Senior Clinical and Health Psychologist

Clinical and Health Psychology Service (CHP, TAPS, Mental Health Division), Austin Health 

GRADE 4, Permanent part-time, 0.8 EFT

Looking for a change? Join a great team of Psychologists at Austin Health in a leadership role.

We are seeking a highly experienced Gr4 psychologist and leader to support effective clinical governance, quality and safety of care and an excellent staff and student experience. Our Clinical and Health Psychology service has a critical role in innovating, implementing and translating best practice treatment interventions across the health system in hospitals.

The application of psychology to the medical setting at Austin Health has had a long history of leading the field through its Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) service, and providing a full range of psychological skills to medical patients, responsive to changes in service needs. The CHP Service consists of a small friendly team of consultant psychologists and provides an innovative training program for postgraduate psychologists on placement. CHP works closely with the CL Psychiatry service.

The role will involve three components

1. Clinical. The P4 will deliver best practice, evidence-based clinical psychology services to Austin Health’s medical inpatients, outpatients and their carers, as well as providing secondary consultations. 


2. Staff and student supervision. There is a large postgraduate student cohort who are offered advanced placements. 


3. Leadership and governance. Oversee the day to day running of the Clinical and Health Psychology Service and represent the Service within the Mental Health Division and health service.   

The successful applicant will have substantial clinical and supervisory experience, an interest in medical liaison and the ability to develop independent programs and new initiatives. The role requires the ability to work with a team in a multidisciplinary context and in the Mental Health Division.

Clinical and Health Psychology (CHP) Services are part of the Mental Health Division as part of Triage, Assessments & Planning (TAPS). CHP works closely with Consultation Liaison Psychiatry and the multidisciplinary team. Referrals are accepted from a variety of areas including Cancer Services, Neurosciences, Cardiothoracic, Medicine, Gastroenterology and Surgery. Continuity of care is provided through outpatients.

In addition, the psychologist will work with the Director of Psychology, who is also Clinical Director for CHP in the TAPS service and discipline specific manager in Mental Health. A comprehensive training program for postgraduate psychologists on placements has also been developed.

In summary, this position is for a Senior Psychology leadership role. Qualities we seek are dynamism, initiative, and enthusiasm for delivering evidence-based interventions in the challenging context of medical illness with special reference to working with both in and outpatients.

The position will recognize the benefits to the organization of key leadership positions able to shape and grow an important service.

The successful applicant may be expected to:

• Conduct direct and secondary clinical consultations with a high level of expertise in treating both in and outpatients with medical illness, including via telehealth. 


• Co-ordinate postgraduate students and clinical supervision of students and staff


• Attend and contribute to strategic meetings with various teams as required


• Maintain high clinical standards, and contribute to the ongoing development of psychological services and activities, including responsibility for risk management


• Attend and contribute to regular departmental meetings and other meetings as required.


• Participate as required with the Senior Psychology Leadership Group chaired by the Director of Psychology.


• Engage in the evaluation of program and service provision.

Enquiries welcome

Selection criteria: Senior clinician with experience in relevant clinical activities and supervisory experience, registration as a supervisor with AHPRA. Masters degree or PhD in Clinical Psychology. Sense of humour and teamwork.

This position may be required to have flexibility of placement across one or more of the campuses.

Discipline and Operational Management:

Responsible to Divisional Manager. Discipline and day-to-day CHP management. Julie Hume, Divisional Manager, TAPS, MH Division and Professor Jeannette Milgrom - Director, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Clinical Director, CHP.