Aboriginal Mental Health Trainee

Alfred Health

Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We are the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne, from ambulatory to inpatient and home and community-based services. On 1 January 2026, Alfred Health will come together with Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Peninsula Health, Bass Coast Health and Gippsland Southern Health Service to create Bayside Health, a newly merged health service with more than 22,000 employees caring for a community of over 1.2 million Victorians. The new health service will provide people with the best possible care with services that support them throughout their lives. The merger will also strengthen our workforce, providing new training, education and career opportunities. Subject to final approval on 1 January 2026, all employees from the five health services will transfer to Bayside Health.

Are you an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person wanting to work in the field of mental health and wellbeing?

Are you willing to enrol in and complete a three-year Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) fully funded through the trainee program? This includes four seven-day residential teaching blocks per year at the Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus. Get paid to study while you work!

• Fixed-term full time three-year trainee position
• Based in locations in the Southeast of Melbourne
• Open, welcoming, motivated and supportive mental health team
• Mentoring and support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations
• Graduates will be offered ongoing employment subject to successful completion of studies
• Opportunity to make a real difference to mental health services - helping to make services fit culture

Where you’ll be working

The child and youth mental health program offers services to children and young adults with mental health difficulties in partnership with their family and support networks. Alfred Health also offers some headspace programs in primary care as well as early psychosis. 

Children, young people and their families have timely access to comprehensive evidence-based treatment and support.  Over the course of the traineeship there is opportunity to work with the child and youth mental health program based in Moorabbin and with headspace centres across the Southeast of Melbourne.

What you’ll be doing

• Learning on the job about mental health and how to support children, young people and families toward recovery.
• Completing clinical placements in a range of services.
• Completing study in a Bachelor program tailored to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

About you

Essential

• Willingness to complete a three-year full-time Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) degree at Charles Sturt University (including four occasions of week-long residential intensives each year).
• Eligible to enrol in the above degree – this includes being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background (as defined by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS).  Charles Sturt University may request confirmation of identity (for a list of approved identify-verification documents go to www.humanservices.gov.au/identity) for enrolment.
• Desire to learn more about mental health and how to support recovery from mental health issues.
• Ability to relate well to others.
• Willing to obtain a Working with Children Check and have a background check.

Desired

• Knowledge of and/or experience working within Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and understanding of social and emotional issues experienced by Aboriginal people.
• Past experience in youth work, family support, mental health support or similar role.

Other benefits

• A supportive and fun team working environment
• Great employment benefits as part of Alfred Health
• Professional development opportunities including Discovery College courses
• Mentoring and support from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations
• Located close to public transport and cafes 

If this opportunity sounds like a good fit for you, please call Glenda Pedwell for a confidential discussion on ph: 03 8552 0555 or email your enquiry or your covering letter and resume to [email protected]

Closes: Sunday, 7th December 2025 by 11pm AEDT

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption. 

Website: www.alfredhealth.org.au