Creative Art Therapist - Forensic Mental Health Services

ACT Health; Canberra; On-site; AUD 91,000 - 109,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

12.5% Super

Onsite physiotherapists

Flexible working conditions

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

ACT Health, Dhulwa Mental Health Unit, is seeking a passionate Creative Arts Therapist to join the Forensic Mental Health Services team in a secure inpatient setting. You will deliver creative therapies within a recovery-focused framework and work with a multidisciplinary team to promote wellbeing and meaningful engagement.

This 0.5 FTE, part-time position is for 9 months with possible extension or permanency and offers competitive pay, 12.5% super, salary packaging, and supportive professional

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialised creative arts assessments and therapeutic interventions in a forensic mental health inpatient setting.
• Contribute to planning and evaluation of recovery-focused programs and ensure high-quality clinical documentation.
• Support clinical governance, quality improvement, education, and supervision activities within the ward environment.

Job description

Creative Art Therapist - Forensic Mental Health Services

Employment Type: Part Time, Temporary 9 months with possibility of extension and or permanency
Classification: Health Professional Level 2 (P37373)
Salary: $91,026 - $108,691 (Plus 12.5% Super)
Location: Dhulwa Mental Health Unit, Symonston
Section: Forensic Mental Health Services
Closing Date: 12 November 2026

What can we offer you:

Competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions within a tertiary hospital.

Salary Packaging with many options that provide full fringe benefits tax concessions.

Flexible working conditions

12.5% Superannuation.

Access to Employee Assistance Program.

Access to onsite Physiotherapists.

About the Role:

Join the Forensic Mental Health Inpatient Services team at the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit, a specialist 25-bed forensic mental health facility delivering evidence-based, recovery-focused care in a secure inpatient environment. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you'll support consumers with complex mental health needs through innovative therapeutic programs that promote recovery, wellbeing, and meaningful engagement. With access to clinical supervision, professional development, and collaboration across the broader Forensic Mental Health Services network, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a genuine impact.

We are seeking a passionate and adaptable Creative Arts Therapist who can build therapeutic relationships with people experiencing severe and complex mental illness. You will bring strong communication skills, sound clinical judgement, and the resilience to work confidently in a dynamic and sometimes challenging environment. A commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed care, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with consumers, carers, and multidisciplinary stakeholders, will be key to your success.

In this role, you will deliver specialised creative arts assessments and therapeutic interventions, contribute to the planning and evaluation of recovery-focused programs, and maintain high-quality clinical documentation. You will also support clinical governance, quality improvement, education, and supervision activities while actively contributing to a safe and therapeutic ward environment. If you are looking for a role that combines creativity, clinical practice, and meaningful outcomes for consumers, we would love to hear from you.

Please note:

This position is 0.5 FTE per week

For more information regarding the position duties click here for the Position Description

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.

Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

To Apply:

Please apply online by submitting a copy of your CV along with a 2-page pitch in response to the Selection Criteria, listed in the Position Description.

***Please note applications submitted via an agency will not be accepted for this position***

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person centred care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary, and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website.

Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are encouraged to apply.

If you would like further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Graham Twycross on (02) 5124 2*** or at ***************@act.gov.au

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