Make a meaningful difference in the lives of older people. Build your mental health career within a supportive community team.

Employment Type: 2 x Permanent Full Time

Position Classification: Registered Nurse

Remuneration: $81,748.17 - $114,771.98 per annum + 12% Superannuation + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: 38

Requisition ID: REQ695928

Location:Newcastle Community Older Persons Mental Health

Closing Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026

About the Opportunity

An exciting opportunity is available for a Registered Nurse (Mental Health) to join the Newcastle or Lake Macquarie Community Older Persons Mental Health Service (OPMHS).The Community OPMHS is a specialist service providing assessment, treatment and ongoing care to older people experiencing mental illness, cognitive concerns and complex psychosocial needs.

We have two opportunities available, one at Lake Macquarie Community OPMHS is based at Charlestown Health Campus and provides specialist community mental health care across the Lake Macquarie area. Newcastle Community OPMHS is based at Watt Street, Newcastle, on the former James Fletcher Hospital site and provides specialist community mental health care across Newcastle and surrounding areas.

Both services are multidisciplinary teams comprising nursing, medical, psychology, social work and occupational therapy clinicians. You’ll work collaboratively with consumers, families and carers, GPs, residential aged care facilities and other health and community services. Our teams are committed to person-centred, recovery-oriented care, supporting older people to remain well and independent within their own homes and communities wherever possible. This means your work will extend beyond the office, with regular opportunities to undertake home visits, residential aged care facility visits and community-based assessments, while remaining connected to a supportive multidisciplinary team.

What You Will Be Doing

As a Registered Nurse within the Community Older Persons Mental Health Service, you’ll provide specialist nursing care across assessment, treatment, care coordination and ongoing clinical management.

You will:

• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments, including mental state examination, psychosocial assessment and risk assessment.
• Provide care coordination for consumers with complex mental health and psychosocial needs.
• Develop, implement and review collaborative care plans with consumers, families and carers.
• Monitor mental state, treatment response, medication adherence, physical health and changes in risk.
• Provide nursing interventions, psychoeducation, medication support and other evidence-based interventions within your scope of practice.
• Undertake home visits, residential aged care facility visits and assessments across community settings.
• Work closely with psychiatrists, medical officers, GPs, families, carers, aged care providers and other health and community services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinical reviews, case discussions and treatment planning.
• Support consumers experiencing deterioration in their mental health and contribute to timely assessment and escalation.
• Contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development activities.
• Build therapeutic relationships that support recovery, engagement and positive outcomes for older people.

The role offers a high degree of professional autonomy, balanced with ready access to experienced nursing, medical and allied health clinicians when you need advice or support.

About You

We’re looking for a compassionate, reliable and clinically curious Registered Nurse who enjoys working with older people and is interested in supporting consumers with complex mental health, physical health, cognitive and psychosocial needs.

You will bring:

• Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
• A current Australian driver's licence, as the role involves community visits.
• Sound foundational clinical skills and professional judgement.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to build therapeutic relationships with older consumers, families and carers.
• The ability to recognise changes in mental state and risk and respond appropriately.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a community caseload.
• The ability to work autonomously in the community while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Adaptability, reflective practice and a genuine willingness to learn.
• A commitment to person-centred, recovery-oriented and evidence-based care.

Previous mental health nursing experience is highly regarded, however, specific Older Persons Mental Health experience is not essential.

We welcome Registered Nurses with strong transferable clinical skills and a genuine interest in developing their practice in community and Older Persons Mental Health.

With support from the team, you’ll have the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills in mental health assessment, risk assessment and management, care coordination, cognitive assessment, mental health legislation, aged care systems and local community services.

How You Will Be Supported

You’ll receive comprehensive orientation and ongoing support from the Team Manager, Clinical Coordinator, senior clinicians, medical staff and experienced multidisciplinary team members.

Your orientation will be tailored to your previous experience and will include the OPMHS model of care, local service processes, clinical documentation, community practice, risk assessment and management, relevant legislation, referral pathways and local community services.

Ongoing support includes:

• Regular clinical supervision.
• Multidisciplinary clinical review and case discussion.
• Joint community visits and assessments during orientation where appropriate.
• Access to experienced mental health clinicians for consultation.
• Education and professional development opportunities across the broader Hunter New England Mental Health network.

We recognise that transitioning into community or Older Persons Mental Health is different for everyone. Your orientation and learning will be tailored to your experience, with increasing autonomy as your confidence and capability develop.

What We Can Offer

This is an opportunity to develop specialist expertise at the intersection of mental health nursing, older persons care and complex community practice.

You’ll enjoy:

• A varied role with significant professional autonomy.
• Community-based work across homes, residential aged care and other settings.
• The support and connection of an established multidisciplinary team.
• Access to fleet vehicles for approved community work.
• Regular clinical supervision and professional development.
• Exposure to a broad range of mental health, cognitive, physical and psychosocial presentations.
• Opportunities to develop advanced skills in mental health assessment, risk management, cognitive assessment and care coordination.

For experienced mental health nurses, this role offers the opportunity to build specialist Older Persons Mental Health expertise. For Registered Nurses looking to develop their mental health career, it provides a supportive pathway to build specialist skills within an experienced community team.

Benefits

✅ Opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development

✅ Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero

✅ Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full-time employees)

✅ 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)

✅ Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance

✅ Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing

✅ Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family

✅ Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members

Additional Information

To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies.

Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact [email protected] for confidential support.

Need more information?

1) Click here for the Position Description

2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Ricci Berrie on [email protected]

Information for Applicants:

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below).For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

Stepping Up Websiteis a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp

This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance withNSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseasesfor Category A positions prior to offer.All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging:is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via [email protected] or 1300 40 25 23.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range ofbenefitssuch as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

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