Mental Health Engagement Coordinator

The Mental Health and Engagement Coordinator (MHEC) role is a conduit between policy and service delivery, with a specific focus on the intersection between disability and Mental Health.

Working as part of a Regional Mental Health Branch, the MHEC will provide practice leadership, expert advice, capability building activities and resources based on current best practice in the field of disability and Mental Health to MHPs, MHiPS leaders and school/area staff to enable them to better support students with disabilities in a variety of settings. 

The Regional Mental Health team will support schools in all aspects of student Mental Health and wellbeing, including implementation of the Mental Health Practitioners initiative, the Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu, and the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) program. For more information, see the Mental Health in Schools policy on the Policy and Advisory Library.

In particular, the Mental Health Engagement Coordinator will (in consultation and collaboration with Regional and Area staff, as appropriate):

• Provide expert advice to MHPs, MHiPS leaders in schools, schools and regional/area staff on the intersection between disability and Mental Health and wellbeing across the region, drawing on current best practice, evidence and relevant resources
• Build MHP and MHiPS leaders' capability on how to effectively deliver supports to students with disabilities such how to adapt interventions and deliver Mental Health literacy and resilience building activities

• Support MHPs/MHiPS leaders to raise awareness amongst school leadership teams of the need to tailor education and Mental Health support to student needs through reasonable adjustment
• Identify barriers and enablers to Mental Health service use and other supports for students with disabilities
• Support schools to establish or improve systems and processes to ensure quality service delivery and consistency of practice in supporting students with disabilities and Mental Health concerns

• Work with the school and appropriate Area staff to identify and engage with local services that are appropriate referral pathways for students with disabilities, or organisations that can further build the capability of school staff
• Support MHPs/MHiPS leaders to promote student voice and agency to ensure that students with disabilities are actively engaged in decision making around their Mental Health
• Collaborate with other MHECs, MHCs, the central team and other partners to identify, define and evaluate evidence-based practices for children and young people with disability and Mental Health needs
• Contribute to the regional planning of Professional Learning Supports for MHPs and other HWIW
• Initiate and lead/contribute to special projects in partnership with the regional and central team, such as resources/case studies (video and written) highlighting best practice examples for MHPs/MHiPS leaders working in both specialist schools and mainstream schools on how to effectively support the Mental Health of students with disabilities
• Analyse area level data to identify common trends and develop strategies to address student needs across the region, statewide NCCD data as a reference/point of comparison.

The position may be located in any of the regional offices but will require travel across the region.

Applications should include a CV, a cover letter of no more than one page, and a response addressing each of the key selection criteria in no more than 3 pages.

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Carolyn Macaulay, Manager Regional Mental Health on 0428 521 ***

The Department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.