Disaster recovery Clinician

Help communities recover when they need it most.

Employment Type: Temporary Part Time until June 2027
Position Classification: Social Worker Level 4
Remuneration: $66.36 per hour - $67.97 per hour + Superannuation + Salary Packaging
Hours Per Week: 32
Requisition ID: REQ679272
Location: Negotiable within the Hunter New England Local Health District
Applications Close: Sunday, 16th August 2026

Join the Hunter New England Mental Health Disaster Recovery Program and make a lasting difference to individuals, families and communities rebuilding after natural disasters. This is meaningful, purpose-driven work where you'll see the impact of your support every day while developing specialist skills in trauma-informed mental health care.

Where you'll be working
This role offers the flexibility to be based at a negotiable location across the HNELHD. You will play a vital role in supporting communities affected by natural disasters throughout the region, with a strong focus on rural and remote areas. Regardless of your chosen base facility, you will be deeply integrated into a supportive, multidisciplinary network of mental health, community health, and allied health professionals. The position provides access to modern spaces, telehealth facilities, and robust administrative support, empowering you to undertake flexible outreach and deliver care directly where it is needed most including community recovery centres, GP practices, and local community halls working across the Disaster and recovery spectrum 

The Opportunity
This diverse and rewarding role combines clinical care with community engagement, giving you the opportunity to support individuals, families and communities as they rebuild their lives following disaster. You'll provide psychosocial assessments, brief interventions and trauma-informed counselling, deliver outreach services across community and rural settings, collaborate with health and recovery partners, participate in clinical supervision and case reviews, and advocate for people requiring access to housing, financial and social supports. With no two days the same, you'll enjoy a varied and meaningful role that offers both professional challenge and the opportunity to create lasting positive change. From day one, you'll be supported by a collaborative and experienced team through a comprehensive orientation to the District and Disaster Recovery Program, regular individual and group clinical supervision, peer mentoring, reflective debriefing and ongoing professional development in trauma-informed practice, disaster recovery and community mental health. You'll also have opportunities to connect with district-wide and statewide recovery networks, strengthening your professional relationships while continuing to build specialist expertise. If you're looking for a role that offers autonomy, purpose and genuine career development, this is an opportunity to make a real difference where it matters most. You'll build trusted relationships across diverse communities and multidisciplinary teams while helping people recover, adapt and thrive after disaster.

About our team
You'll join a small, experienced team of Disaster Recovery Clinicians who are passionate about supporting communities through recovery. We value collaboration, flexibility and mutual support, creating an environment where clinicians are trusted to work autonomously while knowing help is always available. Our practice is trauma-informed, community-led and strengthened through partnerships with local health services, councils, emergency services and community organisations.

Requirements:

1. Must hold as a minimum a bachelor's degree in social work which provides eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer.
2. Eligibility to drive in NSW and willingness to travel for work purposes.

What we can offer you  
At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

• Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero

• Proximity to shopping and other services

• Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full-time employees)

• 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)

• 6 weeks annual leave (for eligible full time nurses)

• Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance

• Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing

• Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members

Additional information:

• An eligibility list will be created for future temporary part-time vacancies.
• To be eligible for 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.
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

How to apply:

Click apply online, submit your information and resume, and address the criteria listed below providing examples that demonstrate your ability.

1. Demonstrated expertise and advanced clinical practice skills with the ability to provide an expert consultancy and clinical service for people experiencing mental health problems as a result of natural disasters.
2. Demonstrated ability to foster interagency collaboration to support coordinated and integrated mental health services within a stepped care model.

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 Joshua Louis on Joshua.Louis@health.nsw.gov.au