Graduate Nurse Program (Mental and Addiction Health)
We understand that transitioning from a student nurse to a practising nurse can sometimes be daunting. Read below to see how we support you throughout your grad year.
Mental Health Nursing – Start your graduate story
Hear from our Mental Health Nursing graduates Avtar, Noah, Paulin and Katie about why Alfred Health is a great place to start your career in mental health.
Mental and Addiction Health Nursing
We offer up to 18 positions for a February and or August intake across the Alfred Mental and Addiction Health service.
Thinking about a career in Alfred Mental and Addiction Health?
Click here to read what some of our nurses, Whitney Johnson, Emily Hodges, Caitlin Berry and Elliot Booth have to say about their careers
About the program
Alfred Mental and Addiction Health offers positions through computer match for eligible candidates. We offer a number of exciting opportunities:
Acute Inpatient Adult Mental and Addiction Health
We take 15 applicants who are newly registered Graduate Nurses in acute adult inpatient mental and addiction health with an option of a 6 month rotation to Alma Road Community Care Unit.
Aged and Liaison Psychiatry
We offer 3 stand-alone positions for Graduate Registered Nurses who are interested in a specialist Aged Mental Health pathway. Please discuss your interest in Aged mental health in your cover letter and nominate the Aged Mental Health stream in the match if you are interested in this specialist pathway.
General Nursing transition (mid-year)
Our program also offers positions for Registered and Enrolled Nurses who have a minimum of 12 months in a general nursing setting who want to transition across to Mental and Addiction health.
Intakes are usually in February and August. Any positions will be advertised on the Alfred Health Careers website.
Our Graduate Nurse Program has been developed to provide a supportive environment, assisting newly registered nurses to consolidate and develop their knowledge and skills in Mental and Addiction Health Nursing.
The emphasis is on working in collaboration with you, in order to develop your practice as a beginning level Mental and Addiction Health Nurse. We are committed to supporting our new staff so that they can develop therapeutic skills in team based nursing. By developing therapeutic skills our graduates may take on roles as team nurses, case managers and clinical leaders in the future.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking applicants who want to grow as Mental and Addiction Health Nurses and are seeking long-term career prospects. We also want positive individuals who can contribute to the friendly atmosphere at Alfred Mental and Addiction Health.
What we offer
We offer a part time program which allows work life balance.
The Alfred Mental and Addiction Health Graduate Nurse Program includes theoretical and practice components. Our program is a fully accredited Graduate year that will focus on your skill development.
Who you'll work with
You will work with a dedicated Graduate Nurse Manager and Graduate Clinical Support Nurse, along with the provision of a preceptorship model on the wards, which will provide you with the assistance you may require as a new practitioner to focus on developing your assessment and interventions skills. Skill assessments will assist you to develop competencies whilst working with consumers.
What you'll learn
Our program provides an overview of the major theoretical areas of specialty and enables you to develop your conceptual understanding of practice in Mental and Addiction Health Care.
The support you'll get
We will provide you with a dedicated Clinical Support Nurse; a preceptor and one of our past graduates who will be your clinical buddy.
In this program your clinical learning is supported through a clinical supervision program that compliment study days. This program introduces graduates to skills attainment in key clinical areas of Mental and Addiction Health Nursing practice, including the development of reflective practice skills.
We offer one of the best professional development funds in Victoria with contribution towards conference registration, airfares and accommodation. Yes, we do send our Graduates to conferences and this is one of the rewards of working as a team member at The Alfred.
After completing your Graduate Year...
Successful completion of the Alfred Mental and Addiction Health Graduate Nurse Program will provide you with credit towards a Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Deakin, Monash and La Trobe Universities.
We do not expect you to take on post graduate studies in your graduate year. We see this year as an opportunity to embrace your career choice and consolidate your skills as a newly registered nurse. As our program is accredited we can offer you recognition of prior learning at the successful completion of the course and we encourage and support our nurses to continue their studies beyond the graduate program.
Why we're different
The Alfred Mental and Addiction Health Program is different because we offer:
- The longest running Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program in Victoria
- A supportive and friendly environment to assist your transition from student to registered nurse
- Credit towards postgraduate study with a choice of University
- No need to undertake external study in your graduate year. This program will equate to credit and fee reduction for postgraduate / Masters programs
- Consolidation in one area with a rotation to community residential rehabilitation and the opportunity to rotate to our Aged Psychiatry in patient unit may be negotiated for you.
- Team based nursing experience and a central role in the multidisciplinary team
- A preceptor and a buddy nurse for every graduate as well as a dedicated Clinical Support Nurse
- Six weeks annual leave (pro rata)
- An externally accredited and evaluated graduate nurse curriculum
- Clinical skills assessment with a dedicated educator
- A professional development fund that will financially assist you to attend conferences both nationally and overseas
- Well prepared educators who can guide your career with The Alfred
- Generous salary packaging, and attractive contemporary work environment
- Child Care and a 24 hour fully equipped gymnasium
- Convenient location with excellent transport links
Recruitment process
Find out how we recruit graduate nurses into our programs.
Our graduates
Find out more about what Alfred Health graduates say about our GNPs.
Frequently asked questions
Find out more about the questions people often ask us.
Alfred Mental and Addiction Health Graduate Information sessions
Come to our information evenings and talk to our friendly staff about a career in Mental and Addiction Health.
Information sessions for the 2025 Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program will be held on:
- Wednesday June 12, 2024 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
- Thursday June 13, 2024 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Both nights will be held at The Terraces within the Innovative and Education Hub on 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne 2004 (The Alfred campus).
Please register and RSVP to Stephen Marum (Mental health GNP Coordinator) at s.marum@alfred.org.au by Friday 7th June 2024.