Recovery Case Worker

Iaawg; Nowra; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rewarding work – meaningful impact

Not-for-profit salary packaging

Free external counselling and chaplain

Volunteering opportunities

Additional annual leave

Extra leave days

Job summary

Mission Australia is seeking a compassionate Recovery Case Worker to join our Community Living Support team in Nowra. You will empower participants with severe mental illness to pursue recovery goals through a strengths-based approach and coordinated case management.

You will collaborate with families, clinicians, and services to promote independence, wellbeing, and community inclusion, drawing on lived experience when appropriate and maintaining professional boundaries.

Qualifications

• Qualification in Mental Health, Mental Health Peer Work, Community Services, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field (or working towards).
• Experience supporting people living with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Sound understanding of recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practice.
• Demonstrated case management and support coordination skills.
• Ability to build strong therapeutic and professional relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation and community-based supports.
• Lived experience of mental illness and personal recovery, or experience supporting a family member or loved one through their recovery journey, highly regarded.
• Ability to utilise lived experience appropriately to inspire hope, build rapport, and support recovery-focused outcomes within professional boundaries.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, professional, and trusting relationships with participants.
• Deliver recovery-focused psychosocial support tailored to individual goals and needs.
• Facilitate mutual planning sessions and develop individual support plans.
• Provide case management and care coordination to support holistic recovery outcomes.
• Support participants to improve independent living skills.
• Deliver psychoeducation and recovery-focused skill development.
• Support participants to access and navigate community, health, housing, and social support services.
• Maintain effective communication with families, carers, clinical teams, and external stakeholders.
• Identify risks and implement appropriate responses in line with organisational policies.
• Maintain accurate case notes, reports, and documentation.
• Advocate for participant choice, self-determination, and inclusion.

Skills

Mental health

Case management

Communication skills

Trauma-informed approach

Lived experience

Education

Qualification in Mental Health or related field

Job description

Permanent opportunity | 35 Hours per week Location: Nowra NSW 2541 Salary: $75437 to 79272 + Super + NFP Salary Packaging Salary dependent on qualifications and experience.

Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need.

Life at Mission Australia When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all. Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your opportunity Are you passionate about supporting people living with severe mental illness to build independence, achieve their goals, and live fulfilling lives in their communities? We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Recovery Case Worker to join our Community Living Support (CLS) team. Our Community Living Support Program provides psychosocial recovery-focused support to people living with severe mental illness. We help participants develop the skills, confidence, and connections they need to live independently and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

As a Recovery Case Worker, you will work alongside participants, empowering them to achieve their own recovery goals through a strengths-based, person-centred approach. You will provide psychosocial support that promotes independence, wellbeing, social inclusion, and personal growth. Rather than doing things for participants, you will mentor, coach, and support them to develop the skills and confidence to manage daily life, strengthen community connections, and work towards their own vision of recovery. You will work collaboratively with participants, families, carers, clinical teams, and community services to create stability, improve quality of life, and support sustainable recovery outcomes. If you are passionate about recovery, community inclusion, and empowering people to reach their full potential, we would love to hear from you. People with lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery are strongly encouraged to apply. We recognise the value that lived experience brings to recovery-oriented practice and welcome applicants who can use this experience, alongside their professional skills, to support others on their recovery journey.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Build positive, professional, and trusting relationships with participants.
• Deliver recovery-focused psychosocial support tailored to individual goals and needs.
• Facilitate mutual planning sessions and develop individual support plans.
• Provide case management and care coordination to support holistic recovery outcomes.
• Support participants to improve independent living skills.
• Deliver psychoeducation and recovery-focused skill development.
• Support participants to access and navigate community, health, housing, and social support services.
• Maintain effective communication with families, carers, clinical teams, and external stakeholders.
• Identify risks and implement appropriate responses in line with organisational policies.
• Maintain accurate case notes, reports, and documentation.
• Advocate for participant choice, self-determination, and inclusion.

Requirements for success

• Qualification in Mental Health, Mental Health Peer Work, Community Services, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field (or working towards).
• Experience supporting people living with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Sound understanding of recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practice.
• Demonstrated case management and support coordination skills.
• Ability to build strong therapeutic and professional relationships.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation and community-based supports.
• Lived experience of mental illness and personal recovery, or experience supporting a family member or loved one through their recovery journey, highly regarded.
• Ability to utilise lived experience appropriately to inspire hope, build rapport, and support recovery-focused outcomes within professional boundaries.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your benefits

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our culture Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career. We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [e-mail] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia.

Mission Australia is a national Christian charity motivated by a shared vision of an Australia where everyone has a safe home and can thrive. Since 1859, we’ve been standing alongside people in need across Australia, offering real hope that has lasting impact. Backed by our supporters, churches, partners, and funders, we work together for the long-term wellbeing of anyone who needs us, reflecting our values of respect, compassion, integrity, perseverance and celebration. We collaborate with people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage to tackle the root causes of their challenges through providing access to safe, affordable homes and innovative, evidence-based support services. Every day we deliver homelessness crisis and prevention services, provide social and affordable housing, assist struggling families and children, address mental health issues, fight substance dependencies, support people with disability and much more. Mission Australia believes a person’s circumstances shouldn’t define their future and that given the right support, everyone can reach their full potential. That’s why we stand together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. Learn more about Mission Australia and our purpose.