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• SA Health – Allied Health Professional Practice Program (AHPPP) Mental Health Services – Various Locations
• Salary (plus Superannuation and Salary Sacrifice benefits):
  • AHP1 $71,217 - $86,938 p.a. (pro rata)
  • AHP2 $91,785 - $106,330 p.a. (pro rata)
• Temporary Full-Time or Part-Time, up to 12 months (Multiple Positions)

Are you looking for a dynamic and exciting career in public Mental Health Services?

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals experiencing mental illness?

The Allied Health Professional Practice Program (AHPPP) is a SA Health statewide mental health program open to Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Psychologists who completed their program of study in 2025 and are seeking to build a career in public mental health clinical and psychosocial practice. The program supports those wishing to gain confidence, skills and experience in the mental health sector and has demonstrated results in supporting participants to build a successful career. The program offers comprehensive orientation to SA Health Mental Health, a 12-month professional development program, and professional supervision and support. Participants will experience working within multidisciplinary team environments and with different consumer groups.

Positions are located across metropolitan and regional South Australia. Orientation for these positions will commence in February 2026.

The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is coordinating the 2026 program which encompasses recruitment of positions in other metropolitan and regional health networks.

We are inviting applicants with different levels of expertise and experience, to fill either:

• Social Worker roles (AHP1)
• Occupational Therapist roles (AHP1)
• Psychologist roles (AHP2)

To be eligible for these positions, applicants must have been enrolled to complete their academic course in 2025.

To be eligible for this position as a Social Worker, you must hold an appropriate Degree or equivalent qualification which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

To be eligible for this position as an Occupational Therapist, you must hold an appropriate Degree or equivalent qualification which entitles registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.

To be eligible for this position as a Psychologist, you must hold an appropriate Degree or equivalent qualification recognised by the PsyBA and general registration with PsyBA.

Successful candidates in the AHPPP are eligible for positions anywhere across South Australian SA Health Mental Health Services (SALHN, CALHN, NALHN and Regional LHN's).

Benefits of Working at SA Health:

From salary packaging to flexible working arrangements, and a large range of opportunities for movement and career progression, you’ll find there are lots of benefits of working with SA Health.

• having access to professional development opportunities during work hours, plus ability to apply for the Allied Health Professionals + Professional Development Reimbursement Program (AHP+PDR) or the Country Allied Health Clinical Enhancement Program plus (CAHCEP+) for regional positions, for financial reimbursement of professional development activity up to a capped amount per financial year
• access to endorsed supervisors with extensive clinical and mental health experience, during work hours
• leave entitlements including paid Sick Leave, Carers Leave, Recreational Leave, Long Service Leave, Parental leave and others
• access to Salary Packaging, with the ability to pay for everyday expenses such as rent or your mortgage from your salary before it is taxed, increasing your take home pay
• incremental wage increases in-line with the incremental wage increases in-line with the Allied Health Professionals, Assistants and Psychologists Enterprise Agreement 2025
• flexible working arrangements
• access to experienced clinicians across a broad range of expertise, who are supportive of collegial sharing of skills and knowledge in different therapies and client presentations
• opportunity to work collaboratively across a multi-disciplinary team
• potential to work across multiple sites in SA Health, depending on business needs

Application Information:

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.

Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and Immunisation compliance as indicated on the role description.

SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job Ref: 911257

Want to Know More?

Principal Social Worker

Mangaljit Johal

Telephone: 0414 804 231

Email: mangaljit.johal@sa.gov.au

Principal Occupational Therapist

Suzzanne Porcaro

Telephone: 0410 049 288

Email: suzzanne.porcaro@sa.gov.au

or

Erin Law

Telephone: (08) 7485 4300

Email: erin.law@sa.gov.au

Principal Psychologist

Deborah McLean

Telephone: (08) 7485 4428

Email: deborah.mclean@sa.gov.au

or

Dr Natalija Vujinovic

Telephone: (08) 7485 4300

Email: natalija.vajinovic@sa.gov.au

Application Closing Date

26 September 2025 - 11:55 pm

Role Description and Further Information:

 911257 - AHPPP 2026 - AHP1 Social Worker - role description.pdf

 911257 - AHPPP 2026 - AHP1 Occupational Therapist - role description.pdf

 911257 - AHPPP 2026 - AHP2 Psychologist - role description.pdf

* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information.