Social Worker Jobs Canberra in Mental Health

Job Description

Explore Social Worker Jobs Canberra with Canberra Health Services at The Canberra Hospital. Earn $91,026–$108,691 plus 12.5% super, salary packaging and career benefits.

Job Description

Social Worker Jobs Canberra with Canberra Health Services provide experienced social workers with an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services at The Canberra Hospital.

In the realm of Social Worker Jobs Canberra, professionals can experience rewarding career paths.

Canberra Health Services is seeking a Health Professional Level 2 Social Worker for a full-time temporary position based at The Canberra Hospital in Garran ACT.

The appointment is available for approximately 11.5 months, with the possibility of extension and/or permanency.

Many roles within Social Worker Jobs Canberra emphasize collaborative practices.

The advertised salary ranges from $91,026 to $108,691 per annum, plus 12.5% superannuation.

As a Social Worker within Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services, you will provide skilled clinical assessment and evidence-based interventions to people experiencing severe, complex or acute mental health challenges.

Many opportunities await in Social Worker Jobs Canberra within various community settings.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary mental health team and collaborate with consumers, families, carers, children, nominated persons, GPs and community organisations.

The role has a strong focus on recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and person-centred mental health care.

For those considering Social Worker Jobs Canberra, it’s essential to understand the work environment.

Social Worker Jobs Canberra offer a unique blend of challenges and rewards.

In addition to direct clinical work, the successful candidate will contribute to professional supervision, staff development, quality improvement and clinical governance initiatives.

For qualified applicants searching for Social Worker Jobs Canberra, this role provides valuable experience within a large public mental health service and offers strong professional development opportunities.

About Canberra Health Services

Canberra Health Services delivers public healthcare services throughout the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding region.

Its services include:

• Acute healthcare
• Sub-acute services
• Mental health care
• Community health
• Primary healthcare
• Allied health
• Rehabilitation
• Specialist hospital services

Canberra Health Services describes its organisational values as:

• Reliable
• Progressive
• Respectful
• Kind

Employees are expected to provide high-quality, effective and person-centred healthcare while demonstrating these values.

About Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services

The impact of Social Worker Jobs Canberra extends beyond the workplace.

Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services form part of Canberra Health Services’ Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services division.

Services operate across several Canberra Health Services facilities and support adults requiring specialist mental health care.

The successful Social Worker may work with consumers admitted to services such as:

• Adult Mental Health Unit
• Ward 12B Mental Health Unit
• Mental Health Short Stay Unit
• Mental health surge wards where required

The multidisciplinary allied health team works together to help consumers achieve meaningful recovery goals.

Social Worker Jobs Canberra – Role Overview

The Health Professional Level 2 Social Worker provides professional assessment and interventions for consumers experiencing serious mental health challenges.

This may involve people experiencing:

Professionals in Social Worker Jobs Canberra often engage in community outreach efforts.

Colleagues in Social Worker Jobs Canberra collaborate to foster holistic care.

• Acute mental illness
• Complex psychosocial circumstances
• Severe psychological distress
• Family or relationship difficulties
• Housing instability
• Trauma
• Social isolation
• Financial pressures
• Carer stress
• Community-disconnection issues

The nature of Social Worker Jobs Canberra varies widely across sectors.

Joining Social Worker Jobs Canberra allows for impactful community engagement.

The Social Worker considers not only the person’s clinical situation but also the broader social and environmental factors that may affect recovery.

Responsibilities

Clinical Social Work Assessment

A major responsibility is completing skilled psychosocial and Social Work assessments.

Assessment may consider:

• Mental health presentation
• Family circumstances
• Housing
• Relationships
• Carer support
• Social networks
• Financial pressures
• Community services
• Safety concerns
• Cultural needs
• Recovery goals

Assessments should be completed according to professional standards and within the Social Work scope of practice.

Evidence-Based Interventions

The successful applicant will provide appropriate evidence-based interventions to people with severe, complex and/or acute mental health conditions.

Specialized roles in Social Worker Jobs Canberra provide valuable experience.

Interventions should reflect:

• Best-practice frameworks
• Recovery principles
• Consumer goals
• Individual circumstances
• Professional Social Work standards

Workers should use professional judgement while remaining within organisational policies and procedures.

Recovery Planning

Engaging in Social Worker Jobs Canberra enhances professional satisfaction.

Recovery-oriented care recognises that consumers should remain active participants in decisions about their own treatment and support.

Collaboration is key in Social Worker Jobs Canberra to achieve effective outcomes.

The Social Worker may contribute to recovery planning by working with:

• Consumers
• Families
• Carers
• Nominated persons
• GPs
• Community organisations
• Other healthcare professionals

Working in Social Worker Jobs Canberra fosters skill development.

The person’s own strengths, goals and preferences should remain central to planning.

Supporting Families and Carers

Mental health challenges can affect not only the individual but also their family and support network.

Social Workers may help families and carers:

Career advancement in Social Worker Jobs Canberra is highly encouraged.

• Understand available services
• Participate appropriately in recovery planning
• Access practical support
• Navigate healthcare systems
• Understand their role in ongoing care

Information sharing must always comply with privacy, consent and professional requirements.

Multidisciplinary Teamwork

Successful Social Worker Jobs Canberra require strong multidisciplinary collaboration.

The Social Worker may work alongside:

• Psychiatrists
• Nurses
• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists
• Allied health professionals
• Medical practitioners
• Community mental health workers

Each discipline brings different expertise to the consumer’s care.

Effective communication helps ensure that interventions are coordinated and that important psychosocial information contributes to treatment planning.

Risk Management

The Social Worker is required to understand and follow mental health risk-management processes.

Responsibilities may include:

• Identifying psychosocial risks
• Communicating concerns
• Suggesting appropriate mitigating actions
• Escalating issues
• Documenting relevant information

Risk management should be conducted according to professional, clinical and organisational procedures.

Clinical Documentation

Accurate documentation is essential within mental health services.

Social Workers need to maintain clinical records and administrative data to required standards.

Documentation may include:

• Assessments
• Interventions
• Recovery planning
• Family involvement
• Referrals
• Risk information
• Progress notes
• Discharge-related information

Computer literacy is therefore important because Canberra Health Services uses digital health-record systems.

Supervision and Mentoring

The Health Professional Level 2 Social Worker may provide supervision and professional support to:

• Health Professional Level 1 employees
• Social Work students
• Allied Health Assistants
• Other support staff where appropriate

This adds a professional-development and leadership component to the position.

Applicants with previous supervision experience may be particularly well suited to the role.

Quality Improvement

The position involves contributing to continuous quality improvement.

This may include:

• Reviewing service processes
• Participating in clinical governance initiatives
• Supporting research activities
• Contributing to service development
• Participating in health promotion
• Providing education to stakeholders

Quality improvement helps ensure services continue to reflect contemporary evidence and best practice.

Requirements

Applicants for these Social Worker Jobs Canberra must satisfy several important requirements.

Social Work Qualification

Candidates must hold a:

Tertiary qualification in Social Work

Initiatives in Social Worker Jobs Canberra improve the mental health landscape.

This is an essential requirement.

AASW Eligibility

Applicants must have:

Professional membership or eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Candidates should clearly state their professional eligibility in their application.

Professional Experience

Health Professional Level 2 applicants require a minimum of:

12 months full-time equivalent paid professionally relevant experience

Applicants should clearly demonstrate this experience through their employment history.

National Police Check

Successful candidates need to undergo a:

Pre-employment National Police Check

Working with Vulnerable People Registration

Before commencing, the successful applicant requires:

Current Working with Vulnerable People registration

This must comply with ACT requirements.

Occupational Screening and Vaccination

Applicants must comply with Canberra Health Services’:

Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Policy

Credentialing

Successful applicants must also satisfy Canberra Health Services credentialing and scope-of-clinical-practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Qualifications

Essential qualifications include:

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work
• AASW membership or eligibility for membership
• Minimum 12 months of relevant paid professional experience

Understanding how National Safety and Quality Health Service indicators apply to the position is considered desirable.

Previous experience supervising staff is also highly desirable.

Clinical Skills

Strong applicants should demonstrate capability in:

• Social Work assessment
• Psychosocial intervention
• Recovery-oriented practice
• Mental health care
• Risk assessment
• Care planning
• Consumer advocacy
• Clinical documentation
• Multidisciplinary teamwork

Experience working with complex mental health presentations will be particularly relevant.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is essential.

The Social Worker may communicate with:

• Consumers
• Families
• Carers
• Children
• GPs
• Nurses
• Psychiatrists
• Community services
• Government agencies
• Other healthcare professionals

Communication should remain sensitive, respectful and appropriate to the individual circumstances.

Trauma-Informed Practice

The employer specifically seeks applicants committed to trauma-informed practice.

Trauma-informed care recognises that a person’s past experiences may influence:

• Behaviour
• Communication
• Trust
• Relationships
• Responses to healthcare

Support should promote emotional safety, respect, choice and collaboration.

Culturally Responsive Practice

Consumers may come from a broad range of cultural and social backgrounds.

The Social Worker should deliver interventions that recognise and respect:

• Cultural identity
• Family structures
• Language
• Community connections
• Personal beliefs
• Individual experiences

Culturally responsive practice is an important component of equitable mental healthcare.

Benefits

There are several benefits associated with these Social Worker Jobs Canberra.

1. Salary from $91,026 to $108,691

The advertised salary range is:

Minimum Salary: $91,026 per annum

Maximum Salary: $108,691 per annum

2. 12.5% Superannuation

The position includes:

12.5% superannuation

This is paid in addition to the applicable salary.

3. Salary Packaging

Canberra Health Services provides salary packaging options.

Eligible employees may benefit from fringe benefits tax concessions.

Individual benefits depend on the selected arrangement and personal circumstances.

4. Flexible Working Conditions

The employer advertises flexible working conditions.

Actual flexibility depends on operational and clinical requirements.

5. Employee Assistance Program

Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program for confidential wellbeing assistance.

6. Onsite Physiotherapy

Employees may access onsite physiotherapy services.

7. Hospital Amenities

Staff working at The Canberra Hospital can access facilities such as:

• Onsite cafes
• Staff cafeteria
• Pharmacy
• Gift shop

Professional Development

The role provides opportunities to build experience across complex inpatient mental health services.

Professional development may include:

• Clinical supervision
• Continuing professional development
• Performance review
• Staff education
• Quality initiatives
• Service improvement activities

This can support progression into more senior allied health or mental health Social Work roles.

Ethical Practice

Social Workers must maintain high ethical standards.

Important areas include:

• Confidentiality
• Consent
• Professional boundaries
• Consumer rights
• Mental health legislation
• Appropriate information sharing

Ethical decision-making is particularly important when working with complex mental health presentations.

Consumer Advocacy

Social Workers may advocate for consumers to help ensure their needs, preferences and rights are considered.

Advocacy can involve:

• Helping consumers understand services
• Supporting informed decision-making
• Communicating psychosocial needs
• Assisting with access to community services
• Supporting recovery goals

The consumer should remain central to decision-making wherever possible.

Who Should Apply?

These Social Worker Jobs Canberra may suit candidates who:

• Hold a recognised Social Work degree
• Are eligible for AASW membership
• Have at least 12 months of relevant paid professional experience
• Have experience with mental health assessment
• Understand recovery-oriented practice
• Have strong clinical judgement
• Can work in multidisciplinary teams
• Understand risk management
• Can maintain professional documentation
• Are committed to trauma-informed practice
• Can work with culturally diverse populations
• Are interested in inpatient mental health services

Previous supervisory experience is an advantage.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit an online application through the official ACT Government / Canberra Health Services recruitment system.

The application should include:

• Current CV
• Two-page response to the Selection Criteria
• Social Work qualification information
• Professional experience
• AASW membership or eligibility details
• Mental health experience
• Relevant clinical skills

Recruitment agency applications will not be accepted.

Application Deadline

Applications close:

11 October 2026

Candidates should submit all required documents before the deadline.

Build Your Mental Health Social Work Career in Canberra

For professionals searching for Social Worker Jobs Canberra, this Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services opportunity provides a chance to work with consumers experiencing complex and acute mental health challenges.

The position pays $91,026 to $108,691 per annum plus 12.5% superannuation and offers salary packaging, flexible working conditions, professional supervision and opportunities to contribute to quality improvement.

The role also provides exposure to multidisciplinary inpatient mental health care and opportunities to mentor early-career professionals and students.

If you hold a Social Work qualification, are eligible for AASW membership and have at least 12 months of relevant professional experience, this Canberra Health Services position may provide a strong next step in your career.

Applications close 11 October 2026.

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Community impact is significant through Social Worker Jobs Canberra.

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The demand for Social Worker Jobs Canberra continues to rise.

Colleagues share experiences in Social Worker Jobs Canberra.

Those pursuing Social Worker Jobs Canberra should embrace opportunities for growth.

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