Clinical Nurse Specialist – Mental Health Intake Team (Taree)
Hunter Valley Lower Mid North Coast Mental Health Service
Bring your clinical expertise and leadership to a role where timely access, compassionate care and sound clinical judgement make a real difference for consumers and their families.
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Hours Per Week: 38
Position Classification: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Remuneration: $ $60.55 Per Hour + Superannuation + Salary Packaging
Requisition ID: REQ632347
Location: Taree Community Health Service
Closing Date: Monday 9th February 2026
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.
About the Service
The Hunter Valley Lower Mid North Coast Mental Health Service provides specialist psychiatric community intervention for adults across the Taree, Forster, Gloucester and Bulahdelah regions. The service delivers comprehensive assessment, treatment and referral pathways for consumers and their families, including specialist support for complex presentations such as perinatal mental health and eating disorders.
The service offers brief intervention, care coordination and recovery-oriented approaches, working closely with acute, community and partner services to ensure consumers receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
About the Role
The Clinical Nurse Specialist - Mental Health Intake Team plays a critical role in ensuring the timely, safe and effective management of referrals into, within and out of the service. This position operates with a high level of autonomy and clinical leadership, supporting prompt access to specialist mental health care or referral to the most appropriate pathways.
You will provide advanced mental health assessment, triage and clinical decision-making, working closely with consumers, families and multidisciplinary colleagues. The role requires strong professional judgement, ethical practice and the ability to anticipate, identify and address complex clinical issues, while contributing to continuous improvement in service delivery and consumer outcomes.
About You
You are an experienced mental health clinician with strong clinical expertise, sound judgement and a commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centred care. You are confident working autonomously, demonstrate advanced communication skills, and bring a collaborative approach to multidisciplinary practice. Essential Requirements
* Qualification in Nursing with relevant post-registration qualifications and a minimum of three years' experience working in the clinical area of the specified post-graduate qualification, or other relevant qualifications/experience deemed appropriate by the service
* Demonstrated application of professional and ethical boundaries when managing complex clinical situations within a multidisciplinary team
* Proven ability to anticipate, identify and resolve problems and implement effective solutions
* Demonstrated ability to proactively engage with consumers to identify needs and ensure timely, responsive care
* Experience identifying and implementing improvements in clinical service delivery to enhance consumer outcomes
* Ability to apply and share professional expertise to support team practice and improve clinical care
How You'll Be Supported
You will be supported through structured onboarding, ongoing education, in-service training and clinical reviews. Clinical and professional support is provided by the Team Manager, Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Nurse Consultant, ensuring you are well supported to deliver high-quality care and continue developing your advanced practice skills.
Join Us
Be part of a service committed to delivering safe, timely and compassionate mental health care across our communities. Your leadership, clinical expertise and commitment to quality care will help ensure consumers receive the support they need, when they need it most.
Hunter New England Health offers a range of benefits to support your wellbeing, professional growth and work–life balance, including:
* Be rewarded with up to $10,000 in the first 12 months PLUS up to $5,000 each year thereafter in fortnightly payments under the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme.*
* Four weeks annual leave per year (pro rata for part-time employees)
* Paid parental leave for eligible employees, supporting true work–life balance
* Salary packaging options up to $11,600 per year, plus novated leasing
* Fitness Passport, offering discounted gym memberships for you and your family
* Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
Hunter New England Health employees may also be eligible for additional benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full-time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and further salary packaging options including meal expenses.
*
o Based on a minimum 18-month commitment to the position or the agreed duration of your contract. All payments to part-time and contract employees will be made on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the terms of your contract, including any approved extensions. If your contract ends before the agreed completion date, you may be required to repay a portion of the incentive. Please note: the increased RHWIS allowance is approved until 30th June 2026. Commencement after this date may be subject to change, including the allowance amount for which the candidate may be eligible. To check your eligibility, visit the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme. For further information or to discuss your circumstances, please contact HNELHD-
* An eligibility list may be created for future permanent and temporary full-time or part-time vacancies
* For role-related queries, please contact Renae Blanch on
* Click here for Position Description
Information for Applicants
Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria outlined in the Position Description. For assistance with addressing selection criteria, please visit:
The Stepping Up website is a resource designed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. To learn more, visit:
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.
This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health Policy Directive PD2024_015 – Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases prior to offer. All new employees are required to comply with the policy.
Salary packaging is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay. You can salary package a range of personal expenses, including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt.
For more information, contact SalaryPackagingPLUS via or
This position is full time; however job share and/or part time arrangements will be considered
RuralHealthIncentive
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