Harm Reduction Practitioner

North Richmond Community Health; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous salary packaging options

Onsite bike racks

Free onsite car park

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

North Richmond Community Health in Richmond, VIC, seeks a Part-time or Casual Harm Reduction Worker for the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR). You will support safety, dignity, and health for clients, provide brief interventions, and coordinate with nursing and social services in a non-judgmental environment.

The role emphasizes harm reduction principles, data collection, and collaboration with the MSIR management team.

Qualifications

• Experience in harm reduction settings or needle and syringe programs is desirable.
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work in emergency and crisis situations with calm, professional conduct.
• Commitment to health equity and non-judgmental client engagement.
• Experience collaborating with nursing and allied health teams.

Responsibilities

• Supervise clients during injecting episodes to promote safety.
• Conduct health assessments and manage health emergencies.
• Provide brief interventions and health education to clients.
• Engage clients to identify needs and connect them with services.
• Document client interactions and maintain medical records.

Skills

Harm reduction

Communication

Empathy

Crisis management

Teamwork

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Welfare/Public Health degree

Job description

North Richmond Community Health – Richmond VIC

At North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) we are proud to deliver courageous health and community services that collaboratively address health inequity. We nurture a workforce that is passionate and diverse, with shared values and a strong commitment to making positive health impacts within the heart of North Richmond. With access to a variety of flexible work arrangements, health and wellbeing activities and a rich learning environment, our team members are consistently able to deepen their expertise by being part of impactful and world recognised community health solutions.

Part-Time, or Casual Role Available

generous salary packaging options

strong connection to community and innovation

About the role

Join our dedicated Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) Harm Reduction team, where you'll play a pivotal role in providing life-saving support to those in our community. This position is focused on ensuring the safety, dignity, and health of clients accessing the MSIR. You will work closely with our team to deliver harm reduction interventions, health education, and client engagement in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Supervise clients before, during, and after injecting episodes to optimize safety and wellbeing.

Conduct health assessments, manage health emergencies, and provide brief interventions.

Engage with clients to understand their needs and connect them with appropriate health and social services.

Contribute to data collection, client registration, and maintenance of medical records.

Uphold harm reduction principles by providing safer injecting advice, managing overdose interventions, and promoting infection control.

Collaborate with the Nursing team, Team Leaders, and the broader MSIR Management team to deliver seamless service and support.

About you

You are passionate about social justice and committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations. You bring experience in harm reduction and a genuine dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. Your communication skills, empathy, and ability to handle complex situations make you an invaluable member of our team.

Tertiary qualifications in Welfare, Social Sciences, Psychology, or Public Health.

Experience engaging with clients who may present with challenging behaviours.

Strong understanding of harm reduction principles and social justice values.

Demonstrated ability to work in needle and syringe programs, crisis services, or drug and alcohol services.

Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to handle emergencies.

Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

Desirable: Experience in trauma-informed care, psychosocial assessment, and supportive counselling.

Generous salary packaging options

Strong connection to community and innovation

Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Onsite bike racks

Free Onsite Car Park

Close to public transport and cafes in the heart of Richmond

Closing Date: 26 October 2026
For questions, please reach out to Becca Sellan (Harm Reduction Manager) ******@nrch.com.au or Isabella Fisher (People and Culture Coordinator) @*********@nrch.com.au

Our commitment to health equity

At NRCH, improving health equity is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that health is shaped by social and structural factors beyond clinical care and we work alongside individuals and communities to address barriers to health and wellbeing.

Inclusion and Belonging

At North Richmond Community Health (NRCH), we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. We celebrate diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities, abilities and experiences, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people of all ages.

Child Safety

NRCH is a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse. We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of children and young people. All staff and volunteers share responsibility for promoting and maintaining a child safe environment in accordance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, evidence of qualifications and registrations, proof of work rights, and evidence of immunisation requirements relevant to the role.