The Department of Health is preparing to create more than 1,000 jobs over the next three years to grow, retain and diversify its mental health and wellbeing workforce.
Announcing the new positions, the Department said the new early career mental health program would see 1,685 career mental health positions allocated to mental health services around Victoria.
“The roles include nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, social work and other allied health disciplines,” the Department said.
“These new roles will support mental health practitioners to enter the mental health workforce in graduate, transition and prequalification positions,” it said.
“Early career staff will work alongside and learn from the lived experience workforce as part of multidisciplinary teams.”
The Department said funding for new disciplines in physiotherapy, speech pathology, dietetics, exercise physiology, and pharmacy would also contribute to a diverse and multidisciplinary workforce.
It said the initiative was part of a range of programs to support implementation of its Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy 2021-24, released in December.
“Victoria is taking steps to grow, retain and diversify the mental health and wellbeing workforce,” it said.
“This will help build a diverse and multidisciplinary workforce to support Victorians access integrated wellbeing care and support.”
The Department said the program would also provide funding for additional senior staff such as clinical educators to provide structured, safe and supported learning environments and supervision in line with national guidelines.
