Consumer Representative – Drug and Alcohol Service
Employment Type: Temporary Part Time until 3 August 2027
Position Classification: Health Education Officer
Remuneration: $37.49- $59.89 per hour plus superannuation
Hours Per Week: 24
Requisition ID: REQ673006
Location: The Langton Centre, Surry Hills
Applications close: Tuesday 7 July 2026
The Role
The vision for South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) is ‘exceptional care, healthier lives’. SESLHD is committed to enabling our community to be healthy and well, and to providing the best possible compassionate care when people need it.
SESLHD Drug and Alcohol (D&A) Service offers a range of treatment and support services for people with problems from their alcohol, prescription or illicit drug use, and/or their families and carers.
SESLHD D&A strives to be a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, as well as workers. We have Aboriginal identified positions, cultural supervision available, and welcome and encourage applicants for this position who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander themselves. The job provides an opportunity to work closely with community and strengthen connections and engagement with healthcare.
Our service also strives to provide a safe space for diverse workers, including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, and those from the LGBTQI+ community.
The Consumer Representative position provides support and guidance to people experiencing treatment for substance use. They also represent consumers’ ideas, suggestions and concerns about the service they attend, as well as promote, encourage and support the consumers’ experience and ability to access the relevant teams within D&A Services by providing appropriate referral.
Consumer Representatives at D&A Services work across a variety of sites including Surry Hills, Kogarah and Caringbah.
Additionally, Consumer Representatives act as a link between the D&A Services and the community, and work to reduce the stigma associated with people with substance use issues.
Benefits:
• Salary packaging options that reduce your taxable income and increase your take-home pay! Up to $9K for living expenses and $2.6K meal & entertainment & Novated Leasing.
• Discounted gym memberships with a Fitness Passport.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and family members.
• Discounted Private Health Insurance.
Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated understanding of the issues impacting drug and alcohol service users, as well as models used in treatment.
- Personal/lived experience as a consumer of drug and alcohol treatment, with a lived experience of substance use issues and an understanding of relevant treatment models (in order to be eligible for HEO Graduate, must also have relevant health/social science qualification).
- Effective communication skills, including the ability to communicate relevant information from Drug and Alcohol Services to the community and vice versa
- Ability and willingness to work with consumers and with the multidisciplinary health team.
- Demonstrate an understanding of consumers’ rights and responsibilities.
- Demonstrated competence in computer use and willingness to learn new software programs
- Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to harm minimisation principles in drug and alcohol treatment settings.
- Demonstrated effective time management and organisational skills
Need more information?
1) Click here for the Position Description and SESLHD Expected Standards
2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Sarah Blakemore on Sarah.Blakemore@health.nsw.gov.au
Our CORE Values are Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment and have been created by employees for employees and help define how we work and to inspire positive interactions in the workplace.
We embrace diversity as our strength and are committed to maintaining an inclusive and collaborative work environment. Our workplaces are welcoming and safe for all our employees, irrespective of their unique characteristics including age, ethnicity, cultural or spiritual background, gender identity, disability, education and social-economic status. Read about our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy for more information.
Reasonable Adjustments
NSW Health recognises everyone is unique, and that you may require some adjustments to ensure you have the best opportunity to apply. If we can make some adjustments to the NSW Health recruitment/interview process, then please email SESLHD-Recruitment-PaCH@health.nsw.gov.au and let us know.
Adjustments may include but are not limited to, physical requirements, interview setups and specific interview availability times where required.
Information For Applicants
• An eligibility list may be created for future vacancies
• Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable permanent resident or citizen of Australia has been identified for this position following suitable labour market testing.
• Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description
• Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases for all positions prior to offer
• We do have an Aboriginal Workforce Team that can also provide support (SESLHD-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au) and for additional information please visit our Stepping Up Website
