ahp4 - principal mental health practitioner

Department for Education

Job reference: 692044

Location: ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us:

Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child's potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

About the role:

The Department for Education has established a school mental health service to assist in the management of student mental health concerns. The school mental health service will provide appropriately credentialed mental health practitioners based in secondary schools. School Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs) provide assessment and time-limited interventions for students with mild to moderate mental health concerns, and the Principal Mental Health Practitioner will play a key quality assurance and continuous improvement role via clinical supervision and strategic leadership.

The Principal Mental Health Practitioner position is a statewide role which provides leadership and contributes to a clinical governance framework for the school mental health service, as well as guiding the development and consolidation of high quality, culturally responsive and trauma-informed mental health service delivery. The Principal Mental Health Practitioner will ensure appropriate professional supervision and support is available for school mental health practitioners, lead a team of practitioners and establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.

This position will work with the Student Support Services directorate to provide specialist expertise and advice in youth mental health and to ensure the delivery of high quality and accountable mental health services in SA schools within the context of State, Department for Education, and Support and Inclusion Division identified priorities.

Qualifications:

Essential:

• A Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in: Social Work, Occupational Therapy and or Psychology.
• Registration with the requisite professional body where applicable - OT and Psychology (e .g., AHPRA).
• Social Work applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.
• Approved supervisor with appropriate registration board with Psychology Board of Australia, and or Occupational Therapy Board approved supervisor (e.g., Psychology Board of Australia and/or Occupational Therapy Board).

Desirable: Specialist qualifications in mental health service provision.

Special conditions:

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry. The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN –EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years.

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.

Remuneration:

AHP4 $114,314 - $124,449 per annum (1.0 FTE) + superannuation (12%) (Will be adjusted to actual hours worked).

Enquiries:

Enquiries are encouraged, and can be directed to Michelle Tonkin-Smith, Team Manager, via tel: or email:

Application instructions:

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, and a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the key competencies in the attached position description.

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional note:

1 X full time (1x FTE) 12 month contract and 1 x negotiable FTE 12 month contract available. Both roles are based in metropolitan Adelaide (location negotiable), with one role servicing regional South Australia (travel required).

Applications close: 03/09/2025 11:30 PM