About the Role:
An exciting opportunity is available to join the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) as a Principal Psychologist within the Forensic Mental Health Service (FMHS). This senior professional and clinical leadership role offers the opportunity to influence and shape high‑quality forensic psychology services while making a meaningful impact on the care of people with complex mental health needs.
As the Principal Psychologist, you will provide, professional and operational governance of Psychology services across FMHS. You will lead the development, delivery and management of evidence‑based psychology services that are fully integrated across inpatient and community settings.
A key focus of the role is the ongoing development of the Psychology Service. You will lead and oversee quality improvement initiatives, support clinical education, and contribute to research activities that strengthen clinical practice and service outcomes. Working collaboratively with Allied Health Principals and multidisciplinary teams, you will play an active role in broader allied health and service management.
In this role, you will provide strong professional and clinical leadership, ensuring Psychology services are delivered in line with the Psychology Board of Australia Code of Conduct, regulatory standards and SA Health values. You will set clear clinical and policy direction, support workforce development and foster a culture of excellence, accountability and continuous improvement across the Psychology team within FMHS.
To be eligible for this position, you must hold an appropriate Degree (Master’s Degree in Psychology) or equivalent qualification recognised by the PsyBA. Must hold general registration with the PsyBA, and be endorsed in Forensic, Clinical, or Clinical Neuropsychology area of practice. Must hold approved supervisor status with the PsyBA at all levels of supervision (primary and secondary).
About You:
To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate advanced clinical expertise, strong professional leadership and a commitment to delivering high‑quality, person‑centred care within a forensic mental health setting.
You will bring extensive experience providing evidence‑based psychological assessment and interventions for people with high and complex needs, including those with severe and enduring mental illness. Your ability to exercise significant professional judgement, guide clinical decision‑making, and support best practice across services will be essential.
You will possess strong leadership and management capability, including experience supervising and mentoring psychologists at all levels, providing PsyBA‑accredited supervision, and contributing to workforce development. You will also bring skills and experience in service development, quality improvement, research and policy implementation within a health care environment are required.
Highly developed communication and relationship‑building skills are critical. You will be able to consult effectively, manage competing priorities, resolve complex issues and work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. You will also demonstrate the ability to build respectful partnerships with culturally diverse consumers, families, community agencies and key stakeholders.
Successful candidates will have extensive knowledge of forensic psychology principles, the Psychology Board of Australia Code of Conduct, contemporary evidence based mental health practice, relevant legislation, and AHPRA standards, ensuring services are delivered safely, ethically and in line with SA Health values of integrity, respect, collaboration and excellence.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role where you can lead, innovate and make a lasting impact, shaping the future of psychology services within the Division of Forensic Mental Health at NALHN.
About Us:
The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is a leading provider of public healthcare services in South Australia.
NALHN serves over 400,000 people in northern Adelaide with a comprehensive range of high-quality medical services, including emergency, surgical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric, oncology, geriatric, palliative care and rehabilitation, and mental health care. Recently, NALHN has upgraded its facilities and plans to expand further. The network provides primary health care with a focus on community health promotion and chronic disease management. With nearly 6,500 employees, NALHN emphasises quality care and a supportive work environment guided by respect, integrity, and accountability. Our core values foster excellence, innovation, and equitable health outcomes.
At NALHN Everyone Has a Story, Everyone Matters, Everyone Contributes and Everyone Grows.
Benefits of working at NALHN:
From salary packaging to flexible working arrangements, a large range of opportunities for movement and career progression, you’ll find there are lots of benefits of working with Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Incremental wage increases in-line with the Allied Health Professionals, Assistants and Psychologists Enterprise Agreement 2025
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.
Salary packaging is an option for saving money by paying for some of your everyday expenses from your salary before it is taxed.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants from interstate or overseas.
NALHN supports and fosters a culture in which employees feel they belong and feel safe at work. The culture aims to encourage all people to use their talents and to be valued and rewarded for their contributions.
In addition to this, other benefits of working as a Psychologist in NALHN include:
- professional development opportunities. We have a well-established Allied Health Education unit which offers high-quality, targeted in-house training, and under the current enterprise agreement staff are also eligible for a Professional Development Allowance and entitled to claim reimbursement of eligible professional development expenses to allow you to continue to build upon your professional foundations
- opportunities to participate in research. NALHN have an Allied Health Research Chair, who is able to work with clinicians and teams to support clinical research
- regular clinical supervision, allowing you to receive individualised support, learning and development to help you achieve your career goals
SA Health is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTIQA+SB community and people who live with disability and/or neurodivergence.
We are committed to making workplace adjustments to provide a positive and supportive work environment. You are encouraged to let us know if have any support or access requirements during the recruitment process and beyond to ensure you can perform at your best.
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.
Check(s):
- DHS Working With Children Check (WWCC)
- National Police Check (National Police Certificate) for general employment probity, vulnerable person-related employment and aged care sector screening – apply to any of the accredited bodies approved to offer a service direct to the public. Accreditation is provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. See our National Police Certificate accredited bodies page for links to lodge screening requests.
Immunisation Risk for this position is – Category B (indirect contact with blood or body substances)
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: 930449
Enquiries:
Skye Lang
Senior Program Manager
Phone: (08) 7117 9870
E-mail: skye.lang@sa.gov.au
Application Closing Date:
8 May 2026 – 11.55PM
Role Description and Further Information:
930449 - Principal Psychologist - Forensic Mental Health - AHP4 - role description.pdf
For more information about Mental Health Allied Health at NALHN visit our Mental Health Allied Health page.
* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information.
