Graduate Social Worker - Mental Health

Lmhn; Bendigo; On-site; AUD 3,967,000 - 4,618,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff health programs

Career development

Salary packaging opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Staff gym & pool access

Job summary

Bendigo Health is offering a Graduate Social Worker – Mental Health program in Bendigo. The role supports newly qualified and early career social workers in transitioning to professional mental health practice, with a 12-month framework and supervised rotations across MHWS.

Graduates will build specialist mental health capability through structured learning, monthly study days and dedicated supervision, while working within a defined clinical workload and supervision framework.

Qualifications

• Newly qualified social workers and early career social workers are supported.
• Structured 12-month program with two six-month clinical rotations.
• Requires vaccination against 2026 flu season.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health social work services within an allocated workload with supervision.
• Participate in professional supervision, reflective practice and learning activities.
• Engage in two six-month clinical rotations across MHWS settings.

Skills

Clinical rotations

Mental health

Supervision

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

• Support for career progression and development
• An opportunity to work with a leading regional health service
• Excellent clinical exposure across a range of specialties

The Position

Job Reference:4621

Position Title: Graduate Social Worker – Mental Health
Classification: YC42 - YC45
Salary per hour (exc. super): $2,880.20 - $3,351.60
Hours per fortnight: 80 Hours (Including an ADO every 4 weeks)
Employment Status: Fixed Term Full Time - Until 28/01/2028

Other requirements: 2026 Flu Vaccination

The Mental Health Graduate Social Worker Program is a structured 12-month program supporting newly qualified Social Workers and early career Social Workers (less than two years’ experience) in their transition to professional mental health social work practice.

Graduates undertake two six-month specialist clinical rotations across the MHWS, providing experience across different practice settings and consumer populations. The program supports graduates to develop specialist mental health social work capability through supported clinical practice, professional supervision, dedicated monthly graduate study days and structured learning, with a focus on contemporary, recovery-oriented practice.

Mental Health Graduate Social Workers provide mental health social work services within an allocated clinical workload appropriate to their level of experience, capability and scope of practice with appropriate support and supervision to support professional identity growth. Graduates are expected to actively participate in professional supervision, reflective practice, peer group supervision and all required learning, assessment and development activities of the Graduate program.

Working with Bendigo Health

Bendigo Health are a leader in regional health care, combining outstanding services with a strong education, training and personal development culture.

Created by our community in the 1850s, we have a long, proud history of delivering excellent care to our community.

Our organisation is diverse, welcoming and committed to delivering our vision to be a trusted regional healthcare service recognised for delivering exceptional care, being a great place to work, and being deeply connected to our community.

Bendigo Health has around 5000 staff and a catchment area covering a quarter of the size of Victoria. The three main campuses of Bendigo Health are in Bendigo, with many services extended to regional settings including areas such as Mildura, Echuca, Swan Hill, Kyneton and Castlemaine.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits for our staff, including:

• Staff health and wellbeing programs
• Career development and education opportunities
• Generous salary packaging opportunities, to increase your take-home pay each fortnight
• Flexible Working Arrangements
• Use of staff gym and pool and access to other fitness facilities through fitness passport program

If successful for a position at Bendigo Health you must provide evidence of your full immunisation record as part of the on boarding process.

Your New Division

The Clinical Operations Division encompasses acute, cancer and mental health services. We provide a wide range of general medical, surgical and specialty services including but not limited to; Oncology, Cardiology, Renal, Emergency, Women’s and Children’s, Critical Care, Specialist Clinics, Cancer Clinics and Mental Health Services.

Within a state-of-the-art hospital, our Ambulatory and Critical Care, Medical Services, Surgical Services and Women’s and Children’s (including an Early Parenting Centre) areas use the latest technologies to provide excellent care. Our world class Cancer Centre uses a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to treat specific cancers. The Cancer Centre offers medical oncology, radiation oncology, specialist nurses, clinical trials and cancer research, palliative care, and a Cancer Wellness Program.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides psychiatric care and treatment across a large catchment covering the Loddon Mallee region. Family sensitive practice is central to our models of mental health care and best practice ensures the identification, inclusion and support of families, carers and children.

Each year our onsite Specialist Clinics provide over 100,000 service events, we also see more than 60,000 people in our Emergency Department and welcome around 1700 babies into the world. The Clinical Operations Division assists with the admission of more than 50,000 patients into the hospital each year.

Bendigo is one of Victoria’s largest regional cities making it a great city to live and work in. Bendigo provides services for the region’s population of over 320,000 and so the city offers excellent schools, shopping and cultural precincts, sporting facilities and various tertiary facilities. We can offer generous flexible working arrangements - giving you more time to enjoy the fantastic restaurants, beautiful parks, walking trails and wineries within our region.

Diversity and Inclusion

Bendigo Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We embrace diversity and social inclusion and encourage people from a diverse cultural background, people with disabilities and or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

Allied Health Credentialing and Scope of Practice Protocol: HERE

Act with Respect X | We are proud to be a Respect X Accredited Employer. We have zero tolerance for sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination in our organisation. Learn more: www.respectx.com.au