Senior Mental Health Clinician

Join headspace and provide access to vital support for young people and become part of a passionate team dedicated to making a positive impact.

Classifications

• Healthcare & Medicine
• Mental Health
• Full-time

Key points

• Full-time, Cairns-based role
• Monday to Friday- no shift work!!
• Be a part of a highly experienced and skilled multi-disciplinary team

Description

headspace Cairns is currently seeking a Senior Mental Health Clinician who is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of young people. The position focuses on Access and Care Coordination (ACCO), ensuring that all young people entering into the headspace Cairns service receive consistent, streamlined, quality assessment and ongoing care that is appropriate to their needs. Additionally, you will:   

• Manage and triage referrals and respond to enquiries
• Oversee the duty roster, including allocating staff to complete screenings; respond to phone calls and walk-ins; providing advocacy and support and for completing referrals
• Hold a caseload of clients and in particular, working directly with young people with complex needs and/or higher acuity and risk
• Conduct mental health assessments and risk assessments, including follow-up appointments
• Provide intervention, therapy and group work
• Provide appropriate advice and mentorship, including training and support to team members
• Monitor and maintain intake waitlist
• Participate in the provision of mental health education programs
• Prepare and maintain client records and case notes

This role is full-time on a maximum term contract until June 30, 2027 (with the opportunity of extension).   

Who are we looking for?
  
In addition to formal qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Nursing (Mental Health), you will have demonstrated experience and clinical skills in mental health service settings. You will be an autonomous clinician confident in your practice and intuitive towards other team members who may need your guidance and support. You will be focused on living our values of Inclusion, Collaboration, Agility and Excellence. In addition, you will have:

• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) or the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Current paid employee Blue Card (Social Workers Only)
• Current Queensland Driver's Licence
• Minimum of 3 years experience delivering mental health assessment, crisis intervention, treatment planning and interventions, therapeutic interventions, and social recovery paradigms
• Demonstrated ability in risk assessment, including risk to self and others
• Working knowledge of the provision of mental health services to young people and their families
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce comprehensive written reports
• Skills in Microsoft Windows, system applications and the capacity to learn how to use new clinical software packages for keeping electronic client records

  
headspace Cairns
  
headspace Cairns is a welcoming, safe space for young people aged between 12 and 25, providing access, support and information for a broad range of concerns, including mental health, physical/sexual health, drug and alcohol, employment and education and support for families and carers. headspace Cairns (under the direction of RFDS (Queensland) Services Limited) has been making a difference in the lives of young Australians since 2006.
  
About our offering

We value our people, and we are passionate about making a difference for young people. The team at headspace Cairns have a great workplace culture, works collaboratively to achieve excellent results, and maintains wonderful relationships with service providers. By joining headspace and the RFDS (Queensland Section), you will:

• Become part of a highly skilled professional team driven by best practice
• Receive up to 120K + superannuation
• Have access to generous not-for-profit tax-free benefits of up to $18,550
• Be provided professional development opportunities– including leadership programs, regular line management support, and tailored skills development
• Work with a focus on well-being– headspace Social and Wellbeing Committee, Employee Assistance Program, and other initiatives to support a holistic approach to well-being
• Be committed to diversity– we welcome all people, irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity. Designed in collaboration with our employees, the headspace Reconciliation Action Plan formalises our commitment to reconciliation and to strengthening the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and communities.
• Have private health insurance discounts
• Receive novated leasing options
• Access to our newly launched Fitness Passport (for staff and family members)!

  
Interested?

Apply now! This role closes on 24th October 2025, but shortlisting will begin before this date.
For more information, contact: Helen Isenhour, Manager – headspace Cairns at hisenhour@headspacecairns.org.au.
If you would like a copy of the PD  recruitment@rfdsqld.com.au
  
Note: Successful candidates will be subject to a Police Check and may be required to undergo a medical assessment. Immunisation requirements under the RFDS and headspace programs also apply (evidence of immunity or vaccination against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases will be required).
  
headspace and the Royal Flying Doctor Service acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the Traditional Custodians of the land. The RFDS and headspace are committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of healthcare. We embrace diversity and welcome all people irrespective of faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.