The Mental Health and Drug Service provides multidisciplinary assessment, treatment, and support for people with moderate to severe mental health and substance use disorders. The team delivers collaborative, recovery-oriented services to those of all ages, cultures, and locations in the region.
The mental health unit is a 13-bed acute psychiatric facility serving the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. Supported by a dedicated Aboriginal Mental Health team, it fosters culturally safe care and works closely with community mental health services to ensure continuity of care.
The Mental Health Liaison team also provides seven-day consultation and liaison services to hospitals across the Kimberley, supporting coordinated regional mental health care.
Position Highlights - About the Role
- The Consultant Psychiatrist role is crucial in enabling the delivery of comprehensive mental health services across the Kimberley region.
- lead a multidisciplinary team, including a psychiatry registrar trainee, an intern, Aboriginal Liaison Officers, nurses and allied health professionals.
- provide clinical leadership for the Psychiatry Liaison Nurse Service, ensuring comprehensive daily reviews for emergency department mental health presentations and those with acute mental health problems in the general hospital.
- Mentorship and supervision of junior medical staff will be central to your role, fostering their growth while maintaining high standards of care.
- Ensure compliance with the Western Australian Mental Health Act (2014), with a focus on clinical leadership and service excellence.
- This role involves serving a patient population where 80-90% are Aboriginal, reflecting the unique demographics of the Kimberley region.
- The focus is on delivering culturally sensitive care, working closely with Aboriginal Liaison Officers who provide a direct link between the health service and Aboriginal peoples and act as advocate, interpreter and advisor within the Health Service to ensure care aligns with cultural values and beliefs.
- This role offers an opportunity to develop and utilise a deeper understanding of mental health within Aboriginal communities and offers exposure to a broad range of clinical presentations, including first-episode psychosis, mood disorders, and substance use disorders.
The Kimberley is Western Australia's northernmost region, bordered by the Pilbara region to the south and the Northern Territory to the east. Home to around 40,000 people, with approximately 50% identifying as Aboriginal, the region is rich in cultural diversity and experiences.
The West Kimberley is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, including towering cliffs, rocky headlands, and pristine waterways. With easy access to the Fitzroy River and King Sound, residents and visitors can enjoy fishing, crabbing, and boating in the region's clear, untouched waters. On weekends, you might explore the rugged islands of the nearby archipelago or camp at Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek, where you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty and adventure that the Kimberley has to offer.
Remuneration Package
As a Consultant, you will receive an attractive remuneration: Consultant Year 1-6 - p.a. $552,009 - $656,772 pa (inclusive of base salary, 11.5% superannuation, on call allowance and PDL allowance).
Additionally, working in WACHS comes with generous benefits, such as development opportunities, salary packaging, gratuity payment which pays a lump sum equivalent to 12 weeks salary after the first three year of continuous service and many more.
Professional Requirements
- FRANZCP or equivalent
- AHRA Specialist Registration
Please submit your CV and Cover letter for immediate consideration