Alcohol and Drug Counsellor

Your role at St John of God Social Outreach

Southwest Drug and Alcohol Service (SWCADS) have an exciting opportunity to extend its treatment service into Southwest regional hospitals commencing 1 July 2026.

We are seeking applications from Alcohol and Drug Counsellors to join our Southwest Drug and Alcohol Team located primarily in Bunbury Regional Hospital and/or Busselton Health Campus. We have two x 12month fixed term contracts of 1.0 FTE (full time) and 0.8 FTE (four days/week) commencing 1 July 2026.

The successful applicants must be able to work across weekends (one in three or four).

This position is responsible for providing assessment psychoeducation liaison counselling and follow-up/referrals for clients presenting to the Emergency Department in either regional hospital with substance use issues.

The position may also contribute to patient care in other locations (wards) of the hospital and provide outreach via Telehealth to Maragret River and Augusta Hospitals. This may involve brief interventions initiating and managing planned treatment options consultation and collaboration with clinical nurse specialists and other medical staff and referral to other agencies or crisis management.

The Position

• Establish and maintain trust warmth and rapport with clients consistently.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with hospital based staff.

• Conduct initial intake and client assessments to enable planning and implementing individual support education community liaison and referral using a variety of interventions.

• Actively engage in discharge planning where requested and/or hospital patients are experiencing problematic AOD use.

• Ensure high quality clinical documentation as aligned with the electronic client record.

• Deliver evidence based effective and safe therapeutic interventions and education/programs to clients and/or their carers in the context of best practice contractual obligations Emergency Department procedures and policies SWCADS service polices and available resources.

• Deliver client-centered care building health literacy and promoting self-management.

• Participate in SWCADS teams commitments and work onsite at SWCADS on a weekly basis (one day/rostered week).

You will have demonstrated counselling experience in a drug and alcohol mental health setting have the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and experience liaising with a range of services within human services and providers.

Successful applicants must hold a tertiary qualification in Social Work Nursing Occupational Therapy Psychology or Counselling and eligibility for membership of the relevant organisation. This position requires a current First Aid and CPR certification C class drivers licence Working with Childrens Certification and National Police Clearance.

Above all patient care will be at the core of everything you do committing to and supporting our Mission and Values.

We can offer you

• Salary: $85508 to $120255 (pro-rata for part-time) plus 12% Superannuation plus weekend penalties

• Full time or part time employment for a fixed 12 month term.

• Salary packaging up to $18550 on a range of benefits such as mortgage rent meal entertainment holiday accommodation or other everyday living expenses as well as options to salary package benefits above the FBT cap on items such as:

  • Novated leasing

  • work related expenses

  • self-education and

  • additional superannuation

• A healthy work-life balance through flexible work options additional purchased leave & well-being programs

• Employee discount on St John of God Hospital & Medical Services and Private Health Insurance

All applicants are asked to submit a covering letter/selection criteria (of no more than three (2) pages) demonstrating how you meet the above position requirements

For all enquiries contact: Karen Barrett-Lennard Manager SWCADS on.

If suitable applicants are identified advertisement may close prior to listed date and screening/interviews may commence throughout the advertising process.

At St John of God Social Outreach we celebrate diversity and warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our commitment is to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children and vulnerable individuals in our care and proactively take steps to protect them from abuse ensuring their safety and well-being.

Our inclusive culture fosters an environment that is respectful and secure welcoming and accessible and unified through our diverse community.