• Effectively engage, screen, refer and provide brief interventions to service users
• Understand diverse backgrounds and presentations, with ability to respond clearly and culturally sensitive
• Part Time 30.4 hours/week until June 2026
• Dandenong Location

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived experience of mental ill health and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds.

Mind Australia is one of Australia’s largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services, supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives. Operating for more than 45 years and employing more than 1,300 staff around Australia, Mind is a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery. 

About the role 

The Locals are a key feature of the current Mental Health system transformation. Acting as a front door to the mental health service system, it provides a continuum of care that delivers integrated care and support that puts the person accessing the service at the very centre of their treatment. 

We are seeking an active listener and culturally competent Welcome Practitioner for a fixed term, Part Time (30.4 hours per week) opportunity in the Dandenong area. Providing a ‘how can we help’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach, you will act as the first point of contact creating an accessible entry point for enquiries by providing information and service navigation.  

Key responsibilities 

• Purposefully engage with people and their families using counselling and therapeutic modalities 
• Reduce barriers to care ensuring service users receive timely, appropriate, and compassionate support.
• Work with people to support right care in right place by understanding service sector and supporting service navigation.
• Work closely with Welcome team members to provide effective support
• Build and maintain relationships across multidisciplinary team to ensure clear communication and follow up. 

What you’ll bring 

• Tertiary qualifications (minimum Certificate IV) in Counselling, youth work or other mental health related field including Occupational Therapy, Social Worker, Psychology or Psychiatric Nursing or other health related field as designated by Mind.
• Capacity to collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to develop an understanding of the community services sector and ability to build strong relationships with service providers, agencies and key stakeholders.
• Skills and experience in advocacy, collaboration, facilitation, evaluation and problem solving.
• Demonstrated skills in working with people and families with mental health and/or contextual challenges including family violence, poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol, protective issues.

Benefits 

• Salary packaging up to $15,899 p.a. allows you to allocate a portion of your pre-tax income to cover living expenses (e.g. rent, mortgage, child care, car leasing expenses etc.)
• Option to access Meal and Entertainment allowance up to $2,650 p.a. via Salary Packaging.
• Generous leave entitlements including 8 weeks paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, and Monthly Accumulated Day off (Full time employees).
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Converge International, for you and your immediate family members.
• Fitness Passport - Access to our corporate health and fitness program, providing you and family with access to a wide choice of fitness facilities.
• Professional development through regular Practice Development sessions and coaching with your supervisor

Interested?

To obtain a position description and apply online click Apply Now to visit Mind Careers reference number 497459. Online applications must be submitted by the closing date. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.

Please contact the person below for more information.

Michelle Murray – Service Operations Manager [email protected] 

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please contact us at [email protected] 

The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check, NDIS Workers Screening Check and the ability to obtain vaccinations against COVID-19.