Employment and Education Specialist

Primary Clinical Services Melton, VIC Contract

25/6/2026

• Melton | Onsite parking + close to public transport
• Newly Created Role | Full-time contract until 30 October 2026
• Play an active role in improving youth employment and education outcomes

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 delivers Individual Placement and Support (IPS) vocational support to young people experiencing mental ill-health across Melbourne’s West and North West. Working closely with clinical teams, employers and community partners, the role helps young people achieve meaningful employment and education outcomes.

Reporting to Employment and Education Program Manager you will:

• Deliver high-quality Individual Placement and Support vocational support to young people experiencing mental ill-health.
• Support career development, employment pathways and education opportunities.
• Build strong partnerships with employers, education providers and community organisations.
• Develop and facilitate workshops and provide vocational recovery education to staff and employers.
• Support young people to attend external service provider appointments when necessary

Skills and experience

The following criteria must be met for consideration for this position:

• Understanding of the Individual Placement and Support model and employment services sector, including relevant government initiatives.
• Experience supporting young people with career planning, vocational rehabilitation and mental health challenges.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and ability to build effective relationships with employers and partners.
• Advanced digital literacy, with strong administration, accuracy and attention to detail.
• High initiative, problem-solving skills and ability to manage competing priorities while working within policy and privacy frameworks.

Benefits

• Salary between $88,090 - $94,793 (SCHADS 4) pro rata commensurate with skills and experience + 12 % superannuation and $15,900 in NFP salary packaging + $2,600 meals and entertainment card
• Collaborate in a workplace that values and empowers young voices.
• Thrive in a supportive, inclusive culture that values diversity and promotes well-being.
• 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, visit https://www.orygen.org.au/getmedia/459eaf0a-03b5-423f-a8b3-d2224ccc0072/Employment-and-Education-Specialist-2026-headspace-June-2026_1.pdf.aspx

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), contract until 17 October 2026.

Applications will close on 9th July 2026 (11am), unless a suitable candidate is found sooner.

Before applying at Orygen, it’s important to understand that you may encounter sensitive information related to mental health as part of your work. Being aware of this and how it could affect you is essential in deciding if this is the right opportunity for you.

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.