Co-occurring Needs Clinical Nurse

Directions Health Services; Griffith; On-site; AUD 54,000 - 82,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

17½% leave loading

Professional development opportunities

Supportive workplace

Job summary

Directions Health Services in Griffith is seeking a part-time Co-occurring Needs Clinical Nurse (RN) to join the Pathways Murrumbidgee team. You will deliver integrated AOD nursing, primary health care and case management across Griffith and surrounding areas.

You will work with GPs and withdrawal providers, manage a caseload, and provide clinical guidance while travelling across the Murrumbidgee region. This role offers flexible hours and a focus on compassionate, person-centred care.

Qualifications

• Current AHPRA RN registration without conditions.
• Minimum five years nursing experience, preferably in AOD/mental health.
• Experience in withdrawal support and primary health assessments.
• Ability to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide integrated AOD nursing and community withdrawal support.
• Deliver comprehensive primary health care to clients with complex needs.
• Undertake holistic health assessments and health promotion activities.
• Maintain an allocated caseload and provide person-centred case management.
• Develop collaborative care plans reflecting client goals and needs.
• Coordinate follow-up and escalate higher level of care when needed.
• Provide clinical guidance to Pathways Murrumbidgee team and Directions staff.
• Support telehealth and outreach across the Murrumbidgee region.
• Maintain confidential clinical documentation and participate in QA activities.
• Travel throughout the Murrumbidgee region and to other sites as required.

Skills

AOD withdrawal knowledge

Primary health assessment

Immunisation

Venepuncture

Wound care

Vein care

Clinical governance

Trauma-informed care

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent)

AHPRA Registered Nurse

Five years nursing experience

Tools

Microsoft Windows

Patient information systems

Job description

At Directions Health Services, we believe meaningful change starts with connection, compassion and care without judgement. For nearly 50 years, we’ve been an innovative, not‑for‑profit leader providing integrated alcohol and other drug (AOD), mental health and primary health services across the ACT and NSW.

Our multidisciplinary teams bring together a diverse range of professionals, all united by a shared commitment to reducing harm, improving health and wellbeing, and supporting people to achieve their goals.

We’re looking for an experienced Co-occurring Needs Clinical Nurse to join our Pathways Murrumbidgee team, based in Griffith and supporting the wider Murrumbidgee region. This is an opportunity for a skilled Registered Nurse to combine clinical expertise in AOD withdrawal support, primary health care and case management with a collaborative, person‑centred approach to supporting people with complex health and wellbeing needs.

Working alongside a multidisciplinary team, you’ll help clients navigate health services, access appropriate treatment and make meaningful progress towards their goals. You’ll play an important role in strengthening connections between health and community services, supporting safer withdrawal and ensuring clients receive coordinated, holistic care.

About the Role

As a Co-occurring Needs Clinical Nurse, you’ll provide integrated AOD nursing, community withdrawal support, primary health care, case management and clinical coordination to clients across Griffith and the wider Pathways Murrumbidgee service.

You’ll work closely with GPs, withdrawal providers, Directions colleagues and external health services to support outpatient withdrawal for clients with low‑to‑moderate needs, facilitate access to inpatient withdrawal where required, and address broader physical health, mental health and psychosocial concerns.

Alongside maintaining an allocated caseload, you’ll provide nursing advice and clinical guidance to colleagues, helping them navigate health‑related questions and connect clients with appropriate treatment and support. You’ll work across centre‑based, outreach and telehealth service models, with travel throughout the Murrumbidgee region and to other locations as required.

This is a varied role where your clinical expertise, compassion and commitment to harm minimisation can make a genuine difference to people experiencing complex health challenges.

You will:

• Provide AOD withdrawal support in collaboration with GPs and relevant withdrawal providers, supporting clients with low‑to‑moderate withdrawal needs and facilitating access to inpatient detoxification when required.
• Deliver comprehensive primary health care to clients experiencing current or past AOD use, mental illness and other complex health concerns.
• Undertake holistic health assessments, screening, early intervention and health promotion, including immunisation, venepuncture, pathology specimen collection, wound care and vein care.
• Maintain an allocated caseload and provide person‑centred AOD case management, including assessment, collaborative care planning, service coordination, referrals, monitoring, advocacy and planned transitions or closure.
• Develop collaborative care plans with clients that reflect their individual goals, strengths, health needs, risks and support requirements.
• Monitor clients’ progress and changing needs, coordinate follow‑up and raise or refer concerns when a higher level of care is required.
• Provide timely, evidence‑informed nursing advice and clinical guidance to the Pathways Murrumbidgee team and other Directions staff.
• Research clinical questions and appropriate treatment options, translating relevant evidence into practical recommendations to support staff and their clients.
• Provide telehealth support and undertake outreach across the Murrumbidgee region where clinically appropriate.
• Build strong working relationships with GPs, detoxification services, health professionals and community organisations to support coordinated, holistic care.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case reviews, clinical consultations and collaborative care planning.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical documentation in accordance with professional standards, legislative requirements and Directions’ policies and procedures.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement, risk management and the maintenance of safe, high‑quality clinical practice.
• Work collaboratively with the Pathways Murrumbidgee team and other Directions programs to support a whole‑of‑agency approach to client care.
• After‑hours work and travel to other ACT and Regional NSW sites may be required.

About the Position

• Employment type: Part‑time, 9 days per fortnight.
• Contract duration: Fixed‑term contract until June 2028, with the likelihood of extension.
• Classification: Registered Nurse Level 2.1–2.3, depending on skills and experience.
• Location: Griffith, with travel throughout the Murrumbidgee region and to other locations, including Canberra, as required for client support, training and other work‑related requirements.
• Working arrangements: Days and hours can be discussed at interview. A five‑day working week with a later start or earlier finish is preferred, with flexibility to adjust working hours when required to support detoxification needs.

About You

You’re an experienced Registered Nurse with a strong commitment to supporting people experiencing alcohol and other drug‑related challenges, complex health concerns and barriers to accessing care. You bring sound clinical judgement, a collaborative approach and a genuine passion for delivering compassionate, non‑judgemental and person‑centred care.

You’ll bring:

• Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), without conditions that would prevent you from performing the inherent clinical requirements of the role.
• A minimum of five years’ nursing experience, preferably in AOD, mental health, primary health, community health or services supporting vulnerable communities.
• Demonstrated clinical competency in AOD withdrawal support and primary health assessments, including immunisation, venepuncture, pathology specimen collection, wound care and vein care.
• A sound understanding of the health impacts associated with long‑term alcohol and other drug use, including blood‑borne viruses, liver disease and available treatment options.
• Knowledge of primary health care and the complex health issues commonly experienced by vulnerable population groups.
• The ability to work autonomously within your professional scope while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong clinical research and critical appraisal skills, with the ability to translate evidence into practical nursing advice and recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to provide clinical guidance and work collaboratively with staff, clients and external service providers.
• Computer literacy in a Microsoft Windows environment and experience using patient information management systems.
• A commitment to trauma‑informed practice, harm minimisation, reflective practice and continuous quality improvement.
• A commitment to providing respectful, culturally responsive and non‑judgemental care to people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

What We Offer

At Directions, you’ll be part of a purpose‑driven organisation where your expertise is valued and your work has a genuine impact.

• A supportive, inclusive and values‑driven workplace.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by alcohol and other drug use.
• 17½% leave loading.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• A Registered Nurse Level 2.1–2.3 classification, dependent on skills and experience.

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Directions Health Services is committed to being a child safe organisation and creating culturally, physically and emotionally safe environments for children and young people in line with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and Child Safe Standards.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re a Registered Nurse looking for an opportunity to use your clinical expertise, support people with complex needs and contribute to better health outcomes across the Murrumbidgee region, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information about the position, please contact our HR department at **@directionshealth.com.

At Directions Health Services, diversity makes us stronger. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, abilities, and lived experiences including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We also understand that women and other marginalised groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every criterion. If you’re passionate about what we do and believe you could make a difference, we encourage you to reach out, you might be exactly who we’re looking for.