Where do mental health professionals work?
Mental health professionals work in varied settings shaped by care needs and role demands. Nurses mostly work in public health; psychologists often in private practice or community settings (NGOs, schools). In rural areas, psychiatry frequently uses fly‑in, fly‑out models with psychiatrists usually employed by public services. Social workers and occupational therapists work across public health, outpatient, primary care, NGOs, employment support, and disability/rehab services but are fewer in number. With career progression, many shift from clinical roles to management or academia; rural limits make this less common, though opportunities to diversify practice are growing—e.g., more nurses are moving into private practice.
Public Health
- Inpatient mental health units
- Community mental health teams
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams
- Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Specialist Services
- Forensic mental health units
- Eating Disorder Services
- Older Persons' Mental Health Services
Private Practice
- Solo or multidisciplinary services in a range of specialisations
- Medicare rebated services
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Telehealth and Digital Mental Health Platforms
Non-governmental Organisations
- Headspace Centres
- Primary Health Network (PHN)-Funded Services
- Community Recovery Programs
- Suicide Prevention Services
- Family and Carer Support Programs
- Youth Mental Health Services
- Homelessness and Housing Support Services
- Veteran Mental Health Services
- Disability and NDIS Providers
Primary Care
- General Practice Clinics
- Integrated Primary Care Teams
- Chronic Disease Management Programs
- Mental Health Care Coordination Roles
- PHN-Funded Mental Health Hubs
- Rural Generalist Health Services
- Community Health Centres
University Sector
- Academic Lecturer
- Clinical Educator
- Research Fellow
- Research Assistant
- Mental Health Workforce Development Roles
- Student Wellbeing and Counselling Services