Program Officer/Triage

HealthWISE; Hillvue; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Supportive team environment

Safe referral pathways

Varied intake, triage, coordination

Job summary

HealthWISE is seeking a Program Officer to manage mental health intake, triage and referrals across rural NSW and QLD. You will review referrals, assess eligibility and risk, and ensure timely access to appropriate services.

The role requires strong communication, documentation, and organisational skills, with the ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team while upholding privacy and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Certificate IV in Mental Health.
• Experience in intake and triage within a community, health or mental health setting.
• Understanding stepped care, mental health referral pathways and client-centred practice.
• Clear documentation and maintaining accurate client information.
• Professional and respectful communication with clients, referrers, clinicians and service partners.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness and understanding of stigma and discrimination.

Responsibilities

• Review and process referrals, assess eligibility and risk.
• Undertake telephone-based assessments where required.
• Maintain accurate client records and documentation.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters as appropriate.
• Support effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Intake experience

Triage experience

Client-centred practice

Documentation

Professional communication

Independent work

Cultural awareness

Education

Diploma or Certificate IV in Mental Health

Job description

Program Officer – 12-month contract

Use your intake, triage and communication skills to help connect people with the right mental health support at the right time as a program officer – mental health intake and triage. The Program Officer is responsible for providing responsive, high-quality intake, triage and referral management support for HealthWISE commissioned mental health programs. The role acts as a key point of contact for general practitioners, referrers, service providers and clients, ensuring referrals are reviewed, assessed, prioritised and allocated in line with program eligibility, clinical risk, organisational procedures and funding requirements.

HealthWISE is looking for a capable, motivated and organised Program Officer to join our Services Support and Wellbeing teams. This role is central to supporting safe and timely access to mental health programs across rural and regional communities in the New England North West region of NSW and the Darling Downs and West Moreton regions of Queensland. This includes undertaking telephone-based assessments where required, completing risk assessments and safety planning, maintaining accurate client records, escalating complex or high-risk matters, and supporting effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

As the Program Officer, you will be a first key point of contact for general practitioners, referrers, service providers and clients. You will be responsible for reviewing and processing referrals, assessing eligibility and risk, supporting timely access to services, undertaking telephone-based assessments where required, completing risk assessments and safety planning, and ensuring clients are connected to the most appropriate mental health support.

The position requires strong communication, judgement, organisation and documentation skills. The Program Officer is expected to contribute to service quality, data accuracy, performance monitoring and continuous improvement activities while upholding privacy, safety, professional standards and HealthWISE values.

What we offer

• Meaningful work that supports better access to mental health care in rural and regional communities.
• A collaborative and supportive team environment across Services Support and Wellbeing programs.
• The opportunity to contribute to safe, responsive and person-centred referral pathways.
• Varied work involving intake, triage, stakeholder communication, documentation and service coordination.

About You

• You have a Diploma or Certificate IV in Mental Health, or an equivalent qualification.
• You bring experience in intake and triage within a community, health or mental health setting.
• You understand stepped care, mental health referral pathways and client-centred practice.
• You are confident completing clear documentation and maintaining accurate client information.
• You communicate respectfully and professionally with clients, referrers, clinicians and service partners.
• You can work independently while contributing positively to a multidisciplinary team.
• You demonstrate cultural awareness and understand the impact of stigma and discrimination.

To read the position description, visit: https://healthwise.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Program-Officer-1-2025.pdf

To learn more, contact Lynn Hall via [e-mail].