YAMHS Wiyiliin ta Mental Health Clinician Level 3 - Identified

Make a real difference where culture leads care - join YAMHS and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families through connection, healing and clinically grounded support.

Employment Type: Temporary Part Time until June 2026
Position Classification: Clinical Nurse Specialist Grade 2, Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor Level 3, Occupational Therapist Level 3, Social Worker Level 3
Remuneration: $62.52 - $69.84 per hour + super
Hours Per Week: 14
Location: Awabakal and Worimi Country
Requisition ID: REQ652051
Applications Close: Sunday, 3rd 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:
YAMHS (Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal Mental Health & Social Emotional Wellbeing Service) 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. 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.

What we do:
YAMHS supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in emergency, inpatient and community 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)

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 clinical yarning and culturally safe engagement.
• Provide efficient and effective assessment and care coordination services for children/ young people experiencing mental health concerns and their families/carers/guardians.
• Supporting children/young people /families with day-to-day care, comfort and emotional support during times of distress.
• Working alongside YAMHS and various multidisciplinary teams to support care delivery.
• 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.

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:

• A qualification in one of the following: Occupational Therapy, Clin Psychology/clin psych in training, Nursing, Social Work, Counsellor (Degree in Bachelor of Health Science Mental health, Djirruwang Program), Nutrition and Dietetics which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association general registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. For a CNS2: relevant post-registration qualifications and at least 3 years experience working in the clinical area of a post-graduate qualification.
• 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 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:

• Expanded understanding of mental health systems and acute care environments.
• Navigation of health services and care coordination processes.
• Application of YAMHS cultural healing model of care in practice.

What will set you apart:

• Connection to community and understanding of local context.
• Experience working with our mob or in community services.
• A willingness to learn, grow and contribute to a strong, culturally safe clinical team environment.

How you'll be supported:
At YAMHS, we’re committed to helping staff feel safe, confident and capable in their roles. You’ll join a culturally strong, supportive team that values learning, growth and connection.

You’ll be welcomed with a comprehensive orientation, including an introduction to the YAMHS Model of Care, exposure across emergency, inpatient and community settings, and the chance to shadow experienced staff as you transition into the role. Training in trauma-informed care, clinical engagement and documentation systems is also included.

Support continues on the job, with regular supervision from experienced mental health clinicians, daily access to multidisciplinary team input, and opportunities for debriefing and reflective practice within a culturally supportive, team-focused environment.

You’ll also have access to ongoing education and development, including cultural support aligned with the YAMHS Model of Care, skill-building in communication, engagement and care coordination, and dedicated paid clinical cultural supervision. This is delivered through the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) framework, supporting culturally safe, strengths-based learning and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership development.

YAMHS is committed to growing the Aboriginal mental health workforce, with opportunities to develop your career within YAMHS and the broader health system.
 

 

Additional information:

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