Description

Location: North Parramatta, Cumberland Hospital 

Classification: Occupational Therapist Level 3

Employment Status: Permanent Full Time

Enquiries: Sue Mallick on (02) 9840 3549 / Sue.Mallick@health.nsw.gov.au 

Closing Date: 9th April 2026

Purpose of position:

PEIRS – Perinatal, Child and Youth Mental Health Services (PCYMHS), Western Sydney Local Health District is an adolescent expert specialist’s team that foster opportunities for young people to thrive beyond the impact of mental illness. The Prevention, Early Intervention and Recovery Service (PEIRS) is a community-based, specialist assessment, therapy and recovery service for child and youth, aged 12 to 24 years who are diagnosed with a moderate to severe mental illness and persistent illness. This team provides recovery oriented, multidisciplinary approach for Children and Young people with high risk and complex needs. This team provides therapeutic care and support to children and young people who often have recurrent and highly challenging presentations due to disrupted relationships, extreme developmental trauma histories and atypical parenting situations. This team will develop and implement an individually tailored assessment and therapy plan, which aims to optimise engagement and provide intervention at individual, family and wider system level within a care coordination framework. The team will use a suite of evidence-based treatment adapted to target complex developmental trauma and attachment disruption. The team will also work collaboratively with the wider system to promote resilience whilst reducing frequent presentations to hospital-based settings and other government service usage e.g. Justice, Education, Health etc. The service is available within the WSLHD catchment and will be run in collaboration with WSLHD - Community Mental Health Teams, Department of Education, Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Primary Care including GPs, and Nongovernment Organisations (NGO). 

The position is to provide high quality specialist Occupational therapy service to clients with a high degree of complexity requiring advances reasoning and operate autonomously with minimal direct supervision requirements.  The role is required to assess, plan, and implement treatment plans for patients, families and carers of the PEIRS team in accordance with WSLHD and Occupational Therapy Policies and procedures. This role will also take a lead in coordination of students.  This position will work with the PEIRS team to provide Occupational Therapy services to clients aged 12-25 and referred to the PEIRS Service. PEIRS aims to work collaboratively and in partnerships with Young People and their Carers, in addition to services involved in ongoing care in the community.

Essential Requirements

• License: NSW Drivers licence (Current Class C (P2 acceptable) and willingness to drive for work purposes)
• Qualification: Degree in Occupational Therapy
• Registration: AHPRA Occupational Therapist – general registration  
   

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated mental health experience in the use of Occupational Therapy assessment tools, knowledge and experience working in a community mental health service, especially child and adolescent population.
2. Demonstrated experience in evidence-based service provision and commitment to recovery-based programs, implementation and evaluation
3. Ability to work both independently with minimum direct clinical supervision and as a member of a multidisciplinary team including demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
4. Demonstrated experience in student co-ordination and commitment to supervision of students, junior staff, implementing education programs and liaison with university placement co-ordinators.
5. Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills and time management skills.
6. Demonstrated commitment to consumer participation in their treatment and care plan development, working with families and carers.
7. Commitment and participation to ongoing education / professional development and Quality improvement programmes.
    

Please apply online by visiting the Western Sydney Local Health District Career Portal and searching for REQ628999.