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 – YOUTH MOOD CLINIC (YMC)

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS)

Permanent Ongoing | Part-Time 0.6 EFT | 📍 Sunshine site, Melton team

Build effective therapeutic relationships with young people and their families, navigating complex care systems with compassion and respect.

• Join Victoria’s newest Public Mental Health Service dedicated to youth
• Permanent Ongoing | Part-time 0.6 EFT role | Sunshine & Melton based
• Salary Packaging | EAP and Wellbeing programs

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 Opportunity:

The Senior Family Worker role offers a unique chance to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of young people by strengthening family and carer engagement within a supportive and innovative environment. You will be an integral part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality, family-focused, evidence-based care that makes a meaningful difference to young people and their families. This ongoing appointment provides valuable opportunities for professional growth while contributing to the development and future direction of family-inclusive youth mental health services in Victoria.

While this position is primarily based at the Sunshine site, outreach and travel to the Melton site (and potentially other locations) will be required as the service expands.

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
• Employee wellbeing focused, access to EAP
• Flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

About the Role:

The Senior Family Worker provides expert clinical care and coordination within the Youth Mood Clinic (YMC), supporting young people aged 12–25 with severe mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and complex co-morbidities. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, this role focuses on delivering family-inclusive, evidence-based interventions that support both young people and their families/carers.

Manage a clinical caseload with responsibilities including family and systems assessments, treatment planning, family consultations, outreach, and collaboration with external agencies and community services. Bring a family-centred, evidence-based approach to care, and work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

What You’ll Do:

• Conduct timely family and mental health assessments, develop treatment plans, provide crisis interventions, and complete clinical documentation in line with PYMHWS standards.
• Deliver high-quality, family-focused care aligned with best practice and PYMHWS values.
• Build capacity within the team for integrated family-inclusive care across complex mental health presentations.
• Collaborate closely with young people, families, carers, and clinicians to enhance engagement and treatment outcomes.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with external services, including Drug and Alcohol, Youth Justice, and primary care providers, to support holistic family engagement.

About You:
You are a passionate and skilled mental health professional with extensive experience supporting families and carers of young people experiencing complex mood, anxiety, and co-morbid mental health disorders.

✔️ Eligible disciplines: RPN Grade 4 / Occupational Therapist, Social Worker and Psychologist Grade 3 AND post-graduate level qualification in Family/Systems Therapy

✔️ 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

✔️ Knowledge of and training in family-based approaches to mental health including the Single Session Family Consultation Framework

✔️ Clinical experience and skills in engaging and working collaboratively with young people and families in a mental health setting

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're looking to be part of something truly meaningful—we’d love to hear from you.

For a discussion, contact Karen Smith (Lead Family Work Clinician) - 0430 127 203

To view the full Position Description, please click HERE

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.