Friendly and supportive team environment
6x positions available
30x shifts over a 12-month period from February 2026
About the Role
St Vincent's offers a unique and highly specialized paid Mental Health Cadetship Program encompassing adult and aged mental health, in acute and community settings. Mental Health Nursing Cadetships offer paid employment experience, professional support to students undertaking a Bachelor/Masters of Nursing degree. Cadets undertake shifts at St Vincent’s Hospital for a total of 30 shifts over the year to enhance the development of their skills and knowledge in mental health nursing, and assist with the successful completion of their studies. Cadets will work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Mental Health Clinician to observe and provide support across an array of clinical areas, within a defined scope of practice.
Duties include (but are not limited to):
Supporting consumers throughout their recovery journeys and working alongside the multidisciplinary team
Actively upholding a culture of hope by using optimistic language, supporting people and celebrating consumer’s recovery efforts;
Supporting consumers with available resources to achieve their recovery goals through education and support around coping strategies and symptom management
Actively challenging stigmatizing attitudes, discrimination and social exclusion in line with the Recovery Model of Mental Health Care.
Attendance of rostered shifts during the employment period
Ensures that all care delivered is at all times supervised by a Registered Nurse
Communicates effectively with supervising nurses about individual skills and learning needs.
Ensures practice remains at all times within the defined scope of practice. The scope of practice is developed in accordance with current legal obligations in line with the classification.
Scope of Practice includes:
Assisting with Activities of Daily Living
Hygiene
Housekeeping
Therapeutic communication
Participate in consumer activities programs such as Inpatient groups, and consumer meetings.
Participate in consumer assessment, care planning and discharge planning.
Supporting consumers with the recovery goals
Working alongside the multidisciplinary team
Develop knowledge of the roles of the carer consultant, consumer consultants and peer support workers.
Classifications for these positions will be PSEN Level 1 Year 1
Your Contribution
Evidence of enrolment in a full time Bachelor or Masters of Nursing degree and will be completing your final year of study in 2026
Evidence of passing grades in all subjects completed thus far
Excellent communication skills and demonstrates professionalism at all times
Current National criminal history check, or willing to obtain
What we Offer
Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
Employee Assistance Program
Ability to join Fitness Passport - Your pass to an extensive choice of fitness facilities
Discounts and Promotions always available through our Foundation
Career development & advancement encouraged
Culture of continuous improvement
Support from senior staff
About Mental Health
St Vincent’s Mental Health (SVMH) provides high quality, recovery-oriented services across an adult area mental health service for the inner city areas of Yarra and Boroondara. The service utilises the Strengths Model of recovery and this model is embedded across all parts of the mental health service. In addition the acute inpatient service utilises the Safewards Model.
Working at St Vincent’s
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service. SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services and is driven by values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence. St Vincent’s Mental Health is committed the recruitment and retention of high quality staff. We aim to support staff to maintain and develop their skills to provide excellent clinical care and to meet their own personal and career goals. The service has a strong education and research focus, in addition to affiliations with a number of universities and educational institutions.
Application
Please attach the following to your application:
Resume and cover letter
Copies of 2x clinical placement reports (one being your most recent placement, and one being mental health).
Certified copy of your academic transcript with a key
Two referees (with at least one being a clinical referee)
Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is essential to our mission and diversity reflects the community we serve.
Please visit our website, for further information regarding our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment at SVHM.
SVHA has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and/or control the risk of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases in healthcare settings. You may therefore be required to undergo mandatory immunisations/vaccinations (including flu vaccinations).
This position is subject to a Victorian government direction regarding vaccination against COVID-19. Successful applicants must meet these vaccination requirements. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au
View Reconciliation Action Plan