Job Description
About the Organisation:
A leading Aboriginal community organisation dedicated to providing culturally safe, specialist support services across Melbourne's Eastern Metropolitan Region. This organisation delivers trauma-informed, family violence, AOD, and therapeutic programs, supporting the wellbeing, resilience, and safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families.
About the Role:
An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Practitioner to provide support and case coordination to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members impacted by family violence.
The AOD Practitioner will work with both men and women, victim survivors and users of violence, to promote responsibility for substance use, reduce associated harms, and improve health and family safety outcomes. Central to this role is a collaborative approach to working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), and mainstream services to build capacity and strengthen referral pathways.
Service delivery is primarily outreach-based, supporting community members at multiple sites where needed.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide holistic AOD assessment, case management, brief interventions, and psychoeducation to community members.
- Support both voluntary and mandated (forensic) client referrals.
- Develop culturally safe, person-centred care plans aligned with community members' goals.
- Provide psycho-social support to build capacity and resilience.
- Deliver health promotion, education sessions, and group work.
- Offer secondary consultation to internal staff and advocacy for community members with AOD needs.
- Participate in intake, client allocation, and care planning processes.
- Work collaboratively across ACCOs, ACCHOs, and mainstream services to improve culturally responsive AOD care.
- Undertake comprehensive risk assessments including family violence, child wellbeing, suicidality, and AOD-related risks.
- Maintain accurate and timely case notes, plans, reports, and data entry.
- Contribute to quality improvement activities, culturally informed practice, and service development initiatives.
Key Selection Criteria:
- Understanding of contemporary Aboriginal culture and the impacts of intergenerational trauma.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in AOD, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Allied Health, or a willingness to obtain.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Treatment Principles.
- Experience providing AOD case management and interventions, preferably with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.
- Understanding of the intersection between AOD use and family violence.
- Ability to engage and support individuals and families with complex needs.
- Knowledge of referral networks within the Eastern Metropolitan Region, or willingness to develop this.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Competent IT skills for data entry and case management (e.g., Outlook, Word, case management systems such as Penelope or SRS).
Additional Requirements:
- Current Victorian Driver's Licence.
- Current Working with Children Check.
- National Police Check.
- Willingness to complete mandated MARAM (Multiagency Risk Assessment and Management) Family Violence Comprehensive Risk Assessment training.
- Tertiary qualifications in Social Work or a related discipline, or willingness to meet mandatory qualification standards.
Benefits:
- Work with a respected Aboriginal community organisation committed to family safety and wellbeing.
- Access cultural supervision and regular clinical supervision.
- Opportunities for ongoing professional development and communities of practice.
- Supportive and culturally safe team environment.
- Make a meaningful impact improving health outcomes and reducing harm in the community.
Interested?
For further information on the role, please contact Greg Camm at greg.camm@twrecruitment.com.au or 03 9110 0095.
TRADEWIND AUSTRALIA AND THE ORGANISATIONS WE REPRESENT ARE PROUD TO BE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYERS.
We welcome applications from people who reflect the diversity of the organisations we partner with, and the people they support. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability and lived experience to apply.
