About the role

The Registered Nurse/Mental Health Nurse works as a volunteer member of the ASRC team providing psychiatric care, support, and case management to refugees and people seeking asylum. The role involves mental health triage, assessments, provision of direct support, therapeutic intervention, coordination and follow-up of care, and referral to internal and external mental health and psychiatric services according to need. The health program currently has one mental health nurse who works Mondays, the two volunteers will support one another.

Program: Health

The Health Program at ASRC provides comprehensive primary care services with specialist clinics including psychiatry, pain management, physiotherapy, podiatry, immunisation, and diabetes management to people seeking asylum. Our clients' complex health needs require multiple consultations across a range of health disciplines. The majority of the people accessing our service are on visas denying them work rights and Medicare and often have no and low income making pharmaceuticals and allied health referrals unobtainable.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that evidence-based mental health services are delivered through an agreed scope of practice within an integrated health service environment.
• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments; including mental state examinations, psycho-social history, functional assessment, mental health symptoms, risk assessment, and treatment history and objectives.
• Develop and monitor mental health treatment/care plans that address the particular psychiatric and psycho-social needs of individual members. This may be undertaken with the support and in collaboration with the health care team, individual members and family, psychiatrists, and other internal and external professional caregivers e.g. case workers.
• Assist in the management of medication in collaboration with treating clinicians.
• Assist in the preparation of mental health reports if required.
• Provide case management and person-centred care through a comprehensive medical and psycho-social approach to mental health, with cultural and language sensitivity.
• Liaise with external mental health service providers.
• Support and educate the health care team in mental health treatment and support pathways.

Accountability

This role reports to the Health Program Manager.

Location

ASRC Footscray.

Volunteer shifts

This role is looking for a minimum commitment of 6 - 12 months. Shifts are available on Friday from 10 am to 4:30 pm weekly to work alongside the volunteer psychiatrist.

What we’re looking for

Professional Qualifications:

• The successful applicant must hold at least a tertiary degree (or equivalent qualification) in Nursing, with postgraduate studies or experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing. Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Essential:

• Minimum of 2 years post-registration experience in mental health.
• Ability to work autonomously exercising sound professional judgment and seeking advice and consultation with the wider health team where appropriate.
• Cross-cultural competencies including working with interpreters.
• Competent in using a range of information and communications technology and familiar with health practice software.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills within a broad range of clinical, community, and organisational interactions.
• Commitment to the ideals of the ASRC and the rights-based approach.

Desirable:

• Previous experience working with people seeking asylum and refugees.
• Previous experience of mental health in a community setting.

Training & Requirements

• ASRC Volunteer Induction and Volunteer Agreement
• Police Check and Working with Children Check
• 3-month probation period
• Program Specific Training.

Compliance

All offers of employment, paid or voluntary, are subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and provision of a valid Working with Children Check before commencement.

About Us

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is the largest aid, employment, health, and advocacy organisation for people seeking asylum in Australia. The ASRC provides a range of direct services as well as participating in law reform, campaigning, and lobbying.

The human rights of people seeking asylum and refugees are at the foundation of all we do and the workforce makes it happen, doing the work to bring the vision and purpose to life.

Our organisational values are: Welcoming, Authentic, Courageous, and Collaborative.

For more information email [email protected] using the subject line: Volunteer Registered Nurse enquiry via EthicalJobs.