Physiotherapy Transition to Mental Health and

Physiotherapist - Transition to Mental Health Practice

Rare and exciting opportunity to pioneer a physiotherapy service expansion in an emerging field of professional practice.

Are you a Physiotherapist who is looking for an opportunity to learn and build on their existing skills in a new clinical practice area?

Do you have at least 2 years’ experience working as a Physiotherapist?

Are you passionate about a career in mental health, supporting the connection between physical health and mental wellbeing?

Join a permanent full-time role incorporating a 12 month supported learning program to transition to mental health practice.

Be part of the significant reform and growth of the mental health system and implementation of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Eastern Health

Eastern Health is one of Melbourne’s largest public health services. We provide a range of emergency, surgical, medical and general healthcare services, including maternity, palliative care, mental health, drug and alcohol, residential care, community health and state-wide specialist services to people and communities that are diverse in culture, age, socio-economic status, population and healthcare needs.

About the role

Eastern Health is offering you the opportunity to undertake a twelve month allied health transition to mental health practice learning program. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to enhanced mental health services for Adults & Older Adults with serious mental health issues and their families. On a day-to-day basis, this role will work within a supportive multidisciplinary team to deliver both individualised and group interventions to support recovery, which may include such interventions as promotion of physical exercise and activity, falls assessment and prevention and pain management.

In combination with the twelve month program, this opportunity will be well-supported clinically and professionally through clinical supervision with a Grade 4 Physiotherapy Mental Health Clinical Educator, and will be connected to the physiotherapy Aged & Complex Care clinical stream, offering opportunity for involvement in professional development, service development and research.

The learning and teaching directorate and the mental health program will work in partnership to deliver this highly-regarded transition to practice program based on the best available evidence and sector wide consultation for allied health mental health learning programs.

**Benefits of the program include**:
Placement in a supportive team within the Adult & Older Adult Mental Health Program.

Support from Physiotherapists on the same site and a discipline specific educator to facilitate your learning and development.

Permanent employment at Eastern Health in the Mental Health Program on completion of the 12-month transition program.

**The structured learning program incorporates**:
A focus on utilising the knowledge, skills and abilities that you bring from your existing experience in other areas of Physiotherapy.

A structured learning framework including a comprehensive learning plan, key competencies to work towards, protected learning time and professional development targeted to allied health clinicians transitioning to mental health practice.

Exposure to diverse areas of mental health practice via discovery days in other parts of the mental health program.

10 days of professional development leave.

Regular individual and group supervision.

About you

To be successful in this role you should possess the following:
Essential

Recognised tertiary qualification in Physiotherapy

Current registration with AHPRA

Eligibility for practicing membership of the Australian Physiotherapy Association

Experience, knowledge & skills

Relevant theoretical knowledge, experience and skills in the provision of evidence based physiotherapy assessment, intervention and treatment.

Demonstrated experience in managing a complex caseload and comprehensive discharge planning using a client-centred approach.

Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation, policies, plans and strategic directions of public mental health services.

Demonstrated experience promoting self-management of consumers’ physical health.

A commitment to working with consumers from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds and to providing services that are family and gender sensitive.

Proven ability and commitment to work collaboratively with consumers, carers, the multidisciplinary team and external agencies.

Commitment to supervised and reflective practice, lifelong learning and further development.

Computer literacy and embracing of health technologies and informatics.

High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Demonstrated high level inter personal skills with consumers, their families and all health care professionals including effective conflict resolution and negotiation.