General Manager Mental Health & Wellbeing

Foundation House is an inclusive employer

Foundation House is an equal opportunity employer; we foster a work environment that is inclusive and diverse. We are values driven and are committed to improving the life outcomes of refugees and asylum seekers.

Foundation House is a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently have approximately 250 staff across our five offices in Brunswick, Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood and Sunshine, and we also provide services in partnership with other agencies in regional and rural Victoria.

Foundation House is a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.

Read more about our history on our website here.

Your impact 

The General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing (GM MHW) is a member of the Foundation House senior executive and plays a crucial role in the leadership, management, and strategic direction of the agency. 

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Group delivers evidence-based best practice interventions that are safe, person-centred, effective and connected, and are trauma-informed and trauma-focused. Services are culturally safe and responsive to clients and their families. All services are delivered in accordance with the Foundation House Integrated Trauma Recovery Service Model, Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Integrated Trauma Recovery for People of Refugee Background (2nd edition), Community Capacity Building Framework, and international best practice.

Services offered by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Group include: 

• Individual, parent and family counselling
• Child, youth and family counselling
• Psychosocial and therapeutic advocacy
• Therapeutic and psychoeducational group work
• Complementary therapies including massage, herbal, and other natural remedies.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing program also contributes to the recovery of clients by: 

• Actively developing strong partnerships with key external stakeholders to strengthen referral pathways
• Actively contributing to and partnering with other Foundation House programs to ensure service integration and collaboration.
• Supporting the refugee and humanitarian services sector, as well as health, Mental Health, and wellbeing sectors to deliver trauma-informed practice to support client and community trauma recovery needs.
• Advocating for sustainable programs that better balance the long-term needs of individuals, families and communities.

The role

Reporting to the CEO, the GM MHW is responsible for leading, developing and overseeing the delivery of high-quality services to clients of refugee background who are survivors of torture and other traumatic events.

In that capacity the GM MHW will be responsible for the direct line management of all Regional Managers within the agency and supporting them to manage the delivery of services at operational levels. That includes responsibility for the effective leadership, direction, coordination, quality assurance and delivery of services across the Mental Health and Wellbeing program; ensuring high quality, efficient and effective delivery of client services aligned with client and community needs.  

Some of the key responsibilities for the role include:

• Provide overall leadership, management and direction of the MHW group across Foundation House regional offices. 
• Ensure the delivery of MHW initiatives in line with the Foundation House Integrated Trauma Recovery Service Model and Rebuilding Shattered Lives.  
• Work collegially with other General Managers to continuously improve the quality of services and programs and in the development of strategic planning and implementation.
• Lead and drive the development of key advocacy to support trauma recovery within refugee and asylum seeker communities. 
• Lead and drive the use of data and information management to inform the effectiveness of MHW initiatives and future planning.
• Coordinate and ensure the delivery of the MHW reporting responsibilities required by the Foundation House Board, executive and funding agencies. 

This role is a full-time, ongoing position based in our Brunswick Head Office. Some travel to our other Melbourne offices will be a role requirement.

What you’ll need to successfully apply

To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria: 

• Post graduate qualification in a Mental Health discipline (psychiatry, clinical psychology, Mental Health social work) with a practice and quality improvement focus. 
• Extensive experience as a senior clinician in the Mental Health sector. 
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in managing and oversight of complex clinical and psychosocial assessments, case planning and counselling and advocacy responses to people with complex trauma experiences. 
• Strong ability to build positive and productive team culture in order to achieve key BAU operations and deliver on important agreed strategic priorities. 
• Leadership and practice experience in working with vulnerable communities among people from refugee backgrounds would be advantageous.
• A clear commitment to human rights and an appreciation of how organisations with a mandate to deliver services to a diverse range of clients in complex human rights and political contexts should operate.  

In return 

You’ll be rewarded with: 

• An attractive remuneration package of $168,750 plus superannuation.
• Salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options.
• A role with true purpose to make a difference in people’s lives.
• A welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment.
• Excellent training and professional development.
• Generous leave provisions with option to purchase additional leave.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.

How to apply