Creative Art Therapist - Forensic Mental Health Services | Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

ACT Government; Canberra; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Salary packaging

Flexible work

Superannuation 12.5%

EAP access

Onsite physiotherapy

Job summary

Canberra Health Services in Canberra is seeking a passionate Creative Arts Therapist to join the Forensic Mental Health Inpatient Services team at the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit. You will deliver creative arts therapies to individuals with complex mental health needs in a secure inpatient setting, supported by supervision and professional development opportunities.

The role requires strong communication, trauma‑informed, person‑centred care, and collaboration with consumers, carers and

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialised creative arts assessments and therapeutic interventions.
• Contribute to planning and evaluation of recovery-focused programs.
• Maintain high-quality clinical documentation and governance activities.
• Support education, supervision, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to a safe, therapeutic ward environment.

Job description

Creative Art Therapist - Forensic Mental Health Services
Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

• 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 prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• 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.

Note: This is a temporary position available for a period of nine months with the possibility of extension up to less than 12 months and/or permanency. This position is part-time at 18.38 hours per week andthe full-time salary noted above will be pro-rata.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

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 particularly encouraged to apply.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal .

#LI-DNI

Note

This is a temporary position available for a period of nine months with the possibility of extension up to less than 12 months and/or permanency. This position is part-time at 18.38 hours per week and the full-time salary noted above will be pro-rata.