The Team:

Are you ready to make a real impact in mental health care? Join the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU) and be part of a team dedicated to transforming lives. The Mental Health Short Stay Unit is a 6-bed mental health ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital. 

Why this role matters:

• Collaborate with MHSSU staff, the Emergency Department, Alcohol & Drug Services, and Community Mental Health Services to deliver better outcomes for clients in crisis.

• Act as the clinical expert and trusted resource for nursing, medical, and allied health teams managing complex mental health presentations, including dual diagnoses.

• Drive innovation by supporting the Rethink Mental Health Plan, the Tasmanian Mental Health Reform Program, and other key initiatives shaping the future of care.

The Role:

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, you’ll:

• Deliver expert mental health care and advice based on best practice.

• Use specialist assessment tools to improve outcomes for patients in crisis.

• Guide and support medical, nursing, and allied health teams in complex decision-making.

• Coordinate safe transfers, discharges, and access to the right services at the right time.

• Build strong partnerships across emergency, inpatient, community, and specialist services.

• Provide ongoing education and leadership in managing mental health and comorbidity.

Join us to shape the future of mental health care in Tasmania.

You will need:

1. Demonstrated high level skills, knowledge and clinical expertise in Mental Health nursing in the acute setting with preferably at least five years’ postgraduate clinical nursing experience.
2. Demonstrated advanced written and oral communication, liaison, interpersonal and counselling skills within a multidisciplinary team environment, including the ability to function confidently and negotiate recommendations for patient care across a wide range of stakeholder groups.
3. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and documentation, including the Mental Health Act 2013, Right to Information Act, Work Health & Safety legislation, relevant statutory requirements and departmental policies and procedures.

Note: - Please refer to the Statement of Duties for all the selection criteria of this position to address in your application.

Why Tasmania

The Department of Health Tasmania oversees various hospitals across the state, including the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, Northwest Regional Hospital, and Mersey Community Hospital, as well as district hospitals and ambulance services. Additionally, it provides community health, mental health, and primary healthcare services to the Tasmanian community through more than 300 sites.

Tasmania, Australia's only island state, offers unparalleled natural beauty and a luxurious lifestyle. Pursuing your health career in Tasmania’s public health system means building strong connections with colleagues and patients. It also means embracing a lifestyle where you can enjoy extraordinary experiences outside of work while making a significant impact on the community during work.

Details of appointment:

Multiple permanent, full time, shift worker positions, working up to 76 hours per fortnight.

*notwithstanding hours to be negotiated with the successful applicant.

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 full time, part time, and casual vacancies.

Salary:

$106,570 to $112,440 per annum. Our Employer 12% superannuation contribution is on top of this amount.

• Salary range is in accordance with Nurses and Midwives (Tasmania State Service) Agreement 2023.

In addition, the following allowances calculated on the salaried incremental point may be available: 

• Post Graduate Allowance of up to 10 % based on qualification type.

Salary Packaging:

You’ll have access to salary package a range of benefits including living expenses up to $9,010 + $2,650 in meal entertainment each FBT year + other benefits if eligible. 

Benefits available to eligible candidates:

• Travel and relocation assistance support available up to $15,000 for eligible appointees from overseas, and up to $10,000 for appointees from interstate.
• Professional development and accelerated pathways.
• A range of leave entitlements, including study leave and Professional Development Support.
• Fitness Passport – You, and your family can access 40+ fitness facilities across Tasmania for just $14.50 per week per person, or $28.05 for a family.

More information about our Employee Benefits can be found here

Eligibility:

Successful applicants will be required to meet the essential criteria.

• Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Registered Nurse

Applicants should note the following criteria are desirable:

• Possess specialist tertiary graduate or post graduate mental health/psychiatric nursing qualifications; or completed, prior to the transfer of nurse education to the tertiary sector, an accredited hospital-based program that led to registration as a psychiatric nurse by the relevant nurse regulatory authority within Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United Kingdom
• Extensive relevant psychiatric nursing experience and/or is credentialed as a Mental Health Nurse by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses or equivalent
• Holds, or is working towards, relevant tertiary qualifications

Note: - Please refer to the Application Guide for more information of pre-employment check.

Download the Statement of Duties and any Associated Documents

We encourage you to review the Statement of Duties, Applicant Guide, prior to applying for an overview of the duties, program, selection process and application guidance.

Statement of Duties: 

• Clinical Nurse Specialist - MHSSU G5 WORD

Application Guide:  

• Department of Health - Applicant Guide WORD

How to apply:

Apply Online. Please click the "Apply" button on this screen to ensure that 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 attached Statement of Duties. A separate statement addressing the selection criteria in the Statement of Duties is not required.

*applications from Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role

For more information:

Applicants who require further information are encouraged to contact the Contact person for detailed information about the vacancy.

Dacena Davis
Clinical Nurse Consultant - Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU)
Phone number: 6166 7524
Email address: dacena.davis@ths.tas.gov.au 

What it is like working at the Department of Health? 

Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence are the key values to work in Department of Health. Listen to some of the lived experiences from within the department through some of our wonderful staff and hear about their journey in relocating to Tasmania!

Make It Tasmania | Move for a great lifestyle

One Health Podcast - Spotify 

One Health Podcast - Apple 

Tasmanian Health Careers | Tasmanian 

Respecting diversity is the foundation of everything that Department of Health do. This allows us to instil trust and collaborate through honest and fair communication and helps cultivate an environment of growth and innovation. We strongly encourage applicants from key communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living with disabilities.