Senior Mental Health Nurse

• Location: Multiple Western Health sites
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
• Salary: RPN Grade 6 + Superannuation + Salary Packaging

About the role:

The Senior Mental Health Nurse provides professional and clinical nursing leadership across the Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (MHWS) at Western Health. The role leads mental health nursing practice and workforce development, ensuring high standards of recovery-oriented, consumer-focused care across all service streams.

Working in partnership with the Director of Nursing (MHWS), the position supports professional governance, clinical education and capability building, and the ongoing development of contemporary models of care. The role requires a strong understanding of evidence-based mental health nursing, emerging service and workforce trends, and effective stakeholder engagement.

Collaborating closely with operational managers, program managers and the senior leadership team, the Senior Mental Health Nurse supports clinical supervision, professional development and continuous improvement. The role demonstrates expert practice across leadership, education, research, evidence-based practice and clinical expertise, aligned with the Western Health Nursing and Midwifery Professional Practice Framework.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide senior mental health nursing leadership and professional governance across the Western Health Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, promoting recovery-oriented, consumer-focused and culturally safe care.
• Lead mental health nursing workforce development, including education, clinical supervision, capability building, succession planning and support for early career, advanced and senior nurses across all service streams.
• Drive quality, safety and evidence-based practice, leading and contributing to audits, research, quality improvement initiatives, incident reviews and service reforms aligned with NSQHS Standards and organisational priorities.
• Provide expert clinical leadership in complex and high-risk situations, supporting sound decision-making, risk management, multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous improvement in models of care.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder partnerships, representing the mental health nursing workforce internally and externally, and contributing to accreditation, reporting, service development and organisational initiatives.

About you:

• You are an experienced senior mental health nurse with demonstrated leadership in professional governance, workforce development and the delivery of high-quality, recovery-oriented care.
• You bring strong clinical credibility and expert knowledge of contemporary, evidence-based mental health nursing practice, with the ability to lead confidently in complex and high-risk environments.
• You are a skilled mentor who is passionate about developing nursing capability, supporting clinical supervision, and fostering a culture of learning, innovation and continuous improvement.
• You have proven experience driving quality, safety and service improvement initiatives, including audits, research, accreditation and incident review processes aligned with NSQHS Standards.
• You are a collaborative and influential leader, able to build effective partnerships, communicate clearly across disciplines, and positively represent the mental health nursing profession at organisational and system levels.

Click here for the Position Description.

About Western Health 

Western Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Victoria, caring for a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing community of one million people in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

With more than 13,000 staff, Western Health delivers 800,000+ occasions of care every year, providing high-quality, person-centred care across every life stage.  

We provide a combination of hospital, community-based, at-home and in-reach services to aged, adult and paediatric patients and newborn babies. Specialties include oncology, renal, mental health, women’s health and maternity, chronic diseases, geriatrics and cardiology.  

We have remarkable strengths in chronic disease, complex care and developing innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions. Our experience at the coalface of healthcare delivery for some of Australia’s most culturally and socioeconomically diverse and vulnerable populations provides us with unique insights into the most pressing health challenges. 

Western Health operates four acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We also operate Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, Melton Health and Community Services, Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre, Caroline Springs Community Health Centre and Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh. Western Health also provides the primary healthcare service at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a women’s prison located in Ravenhall. 

Why join us? 

Compensation and benefits 

• Competitive salary packages aligned with market standards. 

• Health and wellbeing programs, including flexible work arrangements. 

• Scholarships and grants to support your continuous learning journey. 

Learning and development opportunities 

• Access the Western Health Learning Academy (WHA) for personalised learning pathways. 

• Professional growth programs, including postgraduate studies and clinical education. 

• Mentorship and career support. 

Community impact and inclusion 

• Make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives through compassionate care. 

• Join a workforce that champions diversity and inclusion. 

• Engage in community wellbeing initiatives and groundbreaking healthcare research. 

Organisational culture and environment 

• Thrive in a collaborative, compassionate and innovative team environment. 

• Be part of a culture that celebrates continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare. 

Ready to make an impact? 

If you’re passionate about leading mental health nursing excellence, advancing recovery-oriented, consumer-focused care, and developing a high-performing workforce through evidence-based practice, we’d love to hear from you. Simply click on the “apply” button and follow the prompts. 

If you are currently employed at Western Health, please ensure you sign in through the 'Employee Login' via the external Careers Page or access the Careers Page via the intranet before applying.  

Closing date: 11:59pm on 12 March 2026.

Enquiries: For further information about this role, contact Natasha Stresnjak via Natasha.Stresnjak1@wh.org.au. 

Western Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and retaining diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Western Health is committed to providing a safe environment for the children and young people who are involved in our services, sites and operations. We follow and abide by all legislative requirements to keep children and young people safe.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, an Immunisation Status Clearance and a Working with Children Check (if applicable).

Western Health is committed to the psychosocial safety of all applicants and employees.

Western Health does not accept unsolicited resumes/applications from recruitment agencies.

Western Health