About Orygen

Orygen is Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and the largest translational research organisation dedicated to youth mental health in the world.

For over 30 years, Orygen has led groundbreaking early intervention and developed evidence-based models of care to improve the mental health outcomes of young people aged 12-25.

About the job

The Employment and Education Specialist will deliver high-quality support through our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program at headspace Werribee. In this impactful role, you’ll work directly with young people experiencing mental ill-health to help them find meaningful employment and career pathways. You’ll deliver tailored career support across Orygen’s clinical programs, focusing on individual career development, skill-building, and job readiness.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing career coaching and support to young people, enabling them to reach their employment and educational goals.
• Promoting the IPS program to prospective employers, young people, and community member and developing partnerships with employers and educational institutions to expand opportunities for young people.
• Using digital tools to assist in career exploration, skill-building, and linking mental health with career development.
• Conducting training workshops for clinical staff and community organizations on vocational recovery.
• Supporting young people to attend external service provider appointments when necessary.

To learn more about your career and the benefits of joining Orygen and headspace as an IPS Specialist please visit our website. 

Skills and experience

You are passionate, energetic and determined to make a difference to health and wellbeing outcomes for young people. The following criteria must be met for consideration for this position:

• Tertiary qualifications in disability, health, human resources or related field.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
• Proven experience in employment services, vocational rehabilitation, or career development.
• Strong familiarity with employment services, Centrelink, and other programs impacting young people’s employment opportunities.
• Skilled in providing career-planning advice and navigating challenges faced by young people in employment and education.
• Effective communicator with advanced computer skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Benefits

• Salary package between $85,126 - $91,587 pro rata commensurate with skills and experience + 11.5% super + NFP salary packaging up to $15,900 + $2,600 meals and entertainment card & personal use car.
• Access to free training for the IPS micro-credential training program.
• Free monthly supervision through the Professional Support Program.
• You’ll support young people experiencing mental ill-health to achieve their work or study goals.
• You won’t be stuck at a desk! You’ll be out and about in your community, assisting young people to meet employers and education providers
• You’ll spend time building networks with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, educators, young people and their supporters.
• IPS work involves a diverse range of daily tasks, such as: defining career goals, liaising with clinicians, and working with employers and education providers.
• You’ll help to develop career opportunities tailored to the needs of each young person you work with.
• Every young person deserves the chance to reach their potential. By introducing employers and education providers to the opportunity to support young people, you’ll be part of the fight against mental health stigma.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to make a difference in youth mental health and be part of a collaborative, innovative team, apply now.

For the full position description, see attached.

This is a full-time contract until October 2025.

Applications will close at 11am on the closing date, unless a suitable candidate is found sooner.

Orygen is committed to providing diverse, equitable and inclusive environments for Staff and anyone connected to Orygen. We strive to continue building a culturally safe workplace where our values underpin the way we work and our commitment to First Nations people of Australia, young people and their families, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ people and CALD communities. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people.

Orygen is a child-safe organisation and is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of all young people and embedding safeguarding practices into all our programs and services. All employment appointments are subject to holding a valid working with children check and successful police check.