ACT Health
Child and Adolescent Mental Health- Staff Specialist / Senior Staff Specialist
Requirements
Applicants must hold specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and meet credentialing requirements for clinical practice. Experience in child and adolescent mental health and the ability to work across various clinical settings are essential.
Job Description
Employment Type: Full Time Permanent
Classification: Staff Specialist 1-5 / Senior Specialist
Location: Canberra Health Services
Section: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol and Drug Services
Closing Date: 18 September 2026
Medical Staff in the Canberra Health Services enjoy excellent conditions, and our Enterprise Agreement is available at:
ACT PUBLIC SECTOR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS DETERMINATION 2023-2026
What can we offer you:
l Reimbursement of relocation expenses (up to $55,000) for interstate candidates on permanent and long term appointments (Conditions apply and subject to review and approval)
l VISA/Sponsorship for eligible candidates.
l City living without the traffic – click here to see why you should live in Canberra
l Competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions within a tertiary hospital.
l Salary Packaging with many options that provide full fringe benefits tax concessions.
l Flexible working conditions.
Potential total package value of $394,407 to $530,052 (Inclusive of additional incentives and allowances) dependent on the level of experience and participation.
Full Time Indicative Base Package Value: $344,407 to $455,052 (Pro Rata part time)
Indicative Base Package inclusive of
l Base Salary $204,936 to $274,696
l Superannuation (12.5%25)
l Private Practice Allowance – Scheme A
l Professional development allowances
l On-call allowance 17.5%25
l Mobile Phone allowance
l Generous leave provisions, including up to 4 weeks training/education leave and up to 5 weeks annual leave per annum
l Annual Leave Loading 17.5%25
Note: Starting base salary will be negotiated within this classification for the successful candidate, depending on experience and expertise.
Additional incentives and allowances to the base package Value: $50,000 to $75,000 Dependent on base level appointed to.
Attraction and Retention Incentive’s (ARIn) available for this position - Subject to meeting eligibility criteria - (pro-rata for part time)
l Core Group Psychiatry ARIn
* Participation in 10 weekend days and 10 weekday evenings across one year regardless of fraction.
About the Role:
Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) offers compassionate, recovery-focused care for youth and adults across Canberra. Whether in hospitals, community centres, justice facilities, or even at home, MHJHADS provides specialised support tailored to each stage of life, from children and adolescents to older adults. Services include inpatient psychiatric care, community outreach, and harm minimisation programs, all designed to meet complex mental health needs with dignity and respect.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides specialist inpatient and community based mental health assessment and treatment services for children and adolescents experiencing moderate to severe mental illness/disorder with significant functional impairment, associated complex needs and risk. CAMHS also governs several specialist MHJHADS services including:
l CAMHS Acute Services
o CAMHS Hospital Liaison Team (CAMHS HLT)
o At Home Intensive Treatment Team (AHITT)
o Child and Adolescent Unit (CAU)
o CAMHS Day Program
l CAMHS Community Teams
o CAMHS North and South
o Single Point of Access (SPA)
o Adolescent Mental Health Outreach Service (AMOS)
o The Cottage Program
o CAMHS Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program
l Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach (SYMHO)
l Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Consultation Service (PIMHCS)
l Eating Disorders Program
l Eating Disorders Residential Treatment Centre
l Intellectual Disability Service
The successful applicant will have specialist experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and high-level skills relevant to both inpatient and community services and be willing to work across MHJHADS as needed. The successful applicant will also be expected to participate in the mandatory administrative, governance and training requirements of medical officers within the Division. Emphasis on recovery focus and person-centred care are essential.
The position holder is expected to operate within the Public Sector Management Act (1994), the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct and the professional requirements specified by the appointee’s Specialist College.
The preferred candidate maybe considered for a conjoint position in ANU at an academic level commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The academic position will be held for the duration of the Canberra Health Services employment and will be subject to regular performance reviews. No remuneration is attached to the University position. The employee will be responsible to the University on academic matters and to The Canberra Hospital & Health Services / Canberra Health Services for clinical/ research matters.
For more information in relation to conjoint positions with the ANU please contact The Director, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology (02) 6125 2622 director.smp@anu.edu.au
For more information regarding the position duties view the Position Description
Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:
l Hold Specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
l Meet credentialing requirements and receive an Endorsed scope of clinical practice from the Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee (MDAAC)
l Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
l Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
To Apply:
Please apply via the e-recruitment system Taleo by submitting a copy of your CV along with a 2-page cover letter or pitch, responding to the Selection Criteria, listed in the Position Description.
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person centred care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS Website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind
CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.
If you would like further information regarding this opportunity, please contact CHS MHJHADS Medical Recruitment CHS.MHJHADSMedicalRecruitment@act.gov.au