Grow your career while helping shape the future of forensic youth mental health.

Senior Mental Health Site Lead, Custodial Forensic Youth Mental Health Service 

Parkville Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS)

2 year Fixed Term | Full-Time 1.0 EFT | Malmsbury (1 hour from Melbourne CBD & 40 mins from Bendigo)

Provide collaborative, person-centred and recovery-orientated specialist mental health services to youth in custody.

• $8k sign on bonus with a further $6k bonuses at 12 & 24 months 
• Salary Packaging | 5 weeks Annual Leave | Monthly ADO
• Salary Range $120k - $138k pa (Dependent on Quals and Experience) 

About Us:

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is Victoria’s first standalone public mental health service designed specifically for young people aged 12 to 25. Operational from July 2025, PYMHWS is leading a bold transformation in how youth mental health is accessed, experienced, and governed across Melbourne’s north and west.

We deliver specialist, community, and inpatient services to young people experiencing, or at risk of mental ill-health. Our multidisciplinary teams are based at Parkville, Footscray, Spotswood, Sunshine, Wyndham, Cherry Creek and Malmsbury, working closely with families, carers, supporters and kin to provide developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, trauma-informed, inclusive care, grounded in lived experience.

At PYMHWS, every decision - from the front desk to the boardroom - centres on what young people need to live the lives they want to lead. We partner with Orygen, bringing their world-leading research and knowledge translation expertise into care delivery.

Together, we are building an integrated service model that connects Orygen[1]operated headspace centres with PYMHWS clinical services, creating a unified care experience. As we grow, we’re building a service with - and for - young people. One that reflects the diversity of our communities, embraces continuous learning and the generation of new knowledge, and strengthens the mental health system around it

The Opportunity:

Be part of something new.

As Victoria's Youth Justice system expands into the reopened Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct, the Custodial Forensic Youth Mental Health Service (FYMHS) is building a new multidisciplinary team to deliver specialist mental health care to young people in custody. This is a rare opportunity to join the service during a period of growth and help shape the future of forensic youth mental health practice within a newly established custodial environment.

The Site Coordinator, Custodial FYMHS is a key leadership position within Custodial FYMHS, providing both operational leadership and guidance to a multidisciplinary team, along with holding a defined client case load.

Given the leadership attributes of this role, it is expected that the incumbent will work autonomously and collaboratively with the Custodial FYMHS Team Lead to plan, develop and support the implementation of services for young people and their families/carers, which are consistent with best practice standards and evidence-based care and are in line with the strategic direction and vision of Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS).

The role is embedded within Custodial FYMHS team and is based within a Youth Justice Custodial Precinct. When required to travel to other service locations a workplace vehicle and travel time is included within working hours.

The Site Coordinator, Custodial FYMHS (Malmsbury) focuses on providing high level consultation, leadership and advice on complex clinical matters and is expected to have advanced knowledge of and experience regarding the mental health sector.

Knowledge and experience working in a forensic setting is desirable. 

Please refer to the Position Description for further key accountabilities.

FYMHS Professional Development, Support & Wellbeing

• Specialist Forensic Mental health and Education program training provided.
• Support to participate in research, service evaluation and quality improvement projects
• Access to specialist education in youth forensic mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, trauma-informed care, personality disorder, formulation and risk assessment.
• Regular opportunities to learn alongside experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, art therapists and lived experience practitioners.
• Our clinicians don't work in isolation. Staff are supported through a comprehensive clinical governance framework
• Opportunities for joint assessments and co-working with experienced clinicians.
• Flexible work arrangements where operationally appropriate, strong focus on work-life balance and staff wellbeing, supportive multidisciplinary team environment where collaboration is valued, dedicated leadership team invested in staff development and orientation/onboarding planning/support, team social activities/team building, clear career progression pathways as the service continues to expand.

About You:

A mental health clinician experienced in, and passionate about, early intervention and evidence based care for young people experiencing severe mental health difficulties including personality disorder.

✔️ Eligible disciplines: Grade 4 RPN, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker and 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 supervise mental health clinicians, and function both autonomously and collaboratively with other clinical and organisational leaders

✔️ A sound knowledge of the youth justice and/or criminal justice system and other relevant community based forensic services

✔️ Motivated by youth-focused, inclusive, and recovery-oriented care

PYMHWS Benefits

• Salary packaging options, up to $11,600 tax free earnings
• 5 weeks annual leave plus monthly ADO for full time employees
• Flexible working arrangements including remote work options where possible
• Employee wellbeing focused, access to EAP
• Fitness passport membership & onsite Gym at our Parkville location
• Discounted Health Insurance
• Flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture

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 confidential discussion, contact Jarryd Phillips - Talent Acqusition Specialist on 0447 586 077

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 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.