Mental Health Practitioner

Government schools; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Government schools in Ballarat are seeking a role focused on safeguarding student wellbeing. You will provide professional support to teachers and wellbeing staff, deliver mental health prevention activities, and contribute to early intervention plans for students with diverse needs.

The position emphasizes collaboration with families, other professionals and agencies, and ongoing professional development to sustain high-quality wellbeing services within an educational setting.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering mental health support in an educational setting is preferred.
• Ability to plan and implement evidence-based wellbeing interventions.
• Capability to support staff with professional development and wellbeing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Providing professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and short-term counselling for students with diverse needs.
• Planning and implementing intervention strategies for students with complex needs in collaboration with families and agencies.
• Liaising with school nurses, Student Support Services, and external providers to support students.
• Maintaining professional competence and engaging in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Mental health support

Early intervention

Family collaboration

Staff development

Wellbeing programs

Job description

Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
• Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
• Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
• Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

What you need

• The role provides an opportunity to combine direct therapeutic support with proactive prevention, early intervention, staff capability building and whole-campus wellbeing initiatives.
• The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
• As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).