Psychiatrist

Médecins Sans Frontières; Australia; Remote; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Australia is seeking a psychiatrist to provide clinical leadership and direct patient care in challenging humanitarian settings. Responsibilities include medication management, medical advice, and training local staff to sustain mental health services in resource-limited environments.

The role requires fellowship with RANZCP or equivalent training in psychiatry with substantial adult experience, and a track record in trauma-related mental health, HIV/TB

Qualifications

• Fellow of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) or residency with six semesters (three years) validated in psychiatry (with at least two years in adult psychiatry)
• Professional experience in mental health issues associated with at least two of HIV/AIDS, PTSD, sexual violence, trauma, tuberculosis, substance abuse
• Minimum of two years clinical experience in a multi-disciplinary setting treating patients with psychotherapeutic and/or counseling methods
• Available for a minimum of six months
• Current practising certificate and no recent gap in clinical experience greater than two years
• Experience in child and adolescent mental health
• Experience providing psychotherapy over a short period of time
• Experience providing counseling tailored to individual/group/family needs

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual consultation in clinical practice as a psychiatrist
• Provide medication and medical advice
• Support programs and teams by proposing improvements in line with MSF's goals and strategies
• Improve working environment as needed and coordinate team efforts
• Plan training for staff and conduct evaluations, supervision, etc.
• Refer patients to appropriate local facilities as needed
• Submit activity reports and manage data (patient files, forms, statistics, databases, etc.)

Skills

Clinical psychiatry

Medication management

Teaching/training

Education

RANZCP Fellowship

Psychiatry residency with adult psychiatry focus

Job description

Psychiatrists provide care for people who have been traumatised in the face of natural disasters, conflicts, and sexual assault. They also provide psychological care for patients who are mentally exhausted due to prolonged conflicts as well as those who deal with long-term treatment of and discrimination against illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

In some cases, a psychiatrist and a psychologist work together, while in other cases, the psychiatrist takes the lead. Psychiatrists are responsible for providing medication, medical advice, and training for local medical staff.

Most people who receive mental health care speak the local language, so counseling is provided through an interpreter. Therefore, it is also important to provide guidance and training to local interpreters.

ACTIVITIES

• Conduct individual consultation in clinical practice as a psychiatrist
• Provide medication and medical advice
• Support programs and teams by proposing improvements in line with MSF's goals and strategies
• Improve working environment as needed and coordinate team efforts
• Plan training for staff and conduct evaluations, supervision, etc.
• Refer patients to appropriate local facilities as needed
• Submit activity reports and manage data (patient files, forms, statistics, databases, etc.)
• Fellow of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), or Resident in Psychiatry with six semesters (three years) validated in psychiatry (with at least two years in adult psychiatry)
• Professional experience in mental health issues associated with at least two of the following areas: HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual violence, trauma, tuberculosis, substance abuse
• Minimum of two years clinical experience in a multi-disciplinary setting treating patients with psychotherapeutic and/or counseling methods
• Available for a minimum of six months
• Current practising certificate and must display no recent gap in clinical experience greater than two years
• Experience in child and adolescent mental health
• Experience providing psychotherapy over a short period of time
• Experience providing counseling tailored to the needs of an individual, group, family, etc.

MSF Medical-Operational Guidelines

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) develops medical-operational guidelines for use in resource-limited environments. These guidelines draw from practical experience and scientific data collected in MSF's projects, as well as evidence published by the World Health Organization and other leading medical institutions and scientific literature.