Mental health jobs in Sunshine Coast, QLD

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) delivers public mental health services across the region, including acute inpatient care at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Birtinya, community mental health teams, and specialist services. The SCHHS mental health directorate covers a catchment from Caloundra to Gympie, serving a population that has grown by over 30 per cent in the past decade.

The region has a large and active private sector, with numerous private psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists in practice across Maroochydore, Noosa, and Caloundra. The Sunshine Coast's demographic mix — including a significant retiree population, young families, and a transient tourism workforce — creates diverse mental health service demands.

headspace centres in Maroochydore and Caloundra serve the region's substantial youth population, and the NDIS has driven growth in community psychosocial support services. The Sunshine Coast PHN commissions a wide range of mental health services including psychological therapy programs and suicide prevention initiatives across the region.

Workforce demand consistently outstrips local supply, partly because the Sunshine Coast competes with Brisbane for clinical staff while offering a regional lifestyle premium. Telehealth has expanded access to specialist services, and many practitioners operate hybrid models across the coast.