Team Leader - AOD Hawthorn

About Us

Access Health and Community (AccessHC) is a leading not-for-profit healthcare provider with over 150 years of experience delivering inclusive person-centered care across Melbournes inner and outer east and northeast. With 500 staff and 200 volunteers across 17 locations we offer a wide range of integrated services to support diverse communities. Following our May 2025 merger with Inspiro weve expanded our reach into the Yarra Ranges and strengthened our commitment to accessible high-quality community health. We value Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) uphold strong Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) principles and respect the rights of First Nations peoples as we continue to build healthier lives through compassion collaboration and community-led care.

The opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join our thriving community health care organisation and work within a truly supportive value-based culture and engaged workforce at Access Health and Community. We are seeking a passionate and experienced AOD Team Leader to join our enthusiastic and motivated highly skilled multi-disciplinary Alcohol and Other Drug services team. The AOD Team Leader will be an important part of the AOD Leadership team working closely with the Senior Clinicians and Manager. The role will provide operational leadership and line management to the AOD staff located across Hawthorn Doncaster Lilydale and Belgrave sites. This role can be Fulltime or Part time 0.8EFT to accommodate your work life balance.

About the role

The AOD Team Leader will provide operational leadership and line management to a multidisciplinary team of AOD staff including social workers counsellors nurse practitioners peer support workers and AOD Clinicians. This position will work across a range of funding streams including ECADS MSRS Pre-MACNI Youth and Family Focused. The AOD Team Leader will also hold a caseload offering Comprehensive Assessments Brief Intervention Counselling and Care and Recovery Coordination and will work within a recovery-orientated and harm minimisation model which uses a trauma-informed strengths-based and family inclusive approach to substance misuse.

The AOD Team Leader will use a dual diagnosis framework and no wrong door approach in their assessment and treatment of people presenting to our service. Therapeutic interventions may include motivational interviewing mindfulness acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention. There may also be opportunities to co-facilitate therapeutic AOD and dual diagnosis groups within our service. Although the role will be primarily clinic-based the small case management/care co-ordination component in this position may include assisting clients to engage with other services (e.g. mental health services) and attending care teams with other professionals. The AOD Team Leader may also be required to attend relevant consortium partnership meetings professional discipline meetings in relation to the AOD sector and client service provision. Clients of the AOD service can also access a peer support group run by peer facilitators brief interventions and therapeutic groups as appropriate. All clients who present to the AOD service at Access HC are able to access a range of community-based health services at our organisation.

What you will be doing

• Provide day to day line management and operational supervision to the AOD Team including the approval of timesheets/leave rostering individual workplans and other administrative line management duties
• Support staff in the AOD Team to appropriately review and discharge clients to ensure that the service is meeting KPIs
• Provide clinical expertise and secondary consultation to staff and external agencies to assist with appropriate referral assessment and treatment planning
• Support the Manager with recruitment induction and training of new staff; lead the induction and on-boarding for all new staff in the AOD Team
• Provide regular updates and feedback to the Senior Clinicians and Management regarding service demand
• Collaborate and communicate with the Senior Clinicians and Management to ensure policy procedure and best practice guidelines are effectively implemented and followed by the team

What you will bringKey Selection Criteria

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in mental health alcohol and other drugs social work psychology or other relevant discipline
• Demonstrated experience working in alcohol and other drugs mental health community or similar health services (minimum five years experience)
• Demonstrated experience and skill in clinical risk assessment and management
• Demonstrated people management and leadership skills and administrative management reporting with the willingness to undertake further training in this area
• Experienced in collaborating with partner organisations and with other key stakeholders(including funding bodies) to deliver community engagement and capacity building activities with local stakeholders to promote the AOD Services

Compliance Requirements:

• National Police Check Working with Children Check NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Evidence of the right to work in Australia and a valid Drivers Licence.

A criminal history check is required for all roles but having a criminal history does not automatically exclude you from employment. All applications are reviewed confidentially on a case-by-case basis.

Attributes we value

• High level communication and interpersonal skills
• Sound understanding of AOD funding and KPIs and ability to lead the team in meeting these KPIs
• Experience and ability to assess manage and document clinical risks (including risk to self and risk to others)
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to organise workload set priorities andmeet performance targets and deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and respectfully with young people from a diverse range of social cultural and ethnic backgrounds including LGBTIQA culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Effective time management and prioritisation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant software applications
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with AccessHC values

Access Health and Community Culture & Benefits

At Access Health and Community we offer more than just a fulfilling career: - we provide an environment where you can thrive in a culture of collaboration and support. Our team members share a common commitment and passion to make a positive impact and we believe that this shared ethos creates a range of benefits for all who work with us. From opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging our culture promotes an environment of success and fulfilment. Come join us and experience the rewards of a career where you truly make a difference.

The position encompasses an extensive range of benefits that are on offer:

• A truly supportive and valued based culture and engaged workforce
• A culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• An authentic focus on staff wellbeing and health- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• A commitment to ongoing professional Development and career growth
• Paid parental leave and opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Annual leave Loading
• A truly supportive and valued based culture and engaged workforce
• A culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• Generous salary packaging opportunities (up to $15990 per annum $2650 meals/ entertainment expenses)
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and career growth

Read about our culture and benefits: Now

If this position resonates with you and you are passionate about working alongside a collaborative and supportive team please forward your resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria. Please refer to the position description on our website for the key selection criteria information: reach out to for further information and/or the opportunity to discuss this role. Please contact AOD Manager Rachel Shankland:

Apply now so you dont miss this opportunity. We will be assessing applications as they are submitted

Applications close date: 24 September 2025

Access Health and Community is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an inclusive working environment that embraces and values all people regardless of cultural background age gender identity sexuality or lived and living experience. We value the diversity and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and are committed to delivering on our vision for reconciliation through our recruitment and employment practices. Access is required to undertake compliance checks; however a record of criminal history does not preclude applicants from applying for suitable positions. All applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and managed in a confidential and practical manner.