment, intervention, and evaluation of clinical outcomes. This includes demonstrated ability to implement complex treatment plans for vulnerable children and young people with comorbid presentations and during acute phases of care.

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