Drug and Alcohol Community Counsellor Level 1/2

Drug and Alcohol Community Counsellor Level 1/2

Hunter New England Local Health District

REQ692407

Drug and Alcohol Community Counsellor (Level 1/2) - Empower meaningful change, build brighter futures and make every client connection count.

Remuneration: $40.05 - $61.76 Per Hour + 12% Super + Salary Packaging

Employment Type: Permanent Part Time

Position Classification: Counsellor Lvl 1, Counsellor Lvl 2, Psychologist, Registered Nurse, Social Worker Lvl 1, Social Worker Lvl 2

Hours Per Week: 16

Location: Armidale CHS, Glenn Innes CHS, Tenterfield CHS

Requisition ID: REQ692407

Applications Close: Monday 28th September 2026

About the Role

As a Drug and Alcohol Community Counsellor (Level 1/2), you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people navigating challenges with drug and alcohol use. Through a compassionate, person-centred approach, you’ll help clients identify their strengths, work towards their goals and take positive steps towards improved health and wellbeing.

You’ll provide holistic support across the client journey, including:

• Conducting comprehensive drug and alcohol assessments to understand individual needs, circumstances and goals.
• Developing tailored treatment plans that support meaningful, achievable outcomes.
• Connecting clients with appropriate services and coordinating referrals to strengthen their support networks.
• Providing regular weekly counselling, creating a safe and supportive space for clients to explore change, build confidence and work towards recovery.
• Supporting clients to achieve their optimal health and wellbeing outcomes through high-quality, recovery-focused care.

You’ll be part of a collaborative DACS team where your contribution is valued and your professional growth is encouraged. With support from your Line Manager, Allied Health Lead, District Manager and experienced colleagues across the wider DACS team, you’ll have a strong network around you as you develop your practice.

You’ll also have access to relevant education and professional development opportunities, helping you build your skills, broaden your experience and continue growing your career in drug and alcohol services.

Where You’ll Be Working:

Join our supportive Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services counselling team, delivering accessible, person-centred care across the beautiful New England North West region.

With the flexibility to be based at Armidale, Glen Innes or Tenterfield, you’ll have the opportunity to work across diverse communities while providing valuable outreach services between these locations.

You’ll be part of a connected team that values collaboration, professional support and making a genuine difference for clients across the region.

What we can offer you:

At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities across the administrative network
• Career progression opportunities within NSW Health
• Annual leave and paid parental leave for eligible employees
• Salary packaging options to increase take-home pay
• Fitness Passport and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support wellbeing
• Must hold a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Counselling or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer, which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association and full registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), where applicable.
• Eligible to drive in NSW and the ability and willingness to travel for work purposes which may involve driving long distances.
• Bring sound clinical knowledge and confidence in delivering evidence-based drug and alcohol interventions tailored to individual client needs.
• Demonstrate strong clinical documentation skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and timely clinical notes.
• Manage treatment plans with purpose, ensuring interventions are implemented, reviewed and monitored within allocated timeframes.
• Stay organised and adaptable, balancing competing priorities while maintaining a high standard of client care.
• Work confidently both independently and collaboratively, contributing positively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess situations, identify needs and respond thoughtfully to complex challenges.
• Approach challenging situations with professionalism and composure, using sound judgement to anticipate, assess and manage situations that may arise when supporting clients on their drug and alcohol journey.

Bring your dedication, professionalism, and heart for healthcare to our team - we can’t wait to hear from you!

Additional information:

An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part time and temporary part time vacancies.

Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact HNELHD-Diversity@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support.

To be eligible for employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport, or hold an appropriate visa that allows you to live and work in Australia. Employment of a temporary visa holder will only be offered in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

• Demonstrated advanced skills in drug and alcohol practice including comprehensive assessment, care planning, intervention, evidence based counselling models of care and ability to apply case management principles.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse problems, set priorities and apply a range of options to develop solutions.
• The ability to demonstrate the application of professional and ethical boundaries when working with complex situations and minimal supervision.

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp

This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

NSW Health acknowledges the people of the many traditional countries and language groups of New South Wales. It acknowledges the wisdom of Elders past and present, and pays respect to all Aboriginal communities of today.

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