general social work

Hunter New England Local Health District; Armidale; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 79,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Professional development opportunities

Supervision

Job summary

Hunter New England Local Health District's Armidale Hospital is seeking a Generalist Social Worker (Level 1/2) for a temporary part-time role. You will conduct psychosocial assessments, support discharge planning and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver person-centred care.

This position is 20 hours per week, until February 2028, offering a supportive team environment, supervision, professional development and salary sacrifice options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work required and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers or equivalent.
• Strong empathy, communication and team collaboration skills.
• Commitment to reflective practice and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Perform psychosocial assessments and identify patient and family support needs.
• Support safe discharge planning and care coordination.
• Advocate for patients and liaise with external services including NDIS and aged care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver person-centred care.

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Job description

Employment Type: Temporary Part Time until February 2028

Position Classification: Social Worker Level 1/2

Remuneration: $40.05 - $57.14 Per Hour + Super

Hours Per Week: 20

Requisition ID: REQ699441

Location: Armidale Hospital

Closing Date: Sunday 08 November 2026

Make a meaningful difference. Grow your social work career.

Are you a compassionate and motivated Social Worker looking to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families? Join the supportive Social Work team at Armidale Hospital, where you can develop your clinical skills, build your confidence and help people navigate challenging times.

About The Team

You’ll join a friendly, experienced and well-respected Social Work team working alongside fellow Social Workers and Aboriginal Health Workers to support patients across Armidale Hospital.

Working primarily across the Medical and Surgical wards, you’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide person-centred care, advocate for patients and facilitate safe, timely hospital discharge.

This is a part-time opportunity shared with another Social Worker, with both positions working together to provide full-time coverage across the wards.

About The Role

As a Generalist Social Worker (Level 1/2), you’ll have the opportunity to apply and develop your social work skills across a diverse range of clinical presentations. You’ll play an important role in helping patients and families navigate complex health and community systems, access essential supports and achieve positive outcomes.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Conducting psychosocial assessments and identifying patients’ support needs.
• Supporting safe and timely discharge planning and care coordination.
• Advocating for patients and liaising with external services, including the NDIS, aged care and guardianship services.
• Collaborating with medical, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal Health colleagues to deliver holistic, person-centred care.
• Supporting patients and families to navigate complex circumstances and connect with appropriate community resources.
• Contributing to clinical problem-solving and risk management.

You must be able to work Monday, Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday or be able to have flexible hours on those days.

This role offers excellent variety and the opportunity to gain valuable experience across acute hospital social work, while building your knowledge of discharge planning, clinical risk assessment and community referral pathways.

About You

We’re looking for a compassionate and adaptable Social Worker who is passionate about supporting patients and families during challenging times.

You’ll Bring

• A person-centred approach, with empathy and respect for the individual needs of patients and families.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and advocacy skills.
• Effective organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to learn.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• An understanding of social work values and ethical practice, with a commitment to reflective practice, supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Hold a cureent NSW Driver's License

Previous acute hospital social work experience is not essential. If you’re keen to learn, develop your clinical skills and broaden your understanding of health and community services, you’ll be supported to grow in the role.

Essential Criteria

• Must hold as a minimum a bachelor degree in social work which provides eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer

How You’ll Be Supported

You’ll be joining a stable and supportive team that values collaboration, learning and professional growth. This is an excellent opportunity for new graduates and Level 1/2 Social Workers to develop their skills while gaining exposure to a broad range of referrals and clinical presentations.

You’ll Benefit From

• Day-to-day guidance and support from experienced Social Work colleagues.
• Mandatory professional supervision to support your clinical practice and development.
• Opportunities to broaden your experience across different hospital areas as required.
• Support to build your knowledge of hospital processes, discharge planning, NDIS and aged care systems, and community referral pathways.
• A collaborative team environment where you can ask questions, share knowledge and continue building your confidence.

What We Offer

• Professional development opportunities
• Work hours flexibility discussions
• A team of social workers to mentor you
• Supervision regularly formally and informally Dailey
• Employment opportunities such as salary sacrifice available

Why join Hunter New England Health

• Be part of one of the largest and most diverse Local Health Districts in NSW
• Influence digital solutions that directly support patient care and clinical outcomes
• Salary packaging options
• Work collaboratively with passionate clinicians and digital health professionals
• Enjoy career development opportunities within NSW Health
• Make a real difference across a large, complex health service
• Fitness Passport for you and your family

What You'll Be Doing

Provide a high quality clinical service to patients and their families/carers, to ensure the provision of optimal health outcomes for patients of the service.

Need more information?

• Click here for the Position Description
• Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Fiona Ord on [e-mail]

Information For Applicants

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

Stepping Up Website

is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp

This is a Category A position.

Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging

is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via [e-mail] or 1300 40 25 23.

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.

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

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 [e-mail] for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier-free application process.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

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.

An eligibility list will be created for future temporary part time vacancies.

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