Wandakalawa, Minyang, Yaama, Anikanya

Dhanggana

Hunter New England Mental Health Services 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. 

YAMHS “Yimamulinbinkaan Aboriginal mental health service & social emotional wellbeing (SEWB) workforce” is a clinical in reach speciality service that are seeking applicants who are passionate about improving the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing mental health services. 

About the role:
This role involves providing evidence-based psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes of patients and/or consumers and their families/carers whilst in collaboration and focuses on seamlessly coordinating transitions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers between the Calvary emergency department, Mater PECC (Psychiatric emergency centre), MHICU (mental health intensive care unit), mater mental health inpatient units, and community settings across the HNELHD MHS footprint.

Where you’ll be working:
This position is based at Mater mental health centre and involves working closely with a dedicated team of professionals. You will be supported and collaborate with staff from calvary ED, mater MH services and HOD psychology, YAMHS and Awabakal, ensuring a holistic and culturally sensitive approach to care.

Your role will be pivotal in fostering strong interdisciplinary relationships and enhancing the quality-of-service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers by providing evidence-based psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment to improve outcomes of patients and/or consumers and their families/carers. Whilst assisting services to deliver mental health care that has a holistic view of health, is culturally competent and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal people to support mental health service to reduce readmission rates, provide clinical yarning and help coordinate a wraparound support response for our mob. Most of all you won’t be alone and will be part of a Deadly team who has the same commitment to improving outcomes for our mob to increase early help seeking, reduce prevalence of crises and improve pathways and supports across the lifespan. For Aboriginal people, health is holistic, which links mental and physical health with a whole of life view, interconnected to spiritual and cultural factors, connection to land, community, traditions and identity. You will be supported by the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Cultural clinical supervision framework to ensure your success in this position. This is one of our strategies in HNE mental health service to achieve sustainable employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public health sector. We know as Aboriginal people we need to work in a cultural responsiveness workplace which holds culture as central to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. The supervision framework allows ongoing reflective practice and life-long learning, it enables growth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to become leaders, it is relationship focused and is person and community centred. It appreciates diversity between groups, families and communities and requires access to knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, peoples and cultures. YAMHS value belonging, connection, respect, happiness and the ability to embrace and  to celebrate our Deadly culture which is an important factor when you come to work every day, you want to be happy and feel safe and supported.

About you:

• You are passionate about improving mental health and sustaining the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people located in your local community.
• You will provide cultural knowledge and advice to our non-Aboriginal colleagues and stakeholders about local cultural protocols and the importance of incorporating holistic social and emotional wellbeing care.
• You will be dedicated creating a culturally safe and supportive environment within the team and model self-care.
• You have the strength and passion to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers’ engagement with Mental Health service by listening and learning from our communities lived experience.

Benefits:

• 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
• Superannuation contributions
• 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

Requirements:

• Enrolment in an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council accredited postgraduate clinical psychology program that will lead to eligibility to commence a registrarship in clinical psychology.
• Must contribute to providing cultural consultancy in mental health and social emotional wellbeing and be committed to Closing the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.