Early Career Mental Health Clinician

Company description:

As an organisation we have a clear focus on how we service and partner with our community, including our strategy of helping the community stay well when at home. Our reputation of community minded, inclusive and progressive is matched to none.

Job description:

Multiple Positions available now for the 2026 Social Work Graduate Intake

Northern Health Mental Health Division and the Allied Health Early Careers Program is pleased to be offering multiple positions to Social Work graduates and early career Social Workers, located across the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Positions are available for commencement in the January 2026 intake.

Our mental health program has an unmatched 20 years of experience in providing supported learning positions to new and recent Social Work graduates.

Northern Health offers a comprehensive two-year program that supports graduates to build and develop their Social Work skills and knowledge.

We do this by offering you the opportunities you need to develop your confidence and clinical skill set.

Our program aims to produce a highly skilled and capable mental health workforce of the future - one who will be part of the new mental health service system, providing evidence-based, person-centred, recovery-focused and family inclusive care to our consumers and their families and supporters.

The Early Careers Program comprises:

• A two-year program offering two x 12-month clinical rotations designed to maximise your learning opportunities across two different mental health service settings (community teams and bed-based services).
• A comprehensive orientation program.
• Weekly - fortnightly social work supervision and monthly facilitated peer support sessions.
• 1:1 support from a social work clinical educator
• Monthly professional development days tailored to the needs of early career allied health clinicians.
• A peer network of graduate mental health social workers and occupational therapists across Northern Health.
• Support in identifying career pathways following completion of the two-year program.
• Full-time working hours with a monthly ADO.
• Generous salary packaging and employee benefits.
• Position classifications may range from Social Worker Grade 1, Year 2 to Year 4 (YC35 - YC 38) depending on experience and qualification.

We are looking for:

• Recent graduates and graduates who will be completing their Bachelor or Masters level qualification in Social Work prior to January 2026, with associated eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Qualified social workers with less than two years' experience as a qualified social worker, are also welcome to apply.
• A passion for building a career in mental health and an eagerness to make the most of the structured learning opportunities on offer.
• Applicants who hold a full driver's licence.
• The ability to commence employment no later than the end of January 2026.

Your prospective new team:

Successful candidates will be offered their first rotation at the programs/locations below. Additional details regarding specific rotation information regarding particular team settings is available via the position description.

• Meri-bek Community Team, Coburg
• Hume Community Team, Broadmeadows

Details of the second-year rotations on offer will be made available mid

Next Steps . . .

If this opportunity sounds like your next career move, then we would love to hear from you. Please click on the 'Apply' button and follow the prompts.

For further information, please refer to the Position Description: SW Graduate & Early Career PD.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Michelle Wines Early Careers Program Coordinator/Social Work Clinical Educator

Justine Solomano, Social Work Clinical Educator

Applications close Tuesday 30 September 2025.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications ASAP as the position may close before the end date.

We offer:

We offer a range of benefits to support and reward staff both personally and professionally, which includes:

· Health and Wellbeing programs, including our 'Thrive' program

· Flexibility in the workplace and extra leave options and support

· An inclusive and culturally safe space

· State of the art facilities and campus partnerships

· A commitment to ongoing professional development through our 'Learning Labs'

· Access to salary packaging, EAP and our online library

For a glimpse of life at NH, click here.