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Mental Health Nurse Cover Letter Template

Professional template and example for Australian job applications

Mental Health Nurse Cover Letter Example

Dear Hiring Manager, I’ve spent several years supporting people through acute and long-term mental health care, and I’ve learned how small changes can stabilise someone’s day. In my last role I helped to reduce crisis admissions by coordinating care plans for a steady caseload, using evidence-based therapies and clear communication with families. At [Company Name], I’d bring practical nursing skills and a calm, steady approach to daily care, with a focus on real outcomes rather than paperwork. I align well with the core duties of this role, including nursing assessments, plan development, and interprofessional collaboration. I’m comfortable with medication administration, monitoring treatment responses, and delivering treatments and therapies. I also prioritise health promotion and education, helping patients and families understand options and build capacity for ongoing self-care. A recent example from [Previous Company] illustrates how I work with teams and patients. I coordinated a complex care plan for a patient with dual diagnosis, updating the plan weekly and adjusting interventions as symptoms changed. Over six months, the patient’s level of functioning improved, with feedback from the care team noting clearer communication and better adherence to treatment. I’m available for discussion about how I can contribute to [Company Name]. I’m happy to provide further detail on my approach and fit for your team. Kind regards, [Your Name]

Stand out and land Mental Health Nurse interviews with a customised cover letter

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Our AI analyses your experience against the job requirements to create a targeted cover letter that gets noticed.

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Passes applicant screening systems

AI-powered

Matches your experience to job requirements

Complete both steps above to generate your cover letter

What happens next: Our AI will match your skills to the job requirements, highlight relevant achievements, and create a compelling narrative that positions you as the ideal candidate.

Why This Mental Health Nurse Cover Letter Works

Opening Paragraph

Hook with specific achievement + role alignment

Skills Match

Maps experience to job needs + company research

STAR Example

Situation-Task-Action-Result with numbers

Professional Close

Forward momentum + availability

Key Requirements for Mental Health Nurse Roles

Essential Skills to Highlight

Make sure your cover letter demonstrates these key skills:

Nursing AssessmentCare PlanningImplementing Care PlansEvaluating Patient CareMedication AdministrationTreatments and Therapies DeliveryMonitoring Treatment ResponsesHealth PromotionHealth Education DeliveryInterprofessional CollaborationCommunicating with Patients and FamiliesSupervising Junior StaffCo-ordinating Patient Care

Tip: Include specific examples of how you've used these skills in your STAR example paragraph.

Core Responsibilities to Address

Align your experience with these typical responsibilities:

  • Assess Patients
  • Plan Nursing Care
  • Implement Nursing Care
  • Evaluate Patient Care
  • Co-ordinate Patient Care
  • ...and more

Tip: Reference 2-3 of these responsibilities when describing your relevant experience.

Mental Health Nurse Cover Letter Best Practices

Structure (4 Paragraphs)

Opening (40-60 words): State the role and company, plus one compelling hook
Match (100-130 words): Map 2-3 achievements to their top requirements
Proof (80-100 words): One detailed STAR example with quantified results
Close (30-40 words): Confirm fit and invite discussion

Essential Requirements

  • • Length: 250-350 words (one A4 page)
  • • Australian English spelling and dates (DD/MM/YYYY)
  • • Address to specific person when possible
  • • No photos or personal details (DOB, etc.)

What Makes It Strong

  • • Specific achievements with numbers
  • • Company research in second paragraph
  • • Keywords from the job description
  • • Professional but personable tone

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • • Generic opening lines
  • • Repeating your CV chronologically
  • • Including salary unless asked
  • • Exceeding one page