• Bring your cultural knowledge and lived experience to support people in their mental health recovery
• Fixed-term, part-time (26.6 hours/week) until 30 June 2027 | 7-day rotating roster
• Based in Cairns (Gimuy, on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people)

This position is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only, as the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under Section 7 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) for the purposes contained in Section 25 of that Act.

Mind Australia is one of Australia’s largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services, supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives. Operating for more than 45 years and employing more than 1,300 staff around Australia, Mind is a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery.

About the role

We are seeking resilient and compassionate Community Mental Health Practitioners – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander for fixed-term, part-time (26.6 hours/week) positions to join our new service in Cairns. In this role, you will provide personalised, recovery-oriented support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as other service users living with mental health challenges. Support is delivered through both one-to-one and group-based approaches, empowering people to achieve their recovery goals, build daily living skills, and strengthen connections with community, culture, and kinship groups.

You will also play an important role in contributing to cultural safety within the service, supporting the implementation of Mind’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and advocating for more inclusive and effective systems.

This position is exclusively open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. The role requires flexibility to work within a 7-day rotating roster, including evenings and weekends.

About the service

The Cairns Medicare Mental Health Centre is a welcoming, low-stigma alternative to hospital emergency departments for people experiencing psychological distress or crisis. Delivered in partnership with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Services, the centre provides immediate, short and medium-term support to individuals, connecting them to ongoing care across mental health, alcohol and other drugs, housing, and social services.

Key responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, person-centred support to people working toward recovery from mental ill health.
• Plan and develop group work programs that will assist people to build their skills, focus on their recovery and work towards transitioning back to their community.
• Partner with families, carers, and community services to create a coordinated, holistic support network.
• Support people in building or re-establishing connections with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and services.
• Collaborate with a range of services and the community to ensure a coordinated, integrated response to the client’s recovery goals.

What you’ll bring

• Applicant must identify as an Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander.
• Tertiary qualifications (minimum Certificate IV) in Youth Work, Mental Health, Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, or other health-related field.
• Expertise supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with mental health issues, homelessness, complex needs and interacting with families and carers.
• Proven ability to build meaningful connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, supporting cultural reconnection and engagement with kinship groups, elders, and Country.

Benefits

• Salary packaging up to $15,899 p.a. allows you to allocate a portion of your pre-tax income to cover living expenses (e.g. rent, mortgage, child care, car leasing expenses etc.).
• Ability to take days off for Ceremonial/Cultural purposes by using 3 days of personal leave entitlement and accessing up to 10 days unpaid leave.
• Access to corporate fitness benefits.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Converge International, for you and your immediate family members.

Interested?

To apply online visit Mind Careers - reference number 497852. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Monday 28 July 2025. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the advertisement may close early if a suitable candidate is identified.

For more information, please contact:

Leonie Heness - Service Manager, National Complex Care

[email protected]

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please contact us at [email protected]

Position Description

PD CMHP Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander (CMMHC) - 20250627.pdf

The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check, and NDIS Workers Screening Check.