Drug and Alcohol Community Counsellor - Hunter Region

If you’re driven, compassionate, and ready to make a meaningful difference in your community, we’d love to hear from you!

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (until June 2026) and Permanent Part Time Opportunities

Position Classification:  Psychologist, Counsellor Level 1-2, Social Worker Level 1-2, Registered Nurse

Remuneration: $37.48 - $59.39 per hour + superannuation + salary packaging

Hours Per Week: up to 38

Location: James Fletcher Hospital

Requisition ID: REQ630870

Applications Close:  Sunday, 1st March 2026 
 

About The Role:

Are you passionate about supporting people to achieve lasting change? Join our dedicated Drug & Alcohol Clinical Services (DACS) team and play a vital role in helping clients reach their optimal health outcomes. 

Based primarily in Newcastle, you’ll work within a supportive, multidisciplinary team across several districts in the LHD, with occasional travel to surrounding areas. 

What You’ll Be Doing

In this rewarding role, you’ll conduct comprehensive D&A assessments, create personalised treatment plans aligned with each client’s goals, provide weekly counselling, and coordinate referrals to ensure holistic support. 

Every day, you’ll play a vital role in empowering clients to improve their wellbeing and achieve meaningful, lasting outcomes. If you’re passionate about making a real difference, this is the role for you. 

About You

• You’re a compassionate and capable clinician with experience delivering evidence-based drug and alcohol interventions. 

• You produce high-quality, timely clinical documentation and confidently implement and monitor treatment plans within set timeframes. 

• Highly organised and self-motivated, you thrive both independently and as part of a team.  

• You bring strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to anticipate, assess, and manage challenging situations with professionalism and empathy. 

Requirements 

• Must hold a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Welfare, Counselling or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer, which provides eligibility or membership of the relevant professional association and full registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), where applicable.
• Eligible to drive in NSW and the ability and willingness to travel for work purposes which may involve driving long distances.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.  

Additional Information
 

•  At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace.  Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact HNELHD-Diversity@health.nsw.gov.au  for confidential support. 

• 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.

• 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. 

• To be eligible for employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport, or hold an appropriate visa that allows you to live and work in Australia. Employment of a temporary visa holder will only be offered in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa. 

• Job share / part time arrangements will be considered 

• An eligibility list will be created for future temporary full or part time vacancies and permanent part time vacancies.  

• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.   

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 Kellie Collinson on Kellie.Collinson@health.nsw.gov.au