Education level
Job area
Your role as a mental health nurse
As a mental health nurse, you’ll support people experiencing mental illness or distress.
This includes:
- assessing people
- planning and giving mental health care
- providing medicine, treatment, information and support
- helping people get the support they need to recover.
We have full time, part time and casual roles, and you may work different shifts as part of a team.
Our mental health nurses also work in
- emergency
- maternity
- prison healthcare
- child and youth services
- eating disorder services
- aged care.
How a mental health nurse is different from a registered nurse
A mental health nurse is a registered nurse with extra qualifications and experience.
What your day might look like
Our mental health nurses make a difference in the lives of people with mental health needs. They offer hope, support recovery, and help them reach their goals.
You’ll see people in hospitals, treatment centres, in their home, and in the community. You’ll also work with psychiatrists and other health professionals to care for people who are experiencing:
- mood disorders like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder
- distress or hearing voices
- thoughts of harming themselves
- eating disorders
- substance use disorders.
You’ll spend a big part of your day with people, their family and carers. You'll offer practical support, and will use your training to help them feel safe and understood.
In rural and remote areas, you might travel a long way to see people in isolated places with limited resources and support. You may also offer virtual care and telehealth support over phone or video call.
Read more about working as a mental health nurse on the Your Career website.
Qualifications
You'll need both of these to work as a mental health nurse.
- Bachelor's degree in nursing or nursing science
- Postgraduate qualifications and or experience in mental health nursing that leads to credentialing through the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Professional registration
- Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
- Credentialling with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
Pay and benefits
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at nursing grade 5, pay point 1. You’ll get a different rate if you’re in a higher level role.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- a supportive workplace with flexible working arrangements
- several types of leave
- salary packaging
- help with ongoing professional development costs.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Rural and remote opportunities
You may be able to get financial incentives and other benefits if you work in rural and remote areas.
Professional growth
Our nurse and midwife graduate program helps new nurses transition from academic learning to professional practice.
You’ll also develop your professional skills through:
- orientation programs for new staff
- workplace learning
- self-directed learning
- professional development and upskilling opportunities.
Career paths
Getting experience as a mental health nurse or doing more training can lead to other roles.
- Nurse unit manager
- Mental health nurse practitioner
- Nurse researcher
- Nurse educator
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.