Please note: Only current Department of Health, including Tasmanian Health Service employees are eligible to apply.
Working with OPMHS – A Career with Purpose
Who We Are
Older Persons Mental Health Service (OPMHS) is Tasmania’s statewide specialist service supporting older people experiencing complex mental ill health, dementia with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD), neuropsychiatric conditions, and cognitive decline.
As an OPMHS employee, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team committed to compassionate, person‑centred, evidence‑based care.
This role’s primary work location is the Waratah Specialist Dementia Care Unit (SDCU), a purpose‑built environment located within Glenview Residential Aged Care Home (RACH).
Waratah SDCU offers specialised, stabilisation‑focused care for people with severe and complex dementia-related behaviours who need intensive support before transitioning to longer‑term aged or community settings.
What We Do
Across OPMHS—and within the Waratah SDCU—our teams deliver:
- Specialist assessment and treatment for dementia-related behavioural and psychological symptoms
- Trauma‑informed, relationship‑centred therapeutic care
- Comprehensive multidisciplinary interventions
- 24/7 clinical care and behavioural support
- Recovery‑oriented, wellbeing‑focused engagement
- Partnership with families, carers, residential aged care providers, and community services
- Transitional planning to support stabilisation and successful movement to long‑term care
We support older Tasmanians aged 65+ (or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+), and individuals with young-onset dementia requiring specialist mental health intervention.
Our Values and Culture
As part of OPMHS and the broader One Health system, we uphold the CARE Values:
Compassion · Accountability · Respect · Excellence
Working at OPMHS means joining a team culture built on:
- Inclusivity, flexibility, and collaboration
- Transparent communication and shared problem‑solving
- Trauma‑informed and person‑centred practice
- Respect for lived experience, cultural diversity, and autonomy
- Strong partnerships with families and community supports
At Waratah SDCU, the physical environment supports wellbeing through homelike design, sensory spaces, meaningful activities, and calming routines that reduce distress and support emotional safety.
My Home Life at OPMHS
OPMHS implements the My Home Life approach to enhance the quality of life for both consumers and staff. This includes:
- Strengthening relational care and positive communication
- Encouraging shared decision‑making
- Supporting reflective practice and staff wellbeing
- Creating a culture of kindness, dignity, and connection
This framework helps ensure every interaction is meaningful and every person feels valued.
Why Work with Us?
As an OPMHS employee working at Waratah SDCU, you will benefit from:
- A supportive, collaborative, and values‑driven team environment
- Structured supervision, mentoring, and reflective practice
- Professional development in dementia care, trauma-informed practice, and mental health
- Opportunities to specialise in complex dementia and neuropsychiatric care
- Clear pathways for career development within OPMHS and statewide mental health services
- A workplace that embraces creativity, cultural safety, and person‑centred thinking
Whether your background is nursing, allied health, support work, or another health-related field—your contribution makes a genuine difference.
What We Look For
We seek individuals who:
- Work respectfully with families, carers, and culturally diverse communities
- Value teamwork and collaborative decision‑making
- Provide updates on patient-related activities, including observations of changes in mental state or presentation.
- Communicate the impact of patient engagement in the activities program, offering insights into the effectiveness of non-pharmacological strategies for enhancing mental health and well-being.
- Embrace person‑centred and trauma‑informed practice
- Supervise and coordinate Leisure and Lifestyle staff and students, ensuring effective delivery of person- centred engagement programs.
You will need:
- Practical experience in residential activity programs including the proven ability to plan, present and market creative activities and programs; develop programs that work with individuals and groups and encourage participation which supports improved patient well-being.
- Demonstrated expertise in assessing and responding to the emotional and psychosocial needs of patients through meaningful engagement and person-centred care. Possesses in-depth knowledge of Aged Care and Mental Health principles, with extensive experience supporting individuals with complex mental health conditions and/or behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
- Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, together with the capacity to effectively establish a rapport with patients, families and carers.
Note: - Please refer to the Statement of Duties for all the selection criteria of this position to address in your application.
Details of Appointment
Fixed term part time, day worker position, working 45.6 hours per fortnight, commencing as soon as possible until 30 June 2026.
Please note that hours may be negotiated with the successful applicant
Classification:
Salary $73,811 - $79,779 per annum (pro rata) + 12% superannuation + access to salary packaging
- Salary range is in accordance with Public Sector Unions Wages Agreement 2022.
*Applicants should note that, for a period of twelve months from the date of publication, this selection process may be used to fill subsequent or similar vacancies.
Eligibility:
Applicants should note the following criteria are desirable:
- Current Driver’s Licence
- Work Experience in a Mental Health and/or Aged Care setting.
- Completion of or willingness to complete Certificate IV in Leisure and Health and/or equivalent qualification/s.
Under particular circumstances employees may be required to undertake a new conviction check.
Statement of Duties and any associated documents
You are encouraged to speak with the contact person once you have familiarised yourself with the Statement of Duties and any associated documents. This will assist you to prepare an application more aligned with our specific needs.
Applicant Guide
How to Apply
Apply Online. Please click the "Apply" button on this screen. This ensures important questions about you are answered.
You will be prompted to complete a 1–2-page application detailing your experience, skills and knowledge as they relate to the specifics of the role and selection criteria contained in the attached Statement of Duties.
A separate statement addressing each individual selection criteria is not required.
Please Note
- All attachments must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.
- Referee details are submitted as part of the online application so make sure you have the contact details of two referees before applying.
Contact Person
Name: Jo Triffitt
Position: Clinical Nurse Consultant - Older Persons Mental Health Service
Phone number: 0456 308 293
Email address: joanne.triffitt@ths.tas.gov.au
The core purpose guiding the way in which we work across the Department of Health is to CARE for the health and wellbeing of all in Tasmania through our Values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. We are united by our shared purpose and model our CARE Values through our interactions with one another, our patients, our clients and the Tasmanian community.