• A unique opportunity to join a leader in youth mental health
• Purposeful work and make a real difference
• Part time (0.4 FTE) fixed term until 30th June 2021 with opportunity for extension
• Generous NFP Salary Packaging and flexible work/life balance arrangements
• Participate in Orygen’s Climate Action Group, Parents/Carers Hub, LGBTIQA+ Network and wellbeing and fundraising events

The Opportunity

This role is designed to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. First Nations applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Join headspace Werribee as the First Nations Wellbeing Project Clinician to identify the needs and promote service partnerships that will increase access and engagement through a variety of holistic mental health support options for young people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the West of Melbourne. You will be well supported operationally and clinically to ensure your career at Orygen is both fulfilling and rewarding without compromising on your life goals.

If you have a passion for the field of youth mental health and want to make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and share Orygen’s values of Respect, Accountability, Teamwork, Excellence and Innovation, then we would love you to apply for our First Nations Wellbeing Project Clinician role!

About Orygen

We believe that all young people deserve to grow into adulthood with optimal mental health. Everything we do is focused on this outcome. Orygen is leading and redefining what’s possible in global research, policy, education and clinical care. Find out more on our website. 

Orygen operates headspace Werribee. headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, along with assistance in promoting young peoples’ wellbeing. Find out more on the headspace website.

The Role & its Impact 

Through consultation processes and active engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Aboriginal support agencies, the First Nations Wellbeing Project Clinician will aim to identify and understand the barriers, challenges and unmet needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people accessing care. 

Reporting to the Clinical Services Manager Werribee, this role will work closely with members of the Access Team and develop positive relationships with relevant Indigenous stakeholder organisations to facilitate an innovative engagement strategy that is culturally appropriate to support Indigenous young people. The First Nations Wellbeing Project Clinician will also:

• Coordinate and provide support that may be inclusive of intensive outreach support, group work, care planning, care coordination and any other creative means of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the West of Melbourne.

• Flexibly manage intake, assessment and referrals processes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and assist others in the team to do so.
• Deliver evidence-based brief interventions, including group interventions, with young people and their families/carers.
• Maintain accurate and timely case notes and records in approved database systems.
• Participate actively in Clinical Review Meetings.
• Promote and monitor activities supporting research projects conducted at the centre. 

Depending on your skills and experience, a salary of $67,184 - $89,197 p.a. (pro rata) is offered + superannuation + generous NFP salary packaging + flexible work/life balance benefits + great supportive team + purposeful work that makes a real difference to lives of young people and their families + opportunity to be part of an organisation that is the leader in youth mental health. 

What you will bring to the role

You are passionate, energetic and determined to make a difference to health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. In addition, it is essential that you will bring:

• Approved tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and experience in the area of youth mental health.
• Training / experience that demonstrates an understanding of some of the challenges and barriers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a flexible and adaptive way to promote effective engagement and support.
• Experience in the planning and provision of mental health care, including completion of mental health assessments, crisis intervention, psychoeducation and short-term treatment interventions to young people experiencing mental health and/or substance use, and/or other social difficulties, including current evidence-based approaches.
• Demonstrated capacity to problem-solve effectively and work creatively with young people, particularly within an early intervention framework.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team in a health setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) to effectively liaise, build relationships and partnerships, consult and negotiate with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Commitment to supporting clinical research within the service. 

To see the FULL selection criteria and learn more about this opportunity, please refer to the Position Description below or contact Priya Hastak on [email protected] using the subject line: First Nations Wellbeing Project Clinician enquiry via EthicalJobs for a confidential discussion.

You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible. Orygen may close the advertisement before the closing date.  

Orygen is dedicated to gender equality, diversity and inclusivity. We strive to continue to build a culturally safe workplace where our values underpin the way we work and our commitment to First Nations people of Australia, young people and their families, LGBTIQA+ people and CALD people. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people.