Lead Clinician AH3/RPN4

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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

About Adult Prevention and Recovery Care (APARC)

The Prevention and Recovery Care Service sits within the Adult & Older Adult Mental Health Service Directorate and provides short-term (less than 28 days) residential, recovery focused mental health intervention for persons residing in Banyule and Nillumbik. PARC provides services through a collaborative partnership with an NGO (MIND Australia) and is serviced 24hrs, with Lead Clinicians working from 0830-1700hrs across 7 days.   

About the role 

The Lead Clinician is recognised as a clinical leader within the PARC team. The role forms part of the PARC leadership group, and works as a delegate of the PARC Manager to model the core values of Austin Health as well as promote the partnership with our collaborative partners.  

The Lead Clinician is responsible for ensuring the delivery of evidence based mental health nursing care that meets professional, organisational, legal and ethical standards in order to optimise health outcomes for the community. Specifically, the role undertakes this by providing effective oversight of the daily clinical operations of PARC, and uses their clinical expertise to provide clinical guidance and direction within the Recovery Oriented Framework.

A regular day will see you:   

• Screening referrals to PARC and providing a timely response to all referrals and bed access requests, as well as communicating bed availability among the wider mental health division 
• Coordinating and conducting mental state and risk assessments as part of the intake process 
• Develop acute management plans in consultation with the team and within stated time frames 
• Monitor admitted consumers’ mental state and risk on a regular basis and escalate any concerns or deterioration to the treating psychiatric team 

About you 

You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care. You’ll bring energy and drive to your work, and have a keen interest in developing your skillset.

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you:

• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with consumers and carers, to promote self-determination and progress toward personal recovery goals.  
• Sound understanding of and ability to apply best evidence base for assessment and treatment. 
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with consumers who are potentially new to tertiary mental health service 
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships with colleagues, both Austin and community based as well as other relevant external stakeholders.  
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of DHHS Recovery-Oriented Practice in Mental Health.  

Our benefits 

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including: 

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation. 
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. 
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options. 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities. 

Work with us! 

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures. 

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date. 

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Elly Piper, Manager of CRP PARC at Elly.Piper@austin.org.au

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details. 

Application closing date: Monday 19 January 2026