What's next for mental health jobs?

What's next for mental health jobs?

There is growing demand for mental health nurses, so now is a great time to advance your skills in health or switch it up and pursue a mental health job.

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With more than 22% of Australians estimated to experience difficulties with their mental health at some stage of their lives1, training more mental health professionals is critical to ensuring effective treatment and support.  

Since 2021, the Federal Budget has given significant backing to the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan2; however, in 2025, the budget allocation for mental health investments was reduced to $46 million3. While this is significantly less than previous years, the Budget still included changes that would assist affordable access to primary health care and further develop digital mental health care services. 

Government investment isn’t the only factor changing the landscape of the mental health sector. There’s a wealth of opportunities for aspiring mental health workers, especially for individuals looking to support those in need through nursing.  

A RMIT mental health nursing student sitting with a patient

New infrastructure ensures more mental health jobs 

In 2023, government programs began rolling out aimed at providing more access to mental health services in regional schools and developing the mental health workforce. One of the ways this was done was an investment in infrastructure4.  

Along with the creation of targeted health services such as ‘Yarn13’ – the 24/7 crisis support service co-designed with and for Aboriginal communities – facilities are being developed to allow for more health care and mental health jobs.  

Even after the 2025 budget cutbacks, there are mental health supporting projects uplifting jobs in Victoria, such as the Labor government project aimed at providing more graduate and early career opportunities for mental health care workers5. 

Not only are positions for mental health nurses growing, but the role has some fantastic career benefits. According to SEEK, mental health nurses earn about $105,000 per year on average and an expected job growth of 13% in the next five years6.   

You might be wondering what a mental health nurse role actually entails. Beyond regular nursing duties, some of the key elements of mental health nursing roles are performing assessment and therapy, medication management, making recommendations to clients and their families, and helping clients learn to manage and understand how to work towards better health outcomes.  

Thanks to RMIT’s hands-on approach to teaching, in the Master of Mental Health Nursing you’ll gain all the experience you need during your study. This means you’ll learn in real-world environments and gain the practical skills needed to address the systemic need for mental health support and care before graduation. 

Industry projects and need for accessibility creates opportunities 

Even after a reduced federal budget, the demand for mental health experts continues to grow. According to the 2025 Jobs and Skills Australia Vacancy Report, the health care sector is experiencing growth in all directions, but particularly in mental health roles.7 Public mental health services are driving this increased demand with projects that have far-reaching implications. For example, Beyond Blue is putting attention and resources towards developing early intervention programs and providing more access to Australians8. 

This higher level of access means a greater focus on nursing and care roles across the industry as well. This represents an opening that RMIT mental health graduates can take advantage of.  

Susan Hua - RMIT Mental Health Nursing graduate

RMIT mental health nursing graduates will be eligible for credentialling by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, citing this qualification in their accreditation application. Graduates can also lead practice and seek promotion into clinical or management leadership roles beyond base-grade level nurse employment.  

Delivering evidence-based outcomes for clients working with clients and carers and seeing progress in clients achieving a better quality of life can be rewarding facets of the career for mental health nurses who are empathetic, well researched and highly skilled. 

Mental health nurses need to be effective communicators and have a working knowledge of legislation such as the Mental Health Act, as well as a commitment to strong ethical practice and standards of care delivery. Graduates will work with multi-disciplinary teams and impart caring empathic qualities as part of their interpersonal skills. 

A pair of RMIT nursing students walking side-by-side

Making a difference continues to be at the centre of mental health jobs 

Providing access to care is at the heart of all health professions, but a career in mental health can be particularly impactful for many groups in need. The Australian Department of Health has identified several of these key groups9, notably: 

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities 
  • People living in regional areas 
  • LGBTQIA+ Australians 
  • Young people aged 15–24 

The care that these groups require ranges from individual management of mental health issues to providing more mental health resources to communities so they can self-regulate equitably. While there is government and private investment in the improvement of mental health infrastructure, there is also the need for more professionals looking to make a positive impact through a career in mental health. 

If this sounds like you, a Master of Mental Health Nursing or Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing can provide the expertise to make it happen. RMIT is one of the longest-running and oldest providers of nursing education in Australia, with a history of industry partnership. 

 

Story: Jacob Johnston

 

References

1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. ‘Prevalence and impact of mental illness’. Published May 2025. https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness.   

2Australian Government. ‘Budget Archive 2021-22'. Accessed 24 September 2025.  https://archive.budget.gov.au/2021-22/.

3Mental Health Australia. ‘2025 Federal Budget Overview’. Published 25 March 2025. https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness.  

4 Hon Jacinta Allan MP. ‘More mental health workers earning and learning’. Published 8 February 2023. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-mental-health-workers-earning-and-learning. 

5Hon Jacinta Allan MP. ‘Major Boost To Victoria’s Mental Health Workforce’. Published 28 July 2025. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/major-boost-victorias-mental-health-workforce.  

6SEEK. ‘Mental health nurse career insights’. Accessed 5 March 2024. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/mental-health-nurse. 

7Australian Government, Skill and Jobs Australia. ‘Vacancy Report’. Published 19 March 2025. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/vacancy_report_-_february_2025_-_jobs_and_skills_australia.pdf.  

8Beyond Blue. ‘Earlier intervention services a significant step towards vital structural reform’. Published 14 May 2024. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/about/media/media-releases/beyond-blue-budget-2024-to-2025.  

9Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care. ‘Mental health in Australia’. Accessed 24 September 2025. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/mental-health-in-australia.  

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