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Administration Officer
Administration staff are the first point of contact for many people contacting a headspace service.
Centre Manager
Centre Managers ensure smooth day-to-day operations of centres. They manage, lead, develop, implement and oversee operations. As well as being responsible for future growth and development, they uphold quality and safety and recognise and manage risk and staff performance.
Practice Manager
Practice Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of the centre to ensure high-quality, youth-friendly mental health services are delivered efficiently and effectively. They support clinical (including GPs) and administrative teams, manage resources, and ensure compliance with relevant policies
Alcohol and Other Drugs Worker
An Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) worker is a qualified professional specialising in helping overcome alcohol, substance, drug and behavioural addictions. Providing assessment, education and counselling.
Art Therapist
Art Therapist are Certified and registered with peak professional body ANZACATA and have a specific masters degree in Art Therapy and over 750 hours of supervised placement. https://anzacata.org/faqs
Clinical Lead
Clinical Lead is a key leadership position and provides oversight to the coordination and delivery of high quality evidence based clinical services and clinical escalation. They develop, implement, review and monitor the Clinical Practice Manual to align with the LA Clinical Governance Framework and the headspace model whilst addressing local needs. They pass on key communications and opportunities to clinicians, private practitioners, and GPs.
Clinician
Clinicians refers to staff including Social Workers, Occupational Therapists who have completed an undergraduate or masters degree; Psychologists (fully registered general psychologist and Provisional psychologist); Division 1 registered nurses i.e. General (APHRA) performing mental health activities who have not completed mental health post graduate training.
Counsellors or Psychotherapists whose skills, training and experience are equivalent to the requirements outlined within the Australian Counselling Association Scope of Practice Guidelines at a minimum Level 3 or above within those guidelines, and who are registered with the relevant membership body (ACA or PACFA or equivalent)
Dietitian
Dietitians provide evidence‑based nutrition assessment and advice to support young people’s physical and mental wellbeing. They develop tailored nutrition plans, promote healthy eating behaviours, and work alongside the headspace multidisciplinary team to address concerns such as disordered eating, chronic health conditions, and general wellbeing.
Family Therapist
Family Therapists have successfully completed an accredited family therapy course and are competent in the practice of family therapy. A family therapist possesses the capacity for self reflection, knowledge, skills and practice experience to work with young people and their family to:
- strengthen connection between family and young person
- build the capacity of the family to understand and support the young person
- build a shared understanding of the young person’s difficulties
- utilise the family strengths and resources to support the young person
- contribute to the clinician’s knowledge of the young person and their relational context
A family therapist would be expected to comply with the AAFT Code of Ethics.
General Practitioner
General Practitioners assess and manage holistic health care for young people. With headspace support, they engage with young people regarding mental health, physical health (including sexual health), and alcohol and other drug support.
Please note, this is included in the MDS as "General Practitioner, GP Registrar, Psychiatrist".
General Practitioner Registrar
General Practitioner Registrars are doctors in training to become GPs.
Please note, this is included in the MDS as "General Practitioner, GP Registrar, Psychiatrist".
Mental Health Clinician
Mental health clinicians are defined as psychologists (with full registration), mental health nurses, occupational therapists registered with APHRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), and social workers with AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) membership (or eligible for membership). Occupational therapists, social workers and mental health nurses are credentialled or eligible for mental health credentialling by their respective professional bodies.
Nurse (not performing mental health activities)
Division 1 Nurse i.e. Sexual Health Nurse, practice nurse, pediatric nurse, immunisation nurse.
Nurse Practitioner (not performing mental health activities)
Division 1 Nurse Practitioner with Masters in an area of specialty (Non-Mental Health, i.e. Sexual Health, Pediatric, AOD) who has completed approved specialised training.
Psychiatrist
The Psychiatrist provides clinical leadership and evidence-based psychiatric care to young people.
Please note, this is included in the MDS as "General Practitioner, GP Registrar, Psychiatrist".
Psychiatrist Registrar
Psychiatrist Registrars are doctors in training to become psychiatrists.
Tertiary Services Clinician
Clinicians who are employed through state and territory tertiary Mental Health Services (CAMHS/CYMHS/AMHS)
Community Awareness and Engagement Worker
Community Awareness and Engagement (CAE) staff lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of CAE activities in local communities. The goal of CAE work is to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma around mental health issues, encourage early help seeking and promote access to headspace services, while building strong relationships with young people, their family, other local services and the broader community. Often, they also coordinate youth and family participation for their service, including the local Youth Reference Group.
Youth Worker
Youth Workers have completed a course in Youth Work Cert 4 or above (diploma/ degree), and are performing case work, psychosocial recovery, and/or care coordination
Consortium Chair
Consortiums are an integral part of the headspace model. The purpose of the consortium is to ensure that there is an integrated, holistic approach to local youth mental health service delivery that meets the specific needs of the local community. The Chairperson of the Consortium (Consortium Chair) is an independent representative of the local community (typically a volunteer) and supports the service to build stronger engagement between the headspace service and local agencies, to establish and grow relationships to improve service delivery. The Chairperson acts as an advocate for the needs of young people within the local community and health service system. Some headspace services opt to have a young person act as the Consortium Chair.
Consortium Member
Consortium members are part of a service's local consortium and work with the service to provide an integrated, holistic approach to local youth mental health service delivery that meets the specific needs of the local community.
Consortium Youth Chair
The Chairperson of the Consortium (Consortium Chair) is an independent representative of the local community (typically a volunteer) and supports the service to build stronger engagement between the headspace service and local agencies, to establish and grow relationships to improve service delivery. The Chairperson may be a young person, however they are still required to be an independent representative and as such cannot be part of the centre's Youth Reference Group. However, a young person who is part of the Youth Reference Group may act as a Co-Chair of the Consortium alongside an independent representative.
Clinical Educator - Early Career Program
Senior clinicians funded by the Early Career Program who have a significant role in mentoring, supervising, and supporting allied health students and graduates regarding their clinical work and supporting clinicians to translate learning into practice. They are employed by Lead Agencies to work in headspace services through funding provided by the Early Career Program.
Graduate - Early Career Program
Allied health clinicians who are employed under the headspace Graduate Program (a part of the Early Career Program). They are employed by headspace National and seconded to work in headspace services in participating centres.
Graduate Alumni - Early Career Program
Clinicians who have completed the headspace Graduate Program (a part of the Early Career Program). Completion refers to those who remained in the program until the completion of Block 4 of the education program.
Intern - Early Career Program
Provisional psychologists who are employed by headspace services while completing their internship (either supported by higher education provider or independently).
Lead - Early Career Program
Early Career Program Leads are key stakeholders in headspace services who are involved in delivering and implementing the Early Career Program within their headspace service.
NSW Recovery Clinical Educator
A Clinical Educator specifically working within the NSW Recovery Program.
Past Participant - Early Career Program
Clinicians who participated in the headspace Graduate Program (a part of the Early Career Program), who passed probation, and exited the program before program completion.
Student - Early Career Program
Students undertaking a clinical placement at headspace under the Early Career Program while studying a qualifying degree in Occupational Therapy, Social Work, and Psychology (including 4+2 and 5+1) placement students.
Clinical Director - Early Psychosis
Each Early Psychosis cluster has a Clinical Director who provides clinical leadership and governance across the program. At smaller sites the Clinical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist may be a combined role.
Data System Project Manager
The Data System Project Manager (DSPM) is responsible for monitoring of the Early Psychosis data for their cluster. The DSPM will train new staff in hAPI and monitor completion of data. They also work with team leaders on any data issues including preparing data reports to improve data compliance.
Operations Manager - Early Psychosis
Similar to the role of Centre Managers, Early Psychosis Operations Managers manage, lead, develop, implement and oversee operations of an Early Psychosis site, and uphold quality and safety standards.
Team Leader - Early Psychosis
Early Psychosis sites have a number of different teams that support young people including the Continuing Care Team (CCT) and Mobile Assessment and Triage Team (MATT) - each of these teams has a Team Leader who provides clinical and operational management of the team. Some sites also have a Functional Recovery Team (FRT) Team Leader and a Participation Team Leader.
Vocational Specialist - Early Psychosis
Vocational Specialists in the headspace early psychosis program, provide tailored education and employment support for young people engaged in the program. They help young people identify goals, build skills, engage with employers or training providers, and maintain participation in work or study as part of a broader recovery‑oriented team.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Awareness and Engagement Worker
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Awareness & Engagement Worker staff lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of CAE activities in local communities. The goal of CAE work is to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma around mental health issues, encourage early help seeking and promote access to headspace services, while building strong relationships with young people, their family, other local services and the broader community. Often, they also coordinate youth and family participation for their service, including the local Youth Reference Group. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Awareness & Engagement Workers work to address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and communities in a culturally-safe and appropriate way.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers are commonly involved in both SEWB/holistic approaches to health and wellbeing support, including connection to cultural activities, community, and other domains of the SEWB model. Additionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers typically have a role in supporting clinical and medical care and this includes advocacy, referral and support for First Nations’ service users navigating the health system; health education and preventative care around chronic disease; and some clinical tasks including monitoring of symptoms. In the headspace context an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker may support preventive and harm reduction in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, alcohol and drug use, and mental health, among other areas.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff promote cross-cultural awareness in centres. They ensure centres have the capacity and knowledge to address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and communities in a culturally-safe and appropriate way.
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker is an identified role in centres that support the holistic health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people by fostering emotional, spiritual, cultural, and community wellbeing that works harmoniously with other forms of health support at headspace and is based upon Indigenous perspectives of health and wellbeing. The role includes: connecting young people to cultural activities and supports, including Aboriginal organisations and services; conducting service promotion within First Nations communities; using assertive engagement to help young people feel safe and ready to access headspace services; and offering a level of care coordination across multiple service providers involved in a young person’s wellbeing. Contact with young people is largely done through outreach.
Lead Agency Business Manager
Lead Agency Business Managers may oversee the financial, administrative and/or operational functions that support the headspace centre or wider lead agency.
Lead Agency CEO
The Lead Agency CEO is the highest-ranking executive of a lead agency.
Lead Agency Executive
A Lead Agency Executive is part of the lead agency's Executive, usually reporting to the CEO.
Lead Agency Project Manager
Lead Agency Project Managers plan, coordinate and deliver projects that support centre operations, service development, or establishment.
Lead Agency Quality Manager
Lead Agency Quality Managers oversee systems and processes that maintain and improve service quality and safety.
Lead Agency Representative
Lead agencies are independent organisations commissioned to operate each headspace service, although some agencies operate multiple centres and/or satellites and outposts. The Lead Agency provides the infrastructure required for a headspace service and is responsible for corporate and clinical governance. The Lead Agency Representative is our primary point of contact and responsible for the delivery of the headspace service, including the TMLD and contracts related to the service.
Intern
Provisional psychologists who are employed by headspace services while completing their internship (either supported by higher education provider or independently).
Note: Interns at an Early Career Program centre should select Intern – Early Career Program
Research Assistant/Project Worker
Research Assistants or Project Workers support the design, implementation and evaluation of research or quality‑improvement activities within the centre. They collect and analyse data, coordinate project tasks, and help translate findings into practice to improve service quality and outcomes for young people.
Student
Students undertaking a clinical placement at headspace.
Note: psychology, social work, occupational therapy, students undertaking a placement at an early career program centre, should select Student – Early Career Program)
Local Family Representative
At headspace, family is defined uniquely by each young person. Family is considered to be an integral part of a young person’s circle of care. Family and other caregivers –whether by birth, choice or circumstance –hold a significant role in supporting a young person by fostering a sense of belonging and connection through their shared experience. The term family may include parents, caregivers, siblings, partners, Elders, kin, mentors and other community members who are viewed by the young person as people who play a significant emotional, cultural, faith-based or other role in their life.
Local Family Representatives have lived experience of supporting a young person with mental ill health and provide advice to the centre on how to improve services and resources for young people and family of young people.
Local Youth Representative
Local Youth Representatives are young people from local communities who are connected with a centre's Youth Reference Group. These young people may have lived experience.
At headspace, lived experience refers to personal encounters with mental health or social and emotional wellbeing challenges, seeking help, recovery, or assisting others through similar challenges. These experiences are such that they have impacted their lives, future goals, and self-perception.
At headspace, the term lived experience also refers to ‘living’ experience, in acknowledgement of past and ongoing experiences.
While we encourage a shared language through definitions, we acknowledge complexity and nuance in discussions about mental health and identity. We recognise the importance of how individuals and communities define their identities and experiences'.
Peer Work Supervisor
Peer Work Supervisors are, or used to be, experienced Peer Workers, employed to offer 1-to-1 or group supervision to other headspace Peer Workers. This supervision is discipline specific, features reflective practice and provides opportunity to discuss experiences unique to the Peer Work role. This role is distinct from clinical supervision or line management
Peer Worker - Family
A peer worker provides support to others through the lived experience that they share. Family peer workers draw on their own experience of supporting a young person to build authentic connections, mutual understanding and hope. This contact role relates to Family Peer Workers working in the primary centres (e.g. not Early Psychosis).
Peer Worker - Young People
A peer worker provides support to others through the lived experience that they share. This contact role relates to Youth Peer Workers working in the primary centres (e.g. not Early Psychosis).
PHN Commissioning Manager
PHNs are responsible for commissioning headspace centres through Lead Agencies, which includes planning, procurement, delivery and performance monitoring. The Commissioning Manager is the person at a PHN who is responsible for commissioning new headspace services.
PHN Data and Reporting Contact
The PHN Data and Reporting Contact is the person at a PHN who is responsible for data and reporting for the headspace services in their catchment.
PHN Early Career Program Contact
The key contact at the PHN for the ECP program.
PHN Early Psychosis Contact
The key contact at the PHN for the Early Psychosis program.
PHN headspace Contract Manager
PHNs are responsible for commissioning headspace centres through Lead Agencies, which includes planning, procurement, delivery and performance monitoring. The headspace Contract Manager is our primary contact at each PHN for established headspace services. Depending on the size of the PHN, the same person may have multiple contact roles.
Primary Health Network CEO
The Primary Health Network CEO is the highest-ranking executive of a PHN.
Contract/Procurement Manager
Contract Management contacts in Lead Agencies and PHNs for TMLDs.
Folio User - Primary
Used to record who is the primary Folio user for a headspace service.
Folio User - Secondary
Used to record who is the secondary Folio user for a headspace service.
headspace Connect Coordinator
Coordinates headspace Connect program
hMIF Contact
The key contact for a service during the hMIF Assessment Process
Online Service Provider
headspace National DMHP staff members contracted to provide online supports for headspace centres.
Telehealth Contact
Main Contact for Telehealth
Peer Worker - Vocational
Vocational Peer Workers provide support to young people participating in the Indiviudal Placement and Support (IPS) program in a headspace centre. The role does not duplicate that of a Work & Study Specialist, rather, it complements IPS services through the lens of lived experience.
Work and Study Specialist
Work & Study Specialists provide work and study support to young people participating in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program in a headspace centre. The role of a Work & Study Specialist is to help young people obtain and maintain suitable employment and/or education.
Work and Study Supervisor
Work & Study Supervisors oversee vocational teams in headspace centres delivering the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program. They may also hold a small case-load.