MH & AOD Intake Clinician Perm Part time 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 Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician to join our enthusiastic and motivated highly skilled multi-disciplinary Mental Health & AOD services team. The Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician will be an important part of the AOD and Mental Health teams.

About the role

The Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician is a key role within the multidisciplinary Mental Health and AOD teams providing the first point of contact engagement and triage for community seeking to access mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. The Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician will engage and support clients to access a variety of mental health and/or AOD services within AccessHC and make external referrals where required. The work will include connecting and engaging with people reaching out for information and support providing Support First conversational assessments completing assessment documentation (including IAR and AOD Comprehensive Assessment) evaluating risk providing short term counselling booking appointments with MH&AOD clinicians as well as providing clients with relevant information and referral pathways

What you will be doing

• Be the first point of contact for community and provide connect and engage support with clients (over the phone or face-to-face) to explore their mental health and AOD needs
• Conduct Support First appointments via a conversational assessment or single session model
• Register all incoming mental health and AOD referrals including Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS) Stepped Care (Steps) community health counselling NDIS and fee-for-service referrals
• Book Support First appointments for other Mental Health and AOD clinicians
• Complete comprehensive clinical assessments post Support First appointments for AOD and Mental health
• Provide short term counselling (either over the phone or face-to-face)
• Review for risk and where appropriate conduct a clinical risk assessment (including suicide risk assessments) and create safety plans
• Working with the clients provide warm referrals where appropriate
• Assist clients and families to navigate the service systems using step up/step down approaches and service coordination
• Inform clients families and others of potential referral pathways to support clients and key stakeholders
• Understand and apply knowledge areas including funding sources referral pathways and relevant legislation such as child safety family violence mental health alcohol and other drugs guardianship and administration and elder abuse
• Actively work to reduce barriers for the community and for hardly reached communities to access mental health and AOD services

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 two years experience)
• Demonstrated experience and skill in clinical risk assessment and management
• Excellent understanding of the mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services and referral pathways with particular focus on the Eastern Metro Region
• The ability to produce and maintain high level clinical documents reports and databases

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

• Possess a warm empathic and professional therapeutic style
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work autonomously make decisions organize workloads set priorities and meet deadlines
• Proficiency with electronic health record systems (such as TrakCare) and Microsoft Office programs (Word Excel Outlook)
• Willingness to expand your current skillset to meet the needs of the service
• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and respectfully with people from a diverse range of social cultural and ethnic backgrounds including LGBTIQA culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nation communities
• Excellent organisational time management and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated experience in clinical risk assessment and management (including suicide risk assessment)
• Ability to work within a dual-diagnosis framework

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 Mental Health Manager Emma Tyers

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

Applications close date: Tuesday January 6th 2026

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.