Counsellor

St Vincent's Hospital Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 79,000 - 113,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Salary packaging

Study leave and scholarships

Fitness Passport

Private health discounts

Job summary

St Vincent’s Public Hospital in Sydney is seeking a Counsellor (Level 1-2) for a permanent, part-time role (24 hours per week). You will deliver high-quality assessment, counselling and therapeutic interventions for people affected by alcohol and other drugs, within ADSOP, contributing to integrated, client-centered care.

The role requires relevant qualifications and experience in AOD, with strong assessment, intervention and documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or a related behavioural science discipline, eligible for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated experience supporting people with alcohol and other drug concerns, including clients with complex needs, using evidence-based modalities.
• Strong clinical assessment and intervention skills, with experience delivering brief interventions and care to clients with substance use and mental health issues.
• Sound understanding of health and social factors impacting people who use drugs and contemporary models of care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessment and counselling to people who use alcohol and other drugs.
• Develop, implement and review multidisciplinary care plans and coordinate referrals.
• Collaborate with internal and external services to ensure client-centered care.
• Facilitate therapeutic groups and contribute to community initiatives.
• Maintain accurate documentation in the electronic medical record and participate in supervision and quality improvement.

Skills

Counselling

Clinical assessment

Brief interventions

Interpersonal communication

Harm reduction

Education

Psychology degree

Social Work degree

Counselling qualification

Tools

Electronic medical records

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description: Role title: Counsellor (Level 1-2) Role type: Permanent, part time (24 hours per week) Shift details: Monday to Friday position Department and location: Alcohol and Drug Outpatients Service (ADSOP), St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Sydney Salary: $79,419.00 to $113,301.00 Pro-rata + Super + Salary Packaging

Welcome to St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Join a team built on a proud legacy of world-class care, true compassion, and deep community roots. Founded by the Sisters of Charity and powered today by St Vincent’s Health Australia, the Sisters' legacy of compassionate service is our living heartbeat. As Sydney’s premier and iconic inner-city public hospital, we serve the entire population, providing world-class care to all people, including the most vulnerable in our community. Across our renowned precinct, we feature cutting-edge programs and surgery infrastructure, fostering clinical excellence and professional growth. Located in the vibrant heart of Darlinghurst, we are positioned just minutes from Kings Cross station, with direct, high-frequency bus connections from the east, and seamless links from Gadigal and Museum stations right to our doorstep.

Read on to explore this exciting role and the fantastic perks waiting for you here.

About the role

Deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessment, counselling and therapeutic interventions to people who use alcohol and other drugs, supporting improved physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and mental health assessments, intake consultations, brief interventions and ongoing therapeutic sessions tailored to individual client needs. Develop, implement and review multidisciplinary care plans, coordinate referrals and collaborate with internal and external services to ensure integrated, client-centred care. Facilitate therapeutic groups, contribute to community development initiatives and provide education on stimulant use to service providers and community stakeholders. Participate in clinical reviews, routine outcome measurement, discharge planning and accurate documentation within the electronic medical record in line with service and organisational requirements. Contribute to continuous service improvement through active participation in supervision, professional development, team meetings, policy development, quality improvement activities and clinical research initiatives.

About you

Relevant tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or a related behavioural science discipline, together with eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association. Demonstrated experience supporting people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) concerns, including clients with complex needs, using a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities. Strong clinical assessment and intervention skills, with experience delivering brief interventions and care to clients experiencing substance use and co-existing mental health issues. Sound understanding of the health and social factors impacting people who use drugs, as well as contemporary treatment approaches and models of care. Commitment to harm reduction and strengths-based practice, with the ability to deliver person-centred, recovery-oriented support. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, complemented by strong computer literacy and experience using Microsoft Office and electronic patient record systems.

What we can offer you

• Exceptional Rewards: Competitive pay and not-for-profit salary packaging to maximise your income
• World-Class: Be part of a renowned precinct alongside the Garvan & Victor Chang institutes
• Excellence: Premier heart/lung transplant program, advanced robotics, & pioneering HIV/AIDS initiatives
• Cutting-Edge Oncology: Deliver advanced cancer care and trials at the renowned Kinghorn Cancer Centre
• Community: Support vital programs for First Nations, homelessness, mental health, & drug and alcohol care
• Professional Advancement: Accelerate your career with study leave and Curran Foundation scholarships
• Health & Wellbeing: Fitness Passport, discounted private health, & cultural recognitions and celebrations
• Coming from NSW Health?: Smooth transfer of your qualifying service and leave entitlements

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Please note, visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For this role you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have an Australia visa that grants you the work rights necessary for the role.

Equal opportunity

We celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone. As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and join us in delivering care that heals body, mind, spirit and community.

Reconciliation Action Plan

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [e-mail].

St Vincent’s Health Australia has been serving Australians with compassionate health and aged care since our first hospital was established in Sydney in 1857. Founded by the Sisters of Charity more than 180 years ago, St Vincent’s is a clinical, research and education leader delivering private hospital, public hospital and aged care services across NSW, VIC and QLD. Our founder, Mary Aikenhead’s vision, commitment and inspiration lives on in us and the work we do. From modest beginnings, St Vincent’s Health Australia is today the nation’s largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider, offering services in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, including public and private hospitals and aged care facilities. The St Vincent’s family comprises 22,000 outstanding nurses, researchers, cooks, doctors, executives, administrators, cleaners, volunteers and more.