Mental Health Support Worker jobs

Reconnect Support Services Tasmania is seeking experienced and compassionate Mental Health Support Workers who have a genuine interest in supporting children and young people with complex mental health needs, disability and behaviours of concern.

This role is suited to someone who can remain calm, patient and consistent during challenging situations and understands that behaviour is often a form of communication.

About the Role

You will provide individualised support to children and young people who may experience:

• Mental health challenges
• Autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Trauma and complex life experiences
• Behaviours of concern
• Anxiety and heightened distress
• Difficulty with communication and social interaction
• Challenges accessing school, community or social activities

Supports may take place within the participant's home, community, respite environment or other settings depending on their individual needs.

This is more than simply providing supervision. We are looking for workers who can build genuine therapeutic relationships, recognise triggers, respond safely to escalation and help young people develop confidence, independence and emotional regulation skills.

What We Are Looking For

We would particularly like to hear from applicants who have experience working with children or adolescents with complex behaviours and mental health needs.

You will ideally have:

• Experience supporting children or young people with behaviours of concern
• Experience within mental health, disability, youth work, child safety or therapeutic support
• A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice
• Knowledge of positive behaviour support principles
• The ability to recognise early warning signs and respond proactively
• Confidence supporting people during periods of emotional distress or escalation
• Strong professional boundaries
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• The ability to follow Behaviour Support Plans, safety plans and individual support strategies
• A calm, patient and respectful approach
• The ability to work collaboratively with families, clinicians and other professionals

We strongly value workers who can look beyond the behaviour and ask:

“What is this young person trying to communicate, and how can I support them safely?”

Key Responsibilities

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing one-to-one support to children and young people
• Supporting emotional regulation and coping strategies
• Building rapport and trusted relationships
• Supporting community participation and social engagement
• Implementing strategies outlined in Behaviour Support Plans
• Identifying and responding to triggers and changes in presentation
• Using proactive strategies to reduce escalation
• Supporting routines, daily living skills and independence
• Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Completing accurate progress notes and incident documentation
• Communicating concerns promptly with team leaders
• Supporting participants in a way that promotes dignity, choice and control
• Working collaboratively with families and multidisciplinary teams

Essential Requirements

Applicants will need to hold or be willing to obtain:

• NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Working with Vulnerable People Registration with child-related activity
• Current First Aid and CPR
• Current Australian Driver Licence
• Reliable and insured vehicle
• Relevant qualification or demonstrated experience within disability, mental health, youth work, community services or a related field

Experience with Positive Behaviour Support, restrictive practice requirements, de-escalation, autism, ADHD, trauma or complex mental health presentations will be highly regarded.

The Person We Are Looking For

Qualifications and experience are important, but so is the person behind them.

We are looking for someone who is:

Calm under pressure.
Reliable.
Emotionally mature.
Patient.
Consistent.
Professional.
Non-judgemental.
Able to build trust with young people.

You must be able to maintain a supportive approach even when a young person is distressed, dysregulated or displaying challenging behaviour.

Why Join Reconnect?

At Reconnect Support Services Tasmania, we believe quality support starts with having the right people.

We are committed to providing supports that are:

• Person-centred
• Trauma-informed
• Strengths-based
• Respectful
• Safe
• Flexible
• Focused on genuine outcomes

We work closely with our participants, families and staff to create supports that are meaningful rather than simply filling shifts.

If you have experience supporting children and young people with mental health needs and behaviours of concern and believe you can make a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today with your resume and a short cover letter outlining your experience supporting children, young people, mental health needs and/or behaviours of concern.

Job Type: Casual

Pay: $45.00 – $46.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Do you have experience with mental health participants
• Are you able to work with complex Mental Health and happy to provide first aid when required

Licence/Certification:

• Mental Health First Aid Certification (Required)
• Working with Children Check (Required)
• Driver Licence (Required)

Work Authorisation:

• Australia (Preferred)

Work Location: In person