Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Come and work at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) are seeking passionate and dynamic mental health professionals, from a range of disciplines, to join us at the forefront of child and adolescent mental health service development in Tasmania.
We are about to launch a number of new service streams that are modelled on contemporary best practice and research and development. New service streams include:
- Children in Out-of-Home Care
- Youth Mental Health including a Youth Hospital in the Home in North West Tasmania
- Forensic Mental Health including the Multisystemic Therapy Program
- Head to Health Kids early intervention service for children aged 0-12 years.
- First 1000 Days and Early Years
There are also some exciting changes in motion in the way we deliver existing Community CAMHS:
- Greater regional service delivery
- Improved after-hours and mobile access
- Enhanced cross agency and cross sector collaborative care approaches
- Greater capacity for integrated research and development
Learn more about Brett's role in the CAMHS reform process in an interview with Prof Brett McDermott.
Career opportunities on offer
We seek to recruit from in a variety of medical, nursing and allied health fields, recognising the benefits of a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
Current CAMHS vacancies
All current opportunities advertised on www.jobs.tas.gov.au – found with a search for CAMHS
Medical
- Psychiatrists
- Career Medical Officers
- Registrar Psychiatrists (training positions)
Allied Health
- Clinical Psychologists
- Psychologist
- Psychologists in training (final year)
- Occupational Therapists – Child and Adolescents
Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Consultants
- Clinical Nurse Educators
- Mental Health Nurses
Administrative
- Administrative Assistants
Other skills relevant to CAMHS
- Training placements
- Research projects
- Con-joint with the University of Tasmania
If you would like to know more about the positions on offer, the services, and new initiatives at CAMHS please contact us to discuss:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
work4camhs@ths.tas.gov.au
(03) 6166 6245
Training and academic pathways
Through the newly formed Centre for Mental Health Service Innovation we combine research and industry knowledge to set new benchmarks in mental health care delivery, with a commitment to continuous quality improvement.
We empower our staff to grow their skills through exposure to diverse speciality child and adolescent mental health streams including youth, forensic, and intensive support for children in out-of-home care.
We value and encourage career development, including the pursuit of research opportunities in mental health and child and adolescent mental health through our partnership with the University of Tasmania (https://www.utas.edu.au/).
For those with academic aspirations, we can offer con-joint appointments with the University of Tasmania with dedicated research time.
Engage in academic research projects
Be involved in academic research projects aimed to improve the lived experience of consumers and carers and the uptake and effectiveness of services in the mental health care setting.
Supervision
Whatever your professional discipline, we can offer clinical supervision and support your training, career development and passion.
Working at CAMHS
At CAMHS we believe that all children and adolescents, whatever their background and circumstances, deserve to negotiate the developmental tasks of childhood and adolescents with optimal mental health, and grow into healthy adults. We are especially committed to enhancing the mental health of our state’s most vulnerable children and young people.
As a service we strive to remove barriers to service access and redefine what is possible in consumer-focussed mental health care.
Meet some of our CAMHS Service Ambassadors
Stephanie Mills
Allied Health Professional, Social Worker
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (North)
I returned to Tasmania to complete my social work degree at the University of Tasmania after 10 years living interstate. I was eager to return for the relaxed and affordable lifestyle that Tasmania offers, and it hasn’t disappointed.
I’ve been with CAMHS North for around 1 year now and the challenging and interesting work has inspired me to return to university to complete a Master of Mental Health Science with a focus on child psychotherapy. The Tasmanian Health Service encourage further study with not only financial incentive, but they the flexibility of study days. In addition to the master’s degree, I regularly undertake training funded by the service so as to maintain an evidence informed approach. What I appreciate most about CAMHS North is the supportive team and the many opportunities for growth.
When I’m not at work I’m making the most of Tassie’s world class mountain bike tracks, hiking tracks, restaurants and wineries. There’s always something to do!
Mel Ell
Social Worker
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (North)
I came from B.C Canada to Launceston Tasmania in 2007 with the purpose of completing Bachelor of Social Work at UTAS and experiencing the Tasmanian lifestyle. While completing my degree I worked at both Child Safety Services as a Support Worker, and Laurel House Sexual Assault On-Call services led to my desire to work with young people and piqued my interest in trauma informed therapeutic work and mental health.
Following university, I was grateful to gain a graduate position within mental health services which allowed me to experience the Social Work role within the Northside Mental Health Ward, CAMHS, and Crisis Assessment Team over an 18 month period.
In 2012 I gained my current role at CAMHS-North where I have been expanding my knowledge and skills ever since. I have been lucky that I've had a lot of support and encouragement from my workplace to pursue my specific areas of interest of trauma informed work and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT).
In 2018 my keeshond dog Luna and myself completed Therapy dog and Handler team accreditation and have been able to develop an AAT program within the CAMHS-North service.
As someone who moved to Tasmania without any connections, I have appreciated the close co-worker relationships and friendships made in our team environment. Northern Tasmania has always provided me with the relaxed mid-sized city lifestyle I wanted without having to sacrifice amenities. With easy to make community connections through dog sports and other hobbies, I've well and truly become a Tasmanian now!
Vera Nickson
Allied Health Professional, Social Worker
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (North-West)
I was raised in a small coastal town on the east-coast of Tasmania. It was a 40 minute bus ride (there and back!) to the nearest district high school. When it was time, I headed to university and moved to Launceston to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology and Psychology followed by a Bachelor of Social Work at the Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie.
I was fortunate enough to have my first placement at CAMHS as a Social Work student and remember thinking that one day I would like to work here. I found the work to be interesting, challenging and meaningful. My first job out of university, though, was a Child and Safety Officer. I entered the world of trauma, safety and healing. After a couple of years, I left to travel up the east coast of Australia where I spent some time as a hospital Social Worker in Brisbane.
After that memorable and positive learning curve, I began to reflect on what was going to be next for me. There was no doubt in my mind that Tasmania was ‘home’ and the perfect place to raise my young family. So I returned home to do just that. I had some time out of the work force, doing arguably one of the toughest and most rewarding jobs- being a mum.
Things came full circle and I returned to CAMHS, even better this time as a paid employee! The scope or practice is vast and the learning never stops. You end up knowing a bit of everything at the same time can specialise in an area you’re passionate about. Days off is spent enjoying family adventures….and housework. I’m not going to lie; the weather can be unpredictable and for some the summer way to short. There are challenges that test your resilience, dedication and sanity- It comes with the territory of social work. However, it’s never boring, the place is beautiful and the connections and the opportunities I’ve been so grateful to experience far outweighs the challenges and is well worth checking out for yourself.
Sam Turnbull
Team Leader - South
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
I am a UK trained mental health nurse, I moved to Australia in 1999 to live and work in Western Australia (WA) and then in 2007 moved to Tasmania. I have worked in a variety of mental health settings in UK, WA and Tas. In Tasmania I worked with CAMHS North for several years, and whilst there had the opportunity to work on some statewide projects which gave me really good insight into mental health services across Tasmania and allowed me to develop some amazing professional connections. I transitioned into a Clinical Nurse Educator role for 4 years, and now have come “home” to CAMHS.
I have raised 3 amazing children here where schools, healthcare and anything else they have required is easily accessible. We have been able to explore Tasmania with so many family-friendly activities to do. We are also only a short flight from the “mainland” if we feel the need for a big city fix, a change of scenery or to tick off something from our Aussie bucket list.
Saria Phillips
Social Worker, Community Team South,
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (South)
I have a Bachelor in Social Work and have undertaken post graduate study in developmental psychiatry (DPC) through Monash University. Currently I am in my final year of Masters of Clinical Family Therapy through Bouverie Centre- La Trobe University. I specialise in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and working with young people with emotional dysregulation, I coordinate the Family therapy and SSFC (Single Session Family Consultation) clinic, and provide treatment for range mental health issues including OCD, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Many of our young people have experienced trauma and adverse life events and have difficult attachment histories. The work here is challenging and inspiring at the same time! Our focus is to work systemically young people across a wide developmental range (0-18). This means in the treatment process we always (where possible) involve their family, and other relevant systems such as schools and services as part of the case management role.
I feel like my family and I are lucky to live in beautiful Tassie! I live only 10 mins from my office, however we live on the edge of bushland in the foothills of mount Wellington/Kunanyi… this kind of urban living with easy access to natural environment is one of the best things about living here! You can be eating delicious food or having a fabulous cocktail one minute, then be strolling a sparsely populated beach the next. Hobart is a pretty unique place.
Tasmania, a place to work and play
Our unique Island State offers an unparalleled lifestyle with its mild climate, some of the cleanest air in the world, pristine nature, abundant wildlife, wealth of sporting and adventure activities, world-class restaurants and wineries, dynamic arts and culture, and relaxed way of life.
Fully enjoy the amazing work-life balance on offer by spending your down time enjoying all that Tasmania has to offer and, no matter where in the State you are located, you will never be more than a short drive from forests, beaches, national parks, and premier world heritage areas.
Learn more about our beautiful state here: https://tasmanian.com.au/
We provide a generous and comprehensive re-location service so that your transition to Tasmania is as seamless as possible. We welcome the cross-pollination of skills and experience brought by staff joining us from interstate or overseas.