Youth Drug & Alcohol Counsellor

Part-Time – 30 Hours Per Week | Tamworth NSW
SCHADS Level 4.1 – $46.70 per hour + Super | Salary Packaging

HiTalent Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a respected not-for-profit community services organisation for a Youth Drug & Alcohol Counsellor to join their Youth Drugs & Alcohol Service (YDaS) in Tamworth.

This is a rewarding opportunity to support young people aged 10–19 experiencing alcohol and other drug concerns, mental health challenges and other complex psychosocial needs.

Working within a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will provide counselling, recovery-focused case management, care coordination, psychoeducation and early intervention to help young people achieve improved health, wellbeing and social outcomes.

Why Join?

• Part-time permanent opportunity – 30 hours per week.
• SCHADS Level 4.1 – $46.70 per hour + superannuation.
• Salary packaging available to increase your take-home pay.
• Meaningful work supporting young people aged 10–19 across the Tamworth community.
• Work across both counselling and case management rather than a purely clinical caseload.
• Join an established community services organisation with a strong presence across regional NSW.
• Collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.
• Opportunity to provide early intervention and make a genuine difference for young people experiencing AOD and mental health concerns.

About the Role

As a Youth Drug & Alcohol Counsellor, you will work with young people aged 10–19 who are experiencing alcohol and other drug concerns alongside mental health, social, family, education and other support needs.

Using a recovery-oriented, strengths-based and harm-minimisation approach, you will provide individual counselling, case management, care coordination, psychoeducation and therapeutic support.

You will complete comprehensive intake and psychosocial assessments, identify risks, strengths and support needs, and work collaboratively with each young person to develop an Individual Recovery Plan.

A key part of the position will be building meaningful engagement with young people who may traditionally be reluctant to access services. You will work creatively and assertively to build trust and create a positive help-seeking environment.

You will also collaborate closely with families, carers, schools, health professionals and community services to ensure young people receive coordinated and holistic support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual AOD counselling, therapeutic interventions and psychosocial support to young people aged 10–19.
• Undertake comprehensive intake and psychosocial assessments to identify AOD use, mental health concerns, risks, strengths and broader support needs.
• Use strengths-based, recovery-oriented and harm-minimisation approaches when supporting young people.
• Develop and regularly review Individual Recovery Plans in partnership with young people.
• Provide individualised case management and coordinate access to appropriate services and supports.
• Support young people experiencing issues relating to AOD use, mental health, primary health, education, training and social wellbeing.
• Deliver individual and group-based psychoeducation, including harm-minimisation and overdose-prevention education.
• Build rapport with young people using creative and assertive engagement strategies.
• Work collaboratively with young people, families, carers and relevant services through a shared decision-making approach.
• Establish strong referral and communication pathways with local health, community and youth services.
• Participate in case management meetings and multidisciplinary collaboration where required.
• Coordinate appropriate referrals and aftercare to support continuity of care following treatment.
• Maintain accurate case notes, assessments, treatment plans and client documentation.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive team environment.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Minimum Diploma in Community Services, Alcohol & Other Drugs, Counselling or an equivalent qualification and/or relevant professional experience.
• Experience supporting young people within AOD, mental health, counselling, youth or community services.
• Understanding of youth alcohol and other drug issues and associated mental health and psychosocial needs.
• Knowledge of harm-minimisation, recovery-oriented and strengths-based practice.
• Experience completing assessments and developing individual recovery, treatment or support plans.
• Ability to build rapport and engage effectively with young people experiencing complex needs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary community services team.
• Current Australian Driver's Licence.
• Working With Children Check, or ability to obtain.
• National Police Check, or ability to obtain.
• National Disability Worker Screening Check, where applicable.

Highly Regarded

• Previous experience as an AOD Counsellor, Youth Counsellor, Caseworker, Mental Health Worker or Youth Worker.
• Experience delivering individual or group counselling and psychoeducation.
• Experience supporting young people with co-occurring AOD and mental health concerns.
• Experience in care coordination and working across multiple services or referral pathways.
• Knowledge of services and referral networks within Tamworth and the New England North West region.

Hours & Location

Based in Tamworth, NSW.

This is a part-time position working 30 hours per week, offering an excellent opportunity for someone looking for meaningful work within youth mental health and AOD services while maintaining part-time hours.

Who This Role Would Suit

This opportunity could suit an experienced Youth Counsellor, AOD Counsellor, Drug & Alcohol Worker, Caseworker, Youth Worker, Mental Health Worker, Community Services Worker or Social Worker with experience supporting young people experiencing complex needs.

You don't necessarily need to come from a role with the exact title of "Counsellor". If you have strong youth, AOD, mental health or case management experience alongside the relevant qualifications, we'd be interested in hearing from you.

If you're passionate about helping young people build healthier futures and want to work within a supportive community-based service, we'd love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, contact:

Nupur Patel
HiTalent Recruitment
0468 039 786
nupur@hitalent.com.au
#SCR-nupur-patel-1

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