Harm Reduction Practitioner (Part-Time or Casual)

North Richmond Community Health; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous salary packaging options

Strong community connection and创新

Access to Employee Assistance Program

Onsite bike racks

Free onsite car park

Close to public transport and cafes in

Job summary

North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) invites applications for a position within our Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) Harm Reduction team. You will help ensure safety, dignity and health for clients accessing the MSIR, delivering health education and client engagement in a supportive environment.

You will collaborate with nursing and MSIR leadership to provide harm reduction interventions, safety planning, and data collection while upholding best practices in infection control and

Qualifications

• Experience in harm reduction and supporting vulnerable populations.
• Strong communication, empathy and conflict resolution in emergencies.
• Experience with needle and syringe programs, crisis services, or drug and alcohol services.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, team-oriented environment; trauma-informed care desirable.

Responsibilities

• 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 and infection control.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Conflict resolution

Emergency handling

Team collaboration

Education

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

Job description

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.

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• - 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.

Why join NRCH?

• 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) [e-mail] or Isabella Fisher (People and Culture Coordinator) @[e-mail]

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.