Towards Zero Suicides Aftercare Lead

Northern Sydney Local Health District; Ryde; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Sydney Local Health District – Ryde NSW is seeking an Aftercare Lead to drive the district-wide integration of aftercare services, including The Way Back NSW, for people following suicide attempts or crises.

Based at Macquarie Hospital, the role leads coordination with hospital and community mental health teams, implements strategies to improve visibility and access, and supports governance and training aligned with NSW Health policies. Applications close 24 September 2026.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent work experience specific to mental health and suicide prevention.

Responsibilities

• Lead district-wide integration of aftercare services including The Way Back NSW Aftercare Service.
• Coordinate with hospital and community mental health teams to ensure access to aftercare support.
• Plan and implement strategies to enhance service visibility and improve referral pathways.
• Coordinate governance, training, and co-design for Suicide Prevention Care Pathways.

Skills

Mental health leadership

Education

Tertiary qualifications in mental health

Job description

Northern Sydney Local Health District – Ryde NSW

Lead the integration of innovative aftercare services and help shape a suicide-safer health system.
Employment Type:TemporaryFull Time until 30 June 2027 (with possibility of ongoing employment)
Position Classification:Health Manager Level 3
Remuneration:$2,635.66 - $2,994.16 per week
Hours Per Week:38
Requisition ID:REQ692327
Who we are: We are a health service that touches thousands of lives across the Northern Sydney Local Health District, together as a team of like-minded people. We are passionate, driven and have the skills and knowledge to care for our patients whilst creating the best services possible. Our teams have meaningful, interesting and rewarding work everyday. We challenge and nurture each other, sharing our knowledge and experience so that we can deliver better care for everyone There’s a real sense of belonging here because we value and respect our patients, employees, and teams’ voices. You’ll feel a real privilege being a trusted caregiver in our patients, their families, their carers, and our communities’ lives.
NSLHD is proud of our diverse and inclusive workplaces, a place where health care professionals can thrive and feel they belong. We are committed to ensure that all our people feel respected and participate safely within a work environment without aggression, sexual harassment, discrimination and racism.
Where you'll be working
Based at Macquarie Hospital, North Ryde
What you'll be doing
The Aftercare Lead (the Lead) provides District-wide leadership for the integration of aftercare services including The Way Back NSW Aftercare Service in NSLHD. The Way Back NSW provides community-based assertive psychosocial support for people following a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis who have been referred from an acute care or community mental health setting.
This role will lead the coordination of Aftercare services with relevant hospital and community mental health and suicide prevention services to ensure access to aftercare support is available for all people who need it.

The Lead will be required to plan and implement strategies to enhance service visibility for patients/consumers, families, and clinicians. They will coordinate with District teams to ensure the effectiveness of referral pathways and play a lead role in clinical and operational governance consistent with NSW Health and NSLHD policies, procedures and standards. This will include the co-design and delivery of training aligned with the Suicide Prevention Care Pathways.
People of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.
Candidates will need to meet the following criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent work experience specific to mental health and suicide prevention.
• What do you see as the key elements of effective suicide aftercare, and can you provide an example of how you have improved continuity of care for people experiencing suicidal distress?
• Tell us about the most impactful quality improvement initiative you have led. What methodology did you use and what changed as a result?
• If Universal Aftercare was fully embedded across NSLHD in three years' time, what would be visibly different for consumers, clinicians and services, and what implementation milestones would tell you that you are on track?

For role related queries or questions contact Carmen Betterridge on ***************@health.nsw.gov.au or 0436 670 ***

NSW Health is committed toimplementing the Child Safe Standards.

Towards Zero Suicides Aftercare Lead

The team enriching healthin millions of ways every day.

Applications Close: 24 September 2026

OTentative Interview Dates: Week commencing 19 October 2026