mental health practitioner.

Some of the responsibilities and duties of mental health practitioners include:

• conducting assessments on patients: as a mental health practitioner, you make assessments and determine the appropriate diagnosis for patients with mental health issues. From the symptoms, you determine a patient's mental health problems and develop a treatment plan. You create an individualised treatment plan to address each patient's needs.
• performing therapeutic treatments: as a mental health practitioner, you perform the treatment on patients. For instance, you organise group therapy sessions and do one-on-one counselling. You also perform crisis interventions for attempted suicides.
• supporting patients' families: as a mental health practitioner, you explain the mental health issues to patients’ families and help them understand the treatment plan. You also guide them on the best way to support the patients.
• monitoring patients’ progress: as a mental health practitioner, you assess patients after treatment to determine their progress. You also create a safe environment for patients to share their problems. When you recognise signs of distress, you provide additional help.
• helping patients learn new coping skills: you help patients cope with their mental health challenges and provide emotional support. It is important to empathise with their feelings and help them find solutions to their problems.

Mental health practitioners work in healthcare facilities and hospitals. Since you conduct counselling and therapy sessions in your office, you work indoors in hospitals and healthcare centres. You conduct one-on-one counselling sessions or hold group sessions in the therapy areas. Sometimes, you hold therapy sessions outdoors in a tranquil environment. As a community mental health practitioner, your role involves travelling to visit patients at home, school or prison.

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include general nurses, mental health nurses and nutritionists. You might also be working in close proximity to occupational therapists and paediatric nurses, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, psychiatrists, pharmacists and personal care assistants.

The typical work schedule of a mental health practitioner is 40 hours a week. You are likely to work the traditional office hours if you work in a private practice. However, in healthcare facilities and hospitals, you are likely to work shift schedules since nurses may need consultations for patients with mental health problems. As a mental health practitioner, you work full-time; some shifts are at night or over the weekends. Part-time mental health practitioner roles are also available.

According to the National Skills Commission, the demand for mental health practitioners in Australia will grow by over 23% by 2026. The growth in demand is due to the surge in mental health problems. Working as a mental health practitioner also prepares you for other roles. For instance, you can improve your qualifications and become a psychiatrist or a mental health nurse.

Finding your mental health practitioner job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a mental health practitioner is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

As a mental health practitioner, you assist people facing various challenges, such as anxiety, eating disorders, depression or bipolar disorder. You provide short-term intervention and support to help people suffering from various mental health issues. You treat mental health problems using counselling or psychotherapy.

The demand for mental health practitioners in Australia is expected to grow by over 23% by 2026. This increasing demand is due to the rise of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. You can also specialise in other areas of mental health.

A psychologist treats and counsels patients to alleviate distress and mental health issues. To work as a psychologist in Australia, you require extensive qualifications like a university psychology degree, which is six years of undergraduate and postgraduate study. You should also meet the requirements of the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council (APAC). Mental health practitioners don't require accreditation to provide treatment.

As a mental health practitioner, you work in clinical and non-clinical settings. In a clinical setting, you work in a healthcare facility, hospital or outpatient facility. In a non-clinical setting, you work in the community and assist with mental health and well-being projects.

Working as a mental health practitioner in Australia requires educational qualifications. If you have previous experience in nursing or counselling, seek additional qualifications to become a mental health practitioner. For instance, you can get a graduate certificate to gain foundational skills in mental health support. Having advanced qualifications, like a master’s degree, allows you to work in complex settings.

Applying for a mental health practitioner job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.