Integrated Violence Abuse and Neglect Clinician - Incentives Offered

Make a difference in the Northern Tablelands - deliver trauma-informed care and shape services for children, families, and communities

Remuneration: $77,358 – $116,038 per annum (dependent on qualifications) + superannuation + salary packaging + rural incentives
Location: Inverell Community Health Service
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Counsellor Level 3, Psychologist, Social Worker Level 3
Requisition ID: REQ597028
Applications Close: Monday 18th August 2025

At Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day:

• Be rewarded with up to $10,000 in the first 12 months PLUS up to $5,000 each year thereafter in fortnightly payments under the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme.* 
• A collaborative, supportive and well-connected multidisciplinary team
• Structured clinical and cultural supervision
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training
• Guidance and mentoring from both the Inverell Community Health Manager and the VAN Clinical Coordinator
• Networking and collaboration opportunities with other VAN professionals across the region
• A chance to help lead quality improvement and community engagement initiatives

About the role:

Are you a skilled clinician passionate about making a real difference in rural communities? This is your chance to bring your expertise to a supportive, multidisciplinary team while helping transform lives across the Northern Tablelands.

We’re seeking a dedicated professional to join the NSW Health Sexual Assault and Child Protection Counselling Services as part of the Integrated Violence, Abuse and Neglect (VAN) team at Inverell Community Health Centre. Working collaboratively, you’ll deliver compassionate, trauma-informed care to individuals, families, and communities impacted by violence, abuse, and neglect.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the delivery of counselling and support services across Inverell and outreach areas including Glen Innes, Warialda, and Tenterfield.

• Shape a new integrated service model under the guidance of the Integrated VAN Lead.

• Provide care aligned with NSW Health’s Sexual Assault Services (SAS) and Child Protection Counselling Services (CPCS) models.

• Support children under the age of criminal responsibility presenting with harmful sexualised behaviours using advanced therapeutic approaches.

• Champion culturally safe practice by applying the SAS Cultural Safety Roadmap and Toolkit and contributing to NSW Health’s VAN Aboriginal Action Plans.

• Respond to after-hours psychosocial crises relating to incidents of violence, abuse, and neglect at Inverell Hospital.

You’ll also collaborate with experienced clinicians, work closely with the Aboriginal Family Wellbeing and Violence Prevention Facilitator, and connect with the broader Integrated VAN Team to strengthen service delivery in the region.

About you:

You are a compassionate, experienced clinician with:

• A strong background supporting clients impacted by complex trauma, abuse, and neglect

• Experience delivering therapeutic interventions for children, families, and communities

• Cultural competence and a commitment to culturally safe, community-led practice, particularly with Aboriginal communities

• Advanced clinical reasoning, assessment, and intervention skills

• Excellent communication and a collaborative, solutions-focused approach

• Confidence in working across agencies and contributing to service development

You’ll also supervise students and junior clinicians, contribute to training initiatives, and stay at the forefront of best practice in trauma-informed care.

Requirements: 

• Must hold a qualification: Psychology, Social Work, Counsellor which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association / provisional or general registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
• The knowledge, skills and experience to meet the requirements of a Level 3 Allied Health Clinician.
• Current unrestricted NSW Driver's Licence and ability to travel as part of the role within an outreach capacity

Additional Information:

• * Based on a minimum 18-month commitment to the position or the agreed duration of your contract. All payments to part-time and contract employees will be made on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the terms of your contract, including any approved extensions. Please note: if your contract ends before the agreed completion date, you may be required to repay a portion of the incentive. To check your eligibility, visit the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme. For further information or to discuss your circumstances, please contact HNELHD-RuralIncentives@health.nsw.gov.au. 
• To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa. 
• An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies. 
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.   
• 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. 

Need more information?

  1) Click here for the Position Description
  2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Belinda Robinson on Belinda.Robinson@health.nsw.gov.au