AOD Clinician

ACSO; Shellharbour City Council; Hybrid; AUD 92,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Annual leave loading 17.5%

Hybrid working up to 2 days per week

Job summary

ACSO is seeking an AOD Clinician to deliver treatment services from the Shellharbour AOD Hub, co‑located within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health Districts. You will conduct intake, assessment, counselling, care coordination and lead group programs for adults, including those with forensic considerations.

The role requires relevant health qualifications and at least 2 years in AOD/mental health/forensic settings, with evidence-based approaches and coordination with other services.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary health qualification such as Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Nursing or Allied Health Sciences.
• Certificate IV, or higher qualification, in Alcohol and Other Drugs or equivalent
• 2+ years' experience in the AOD, mental health or forensic sectors with complex clients
• Evidence-based counselling approaches tailored through assessment and treatment planning
• Experience in assessment, case coordination, case management and brief interventions
• Experience with clients involved in the criminal justice system
• NSW prisons eligibility

Responsibilities

• Deliver AOD treatment services and interventions including intake, assessment, AOD counselling, care and recovery coordination and group programs for eligible adults.
• Provide service coordination with internal and external providers.

Skills

Motivational Interviewing

CBT

Mindfulness

Relapse Prevention

Criminal justice experience

Education

Social Work

Counselling

Psychology

Nursing

Allied Health Sciences

Alcohol and Other Drugs Cert IV or higher

Tools

Naloxone knowledge

Job description

13d ago , from Australian Community Support Organisation

• Looking for a rewarding role with salary packaging available (that means you keep more of your money- our employees save about $5,500 a year on average)?
• Looking to work for a values driven organisation, with competitive perks and flexible working arrangements (up to 2 days WFH)?
• Have extensive experience within the AOD field and excited to make a real, positive difference in a new program?

At ACSO, we look for people who believe in second chances, who share our values and are passionate about supporting forensic clients to re integrate back into the community. If this sounds like you, read on!

What ACSO can offer you

• Full time, permanent position
• $92,298.96- $97,140.16 base salary dependent on skill and experience + 12% superannuation + NFP salary packaging options (more after tax $ in your pocket!)
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%
• Flexible working arrangements - includes options for an accrued day off or compressed hours, and the opportunity to work from home up to two days per week, on a hybrid model with our Shellharbour hub
• Learning and development opportunities, including in house training suite of client specific training including in Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), plus best practice training on all aspects of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Career progression opportunities - leadership development programs and coaching, supervision training, opportunities for internal consultancy or secondments to other programs
• Wellbeing initiatives - such as free flu vaccines, wellbeing and professional development vouchers, Employee Assistance Program and Reward and Recognition Program. Our employees matter!
• Dedicated inclusion and diversity initiatives to support employees from all backgrounds and dispositions, including specialised leave for cultural ceremonies or gender affirmation

About Us

The Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) is a vibrant, values driven NFP, focused on partnering with Government and the community to co-design services that create real social change. We are an organisation with a bold vision to create a safe and inclusive community where prison truly is the last resort. Our purpose is to strengthen the wellbeing of our communities by advocating for and delivering services which divert people away from the justice system.

The Australian Community Support Organisation recognises the right to a safe and inclusive service without bias. ACSO is committed to the equitable treatment of its participants, employees and partners. We believe in humanity and celebrating the diverse voices of our community through leadership, practice and policy design, to honour and embrace diverse traditions, cultures and experiences of those we support and work alongside.

About the role

Working from the Shellharbour AOD Hub and services where we co-locate within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health Districts, the AOD Clinician will deliver AOD treatment services and interventions including intake, assessment, AOD counselling, care and recovery coordination and group programs, with eligible adult participants, including via a forensic lens when working with participants that may be in touch with the criminal justice system. This role also provides service coordination practices and networking with both internal and external service providers.

What we're looking for

• A relevant tertiary health qualification such as Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Nursing or Allied Health Sciences.
• Certificate IV, or higher qualification, in Alcohol and Other Drugs or have completed the core competencies, along with equivalent relevant experience
• 2+ years' prior experience in the AOD, mental health or forensic sectors, working with complex clients, including the delivery of AOD treatment interventions and therapeutic approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in providing evidenced-based counselling (e.g., Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, etc.) to clients tailored through assessment and formulation of client centred treatment planning.
• Experience in providing assessment, case coordination, case management and a strong knowledge around providing brief interventions.
• Experience in working with people involved in the criminal justice system and are experiencing complex issues, particularly with co-occurring conditions.
• Eligibility to enter New South Wales (NSW) prisons.

Desirable but not essential

• Experience working with clients in contact with or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.
• Current accreditation or knowledge in naloxone provision and administration.

As ACSO is an NDIS provider, the successful candidate must hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check Clearance before they commence employment in this position.

Applications close Wednesday 23 September 2026

Applications are likely to close early if a suitable candidate is found sooner, so we recommend applying early!

ACSO proudly acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia's first peoples and pay respect to their rich culture, lores, customs and elders past and present. We strongly embrace the spirit of reconciliation and continue working towards ensuring an equal voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, particularly those who have been touched by the justice system.

ACSO recognises the right to a safe and inclusive service without bias and aims to provide a safe working environment, one which seeks to protect those affected by domestic and family violence and holds those who may use domestic and family violence to account, whilst supporting positive behaviour change.

ACSO embraces diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from appropriately qualified and skilled people regardless of their background. All suitable applicants for this role will be considered regardless of age, ability, race, gender expression, sex, cultural background, spiritual beliefs or lived experience.