Social Worker - Aboriginal Health

Department of Health Tasmania; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 82,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel and relocation assistance

Professional development

Fitness passport

Job summary

The North West Regional Hospital in Tasmania invites applications for a Social Worker - Aboriginal Health to join our team. You will assess psychosocial needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and connect them with appropriate services to support their wellbeing.

Working with a multidisciplinary health team, you will help deliver culturally sensitive, safe care across the North West region, with access to cultural support, supervision, and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Must identify as Aboriginal and have knowledge of health issues impacting Aboriginal communities.
• Promote health system improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.
• Ability to build effective relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Responsibilities

• Assess psychosocial needs of Aboriginal patients and connect to relevant services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to provide culturally safe care.
• Access cultural support and supervision from a Senior Social Worker.

Skills

Aboriginal health

Social work

Team collaboration

Discharge planning

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Department of Health Tasmania - Cairns QLD

The North West Regional Hospital is proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality. A rare and exciting opportunity has become available for a Social Worker - Aboriginal Health to join our team. The Social Work team practices collaboratively with the wider multidiscipline health team to support:

• Vulnerable people experiencing an acute medical event and likely to require lifestyle adjustment.
• Identified social care needs during and post their hospitalisation.

The Team

The North West Regional Hospital is proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality. A rare and exciting opportunity has become available for a Social Worker - Aboriginal Health to join our team. The Social Work team practices collaboratively with the wider multidiscipline health team to support:

• Vulnerable people experiencing an acute medical event and likely to require lifestyle adjustment.
• Inpatient discharge planning.
• Identified social care needs during and post their hospitalisation.

The Role

Social Worker-Aboriginal Health will:

• Ensure patients who self-identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander have their psychosocial needs assessed and are supported and connected appropriately with relevant services.
• In collaboration with multidiscipline healthcare teams, support the North West region of Tasmania to provide culturally sensitive, safe and accessible health care to patients.
• Have access to cultural support, professional development, supervision from a Senior Social Worker

You will need

• Identify as Aboriginal and have sound knowledge of the health issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Demonstrated ability to promote and champion health system improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers
• Ability to build effective relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Note: - Please refer to the Statement of Duties for all the selection criteria of this position to address in your application.

Why Tasmania's North West Coast

Tasmania's North West Coast offers an enviable lifestyle, combining affordable living, short commute times and a welcoming community with easy access to some of the state's most spectacular natural attractions.

Enjoy a pristine coastline with beautiful beaches and clear blue water, where whale migrations can be spotted each spring and fairy penguin colonies can be enjoyed year-round. With four distinct seasons and a temperate climate, you'll experience warm summers, crisp winters and breathtaking scenery throughout the year.

From the coast, you're just an hour from magnificent mountain ranges, native forests and some of Tasmania's best walking trails. Add in the world's cleanest air, stunning rural landscapes and an outstanding work-life balance, and it's easy to see why Tasmania's North West Coast is often described as Australia's best kept secret.

Whether you're local to the region or considering a move to Tasmania, the opportunity to build a rewarding career while enjoying an exceptional quality of life awaits on Tasmania's North West Coast.

Details of appointment

• Permanent, full time, day worker position, working 76hours per fortnight, commencing from as soon as you can join us.

*Notwithstanding hours to be negotiated with the successful applicant.

Applicants should note that, for a period of twelve months from the date of publication, this selection process may be used to fill subsequent or similar full time, part time, and casual vacancies.

Salary

$81,614 to $117,074 per annum. Our Employer 12% superannuation contribution is on top of this amount.

• Salary range is in accordance withAllied Health Professionals Public Sector Unions Wages Agreement 2025

Salary Packaging

You’ll have access to salary package a range of benefits including living expenses up to $9,010 + $2,650 in meal entertainment each FBT year + other benefits if eligible.

Allowances

• Please note that access to salaries beyond $115,529 is subject to qualifications and/or application to the personal upgrade scheme

In addition, the following allowances calculated on the salaried incremental point may be available:

• Professional Development Allowance of up to $1200 per annum, paid on a fortnightly, pro rata basis.

Benefits available to eligible candidates

• Travel and relocation assistance support available up to $15,000 for eligible appointees from overseas, and up to $10,000 for appointees from interstate.
• Professional development and accelerated pathways.
• A range of leave entitlements, including study leave and Professional Development Support.
• Fitness Passport – You, and your family can access 40+ fitness facilities across Tasmania for just $14.50 per week per person, or $28.05 for a family.

More information about our Employee Benefits can be found here

Eligibility

Successful applicants will be required to meet the essential criteria.

• Aboriginality. The Head of the State Service has determined that this is an Aboriginal Identified position and that it will be filled in accordance with the provisions of Employment Direction No 10: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in the State Service.
• Tertiary qualification/program of study approved by the Australian Association of Social Workers
• Eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Overseas qualified Social Work candidates require a "certification of eligibility" letter from the AASW to confirm their eligibility for membership to the AASW
• Current Working with Children Registration

Applicants should note the following criteria are desirable:

• Experience in working with or in Aboriginal Communities
• Current Driver's Licence

Note: - Please refer to the Application Guide for more information of pre-employment check.

Download the Statement of Duties and any Associated Documents

We encourage you to review the Statement of Duties, Applicant Guide, prior to applying for an overview of the duties, program, selection process and application guidance.

Statement of Duties:

• 534720 Social Worker - Aboriginal Health HP1-2 (April 2026) WWCR.docx

Application Guide:

Applicant Guide.docx

For more information

Applicants who require further information are encouraged to contact the Contact person for detailed information about the vacancy.

Name: Barbara Batten
Position:Manager - Social Work Services
Phone number:0437 073 ***
Email address:**************@ths.tas.gov.au

What it is like working at the Department of Health?

Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellent are the key values to work in Department of Health. Listen to some of the lived experiences from within the department through some of our wonderful staff and hear about their journey in relocating to Tasmania!

Make It Tasmania | Move for a great lifestyle

One Health Podcast - Spotify

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Tasmanian Health Careers | Tasmanian

Department of Health has achieved the "Carer Accredited Employer Status" providing support to employees with caring responsibilities. (Find out more under the Carer Recognition Act 2023).

Respecting diversity is the foundation of everything that Department of Health do. This allows us to instil trust and collaborate through honest and fair communication and helps cultivate an environment of growth and innovation. We strongly encourage applicants from key communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living with disabilities.