Are you a passionate and innovative academic with a deep commitment to mental health? We are looking to appoint you to shape the future of mental health education and make a lasting impact in this rapidly evolving field.

The Role
The School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University is excited to welcome an enthusiastic and innovative Mental Health expert to champion our groundbreaking online Master of Mental Health program and associated Graduate Certificate in Mental Wellbeing. This is more than just a job—it's an opportunity to lead, inspire, and elevate the next generation of mental health professionals and researchers. This is a unique opportunity to leave your mark on the mental health landscape and work within a dynamic, supportive, and forward-thinking academic environment.

You will join a team of experts in social work, community and human services, and youth work, who contribute to our well-established bachelor and graduate programs, as well as collaborating with colleagues in related disciplines in counselling and psychology. You will lead and coordinate our Accelerated Online Master of Mental Health program for at least 3 years. Your responsibilities will include developing and overseeing course content, teaching units, coordinating curriculum, and supervising sessional academics. If you seek a teaching and research appointment, you will also have dedicated time for research, collaborating with senior colleagues and joining cross-disciplinary research groups. Additional teaching in mental health may be expected in other programs such as Social Work. Through this appointment, you will be able to develop your career as an academic leader.

What are we looking for?

A skilled academic with a strong background in mental health.
A visionary who is excited about leading the development of innovative educational programs.
A mentor who is passionate about guiding students and inspiring the next generation of mental health professionals.
Why join us?

Be at the forefront of mental health education with a role that allows you to innovate and influence the social care field.
Work in a supportive, energetic environment that values creativity and forward-thinking.
Contribute to a program that has the potential to shape mental health practice on a national and international scale.
If you’re ready to take your academic career to the next level and be part of something truly impactful, we’d love to hear from you.

About the School and the University
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a young and progressive university with a strong reputation for excellence in teaching. ECU has been rated the maximum of five stars for teaching quality by their graduates for 14 years in a row, making ECU the only public university in Australia to achieve such a consistently high rating. ECU’s reputation for teaching quality and student experience has been built on the productive relationships they have with their students, industry, communities, and alumni- sharing knowledge for the benefit of all.

The School of Arts and Humanities (SAH) is one of the largest at ECU with many diverse disciplines arranged into three main clusters: Creative Humanities; Psychology, Counselling and Criminology; and Social Sciences, Social Work and Youth Work. In the latter cluster, we are well known for our strengths in research into ecosocial and cultural care, the social response to climate change, and more.

The School operates across three campuses, with more than 100 academic and professional staff, and has a strong online education presence. The diversity of the School is a strength, enabling interdisciplinary innovation, a sustainable financial platform, and many opportunities for collaborations with industry and community. In 2026, the School will begin to operate its creative humanities program from our outstanding new ECU City Campus while maintaining and expanding operations at ECU’s Joondalup and South-West (regional) campuses. We have established strategic directions out to 2029 in pursuit of ambitions to be an outstanding school whose research and teaching build the caring and creative professions and contribute to achieving more equal and positive social relations; fostering the realisation of individual human potential; and enabling diverse creative expression.

You will have a Ph D or equivalent experience and qualifications in a relevant field. Applications are also welcome from people completing their Ph D with expected submission date before July 2025. Eligibility for membership in a relevant professional association such as AASW and ACWA is desirable, as is experience as a mental health practitioner.

You will need to demonstrate, based on past achievement and potential for future development, that you can:

teach effectively with a student-centred approach that fosters engagement, understanding, and academic success;
develop and deliver excellent online education through innovative curriculum and pedagogy;
conduct high-quality research with successful publication outcomes and social impact, including through the supervision of student projects (applicable only for those seeking a teaching and research appointment);
engage productively with industry and community partners to advance teaching and research;
exercise scholarly leadership consistent with your level of appointment, particularly in course coordination and design; and
work productively and collegially to achieve the collective goals of our scholarly community in the school and university.
You will be expected to demonstrate personal attributes congruent with the University’s values of integrity, respect, rational inquiry, personal excellence, and courage.

Inclusion and Diversity
Edith Cowan University is a diverse and inclusive workplace reflecting and celebrating the differences in our society. Strategies and initiatives are in place to address underrepresentation of specific groups. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all backgrounds and are committed to sustaining a workplace where we value our people, celebrate everyone’s contributions to success, and work together on overcoming our challenges. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.

Flexibility in appointment
Applicants who are seeking to maintain a practice in mental health may be considered for appointment at 0.8 (4 days a week) FTE.

Benefits and remuneration
$113,918 to $134,596 pa (Lecturer) or $138,726 to $159,403 pa (Senior Lecturer) plus 17% University superannuation contribution.

ECU supports a work/life balance for staff. Benefits such as flexible working arrangements may also be negotiated to meet your personal circumstances.

ECU has an Award-winning Health and Wellness Program and an extensive range of staff benefits across entertainment, financial, health, travel and consumer goods and services.

For information on the benefits of working at ECU, please visit our website Employment Opportunities Overview.

ECU is a smoke-free environment.

Application process
Your application is in two parts. The first part is a statement (maximum 4 pages) that clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role and the difference you will make for the school if appointed. You should highlight key examples of your experience and your capabilities: you do not need to address each point in turn so long as all the criteria are covered.
The second part is a detailed curriculum vitae, including summaries of your prior roles and achievements. Please include details for three referees including your current supervisor / manager (we will not contact referees without your approval). A covering letter is not needed.

Applications close: Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 11.30pm AWST

More information
You are encouraged to contact Professor Janine Joyce, j.joyce@ecu.edu.au Associate Dean (Social Sciences, Social Work and Youth Work) to discuss the role and your application and learn more about the exciting opportunities ahead in the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University. Please also read our School Plan (2024-2029) for additional information.

#LI-DNP

School of Arts and Humanities Plan (2024-2029): Purpose, Principles, Ambition and Strategic Directions.