Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is a new, dedicated public youth mental health service and is the first of its kind in Australia. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team.

Senior Family Worker

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) 

• Join Victoria’s newest Public Mental Health Service dedicated to youth 

• Full Time and Part Time Ongoing Roles | Sunshine or Werribee Based 

Support the Pathways Care Team leadership to implement family inclusive practice as a core component of service delivery. 

About Us

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is Victoria’s newest public mental health service dedicated to the care of young people aged 12 to 25 experiencing complex mental health challenges.

PYMHWS is leading a bold and values-driven transformation in youth mental health care across Melbourne’s north and west. We exist to walk alongside young people, their families, carers, supporters and kin delivering care that is accessible, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed, and grounded in lived experience. Our service model is shaped by the voices of young people and their communities, and underpinned by a commitment to safety, equity, and continuous learning.

At PYMHWS, we are working with our community and partners to build in a future where all young people can access world-class mental health support, close to home. As we grow, we are looking for passionate, skilled, and visionary professionals to join us in shaping a new era of youth mental health in Victoria.

The Department

 Pathways Care Team (Pathways) is a new program being established as part of the   expansion of our Continuing Care Teams (CCT). Pathways is designed for young people who present with tertiary level mental health needs, but where specialist early intervention programs are not yet indicated or need for this cannot be determined at intake

Our CCT model delivers ongoing, community‑based care for young people experiencing severe and/or complex mental ill health, including mood, personality, substance use, eating and neurodevelopmental disorders. Pathways will strengthen this model by offering case management with a strong emphasis on care coordination, collaborative care, and engagement to support assessment and brief intervention.

The Role

The Senior Family Worker is a key leadership role within the Pathways Care Team and supports the Pathways Care Team leadership to implement family inclusive practice as a core component of service delivery. 

The Senior Family Worker will enhance the capacity of the stream to engage families, carers, supporters and kin (families) through primary and secondary consultation, providing training, and direct clinical work alongside clinicians to support the development of their skills. The Senior Family Worker will have considerable knowledge and experience of working with families of young people with severe mental health problems.

The Senior Family Worker is expected to function autonomously as well as work collaboratively with the Continuing Care Team Coordinator, Pathways Care Team Program Lead and the Team Leader to plan and develop services for young people and their families which are consistent with best practice standards and evidence-based care, and are in line with the strategic direction and vision for PYMHWS. Family interventions may include single-session consultations, ongoing family and systems work, and family assessments.

Additionally, the Senior Family Worker will support stream business including clinical governance and quality assurance processes, training and professional development. The Senior Family Worker may also provide support to other teams or clinical streams within the service, including the provision of supervision.

The service operates over a number of sites and staff may be required to work from these and be based at one or more sites, including, Parkville, Wyndham, Sunshine or other sites within the catchment.

Why Join PYMHWS?

• Be part of building a legacy for youth mental health in Victoria
• Work alongside passionate, visionary leaders in a values-led organisation
• Salary packaging options, up to $11,600 tax free earnings
• Flexible working arrangements including remote work options where possible
• Employee wellbeing focused, access to EAP
• Flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

About You

A passionate and skilled mental health professional with experience supporting young people with complex mental health difficulties including personality disorder. You bring a client-centred, evidence-based approach to care, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. You value inclusivity, cultural safety, and continuous learning, and you're committed to delivering responsive, high-quality mental health support. Your strong communication, clinical, and organisational skills enable you to build effective therapeutic relationships and navigate complex care systems with confidence and compassion.

• Eligible disciplines: Grade 4 RPN, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker / Grade 3 Psychologist
• Relevant registration and qualifications (see position description for details)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in tertiary and/or youth mental health and a demonstrated ability to lead a clinical team, supervise mental health clinicians, and function both autonomously and collaboratively with other clinical and organisational leaders
• Excellent communication, organisation, and leadership skills
• Motivated by youth-focused, inclusive, and recovery-oriented care

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're looking to be part of something truly meaningful—we’d love to hear from you. Click "Apply Now".

For a confidential discussion, contact Kate Day on 03 9966 9100.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Recruitment is ongoing, with interviews commencing as soon as suitable candidates are received. Advertising may cease prior to the closing date.

To view the position description click HERE

APPLY NOW

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all applicants. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application prompts or inform our People and Culture team if you’re contacted for an interview.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and a Working with Children Check. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of an immunisation assessment prior to commencement.

PYMHWS stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in work and care. We are proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality for our staff and our community.  Our goal is for our people to feel safe, included and supported so that they can be at their best every single day. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply to our vacancies, and will consider adjustments to support such applications.