• Mentor and inspire a team to provide clients with mental health challenges recovery-focused supports to achieve wellbeing.
• Hourly rate from $53.43 - $55.85
• Permanent role | Part time 34.2 hours/week, 5 Day Roster
• Bendigo Location

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived and living experience of mental distress and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds.

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

The short stay Adult ‘step up, step down’ Prevention and Recovery Care (APARC) program, delivered in partnership with a Victorian Health Service, supports clients aged 25+years with psychosocial disability who require individualised treatment and services when entering from the community or transitioning from an acute hospital setting. PARC provides recovery-focused, clinical treatment frameworks to support clients to achieve their recovery goals, enhance relationships with families and carers, develop social skills and community networks, build confidence and increase capacity to live safely in the community.

We are seeking a compassionate, self-motivated Community Mental Health Practitioner - Lead Practitioner  - Alcohol and Drug for a permanent, part time (34.2 hours per week) opportunity to work alongside a caring team in the Bendigo area. In this role you will support clients with mental  health challenges and alcohol and other drug (AOD) concerns to develop strong links with the community, build social connections, identify and provide appropriate supports and resources, offer meaningful referrals to external providers and work alongside clinical partners and external alcohol and other drug (AOD) services to ensure an integrated, individualised service response.

Key responsibilities

• Coach and mentor the team to deliver quality services and facilitate positive educational and social experiences.
• Support clients to return to their community and enjoy a meaningful life through staged approach to recovery.
• Provide leadership and work as part of a multidisciplinary team offering specialised psychosocial support.
• Build rapport and develop trusted relationships with clients, families and carers.
• Collaborate with a range of services and the community to ensure a co-ordinated, integrated response to the client’s recovery goals.

What you’ll bring

• Tertiary qualifications (minimum Certificate IV) in Mental Health, Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or other health-related field. Qualifications or experience in the drug and alcohol field is preferred but not necessary.
• Expertise in working with people with mental health issues, complex needs and interacting with families and carers.
• Proven capability to implement therapeutic, recovery-oriented frameworks and practices including risk mitigation, trauma informed care and family inclusive practice.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Community Services sector and ability to build strong relationships with service providers, clinical teams and key stakeholders.

Interested?

To obtain a position description and apply online visit Mind Careers - reference number 500404. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Sunday 27 September 2026. Please contact the hiring manager below for more information.   We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.  

Justin Khoo, Service Manager
Justin.Khoo@mindaustralia.org.au         

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. 

 PD Community Mental Health Practitioner - Lead Practitioner - AOD (APARC) 20260306.pdf