Alcohol & Other Drugs Clinician

NGATANWAAR (Welcome)

Work in an appreciative and supportive environment that offers generous remuneration including tax savings and additional leave where you will achieve real and meaningful outcomes that positively affect our community.

Established in 1979 Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperatives vision is simple: Empower the individual the family wins Empower the family the community wins Empower the community our culture wins. Our team of dedicated professionals work together to achieve this outcome as evidenced in our latest audit where we received two rare commendations Workforce Development and Diversity & Cultural Safety. Put simply this is a great and highly supportive place to work.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

Assist GAC clients to overcome various identified Alcohol & Other Drug issues. This assistance is

based upon a harm minimisation approach involving health promotion education developing

and maintenance of Aboriginal community linkages referral support and counselling. The AOD

Coordinator partners the client in their individual treatment journey and in conjunction with the

above provides appropriate flexible support.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

Provide AOD service and deliver high quality cost effective efficient and evidencebased

service that enables clients to meet their specific goals.

Attend organisational AOD team meetings on a weekly basis or as required to discuss client

intake and facilitate service provision.

Receive and triage client referrals from relevant agencies or community sources

Strengthen relationships with internal programs and external stakeholders to improve client

outcomes.

Ensure Aboriginal culture is embedded into all aspects of direct practice as well as at a

program level.

Develop a program work plan identifying relevant program documentation and frameworks

Role model respectful and professional communication and behaviour in the workplace

Represent the values and purpose of Gunditjmara Cooperative in daytoday work practice

Professionally support and assist Primary Health Team members in managing consumers

with highly complex needs

Provide leadership during crisis and stressful incidents

Case Management

Provide case management develop safety plans and initiate referrals to appropriate

services as required to meet case management objectives. This may include making

referrals advice providing transport support emotional support advocacy and practical

assistance

Undertake intake and assessment processes to determine needs for service and risk

identification and in conjunction with the client develop a comprehensive individual

treatment plan

As relevant ensure that the clients support structure (family kin etc.) are provided with

the guidance and support which will enable them to maximise their contribution to the plan

Execute and manage treatment plans. Guide all parties (clients client support group service

providers etc.) to meet all the various activities of the plan

Ensure that the plan is tailored effectively to the client and in particular addresses any

Aboriginal cultural requirements

Monitor the effectiveness of the treatment plan and in conjunction with the client and

relevant parties adjust as required

In line with training provide Alcohol & Drugs counselling interventions to clients and

applicable Aboriginal community members

Ensure that counselling interventions meets best practice standards and does not negatively

impact upon the counselling by other professionals

Assist other counsellors to deliver culturally sensitive counselling

Advocate on behalf of clients with various parties including Centrelink government

departments health bodies social service organisations etc.

Advocate on behalf of the client regarding judicial matters including court appearances

Koori Court court driven rehabilitation programs Office of Corrections initiatives etc. and

ensure court liaison work is effectively undertaken

Support the Aboriginal community with AOD based advocacy as deemed necessary by GAC

Proactively engage with the local Aboriginal community to promote GAC Community

Wellbeing services

Work with internal and external stakeholders to develop Culturally Safe harm minimization

resources focused BBV and STI screening testing and prevention strategies.

Participate in NACCHOs Community of Practice and share knowledge and develop solutions

to common issues relating to BBV/STI prevention and/or testing and treatment.

Develop and undertake locally relevant community engagement activities including health

promotion at community events as well as specific BBV STI relevant promotional days.

Collect data to contribute to reporting.

Professional / personal development

Participate in monthly supervision with the AOD team/external supervision

Work collaboratively across the organisation and with external agencies

Maintain current professional knowledge and skills relevant to the position

Essential

Minimum Certificate IV in Alcohol & Other Drugs or

Diploma of Community Services with the AOD skillset

requirements (4 units).

Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to

Aboriginal culture with the ability to liaise with and

support the local Community

Demonstrated capability to meet the key

responsibilities of this position

Clear ability to undertake research analyse &

comprehend reasonably complex documents write

reports and undertake a variety of administrative

processes

A team orientated person who has a passion for social

work within an Aboriginal environment

A highly empathetic and emotionally intelligent person

who can relate to clients and people in need

A person who can communicate at all levels with clarity

and purpose. An ability to negotiate and persuade a

variety of stakeholders

Awareness and recognition of Aboriginal cultural

traditions kinship and gender differing issues

A hard worker who can demonstrate a history of

success.

Desirable

Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Experience working with Aboriginal men experiencing

AOD issues.

Sound knowledge of Cultural Safety in practice and a

willingness to learn

HOW TO APPLY

Position descriptions are available on request by emailing

Please forward your covering letter (addressing the key selection criteria) and resume to .

We are looking to fill these position ASAP however we will wait for the right candidate so get in quick.

We are a Child Safe organisation. This means that any job offer will be subject to strict screening processes and proof of immunisation (both childhood & Covid). See the position description for further information.

For More Information Contact Vicki Hawke on