Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment

Welcome to Southern NSW Local Health District.

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (until 30 June 2026)

Location: Moruya

Position Classification: Dependent upon qualifications

Remuneration:

• Counsellor Lvl 1/2: $73,427 - $104,753 per annum
• Occupational Therapist Lvl 1/2: $73,427 - $104,753 per annum
• Psychologist: $77,358 - $113,226 per annum
• Registered Nurse: $72,152.53 - $101,299.48 per annum
• Social Worker Lvl 1/2: $73,427 - $104,753 per annum
• Welfare Officer Lvl 1/2: $73,427 - $104,753 per annum

Hours Per Week: 38

Requisition ID: REQ604109

Applications Close: 14 September 2025

Interview Details: Scheduled within 10 days of closing

About The Service

Drug and Alcohol Clinician - Support Recovery and Wellness in Our Community

At Moruya, our Drug and Alcohol Clinicians provide compassionate, evidence-based care to support recovery, reduce harm, and promote wellbeing in a rural setting. You'll work closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver tailored interventions and support lasting change. Join us to empower recovery and build healthier futures.

What You'll Be Doing

MERIT (Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment) is a court diversion program that provides the opportunity for suitable local court defendants with drug and alcohol problems to address their substance use, associated lifestyle and health issues. You will engage with people who are before the court with a history of or current drug use, and, as part of a multidisciplinary team, perform assessment and case management to improve lifestyle and health and reduce re-offending. The MERIT Case Manager will provide assessment, intensive case management, support, counselling and treatment to defendants with a drug and/or alcohol issue who have current legal matters in a Local MERIT Court and MERIT treatment area.

Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualifications and current registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as a Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Psychologist, OR tertiary qualifications for Social Worker, Counsellor or Welfare Officer with eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of holistic treatment and prevention approaches in the alcohol and other drugs field applicable to people with complex needs, including screening, assessment, brief intervention, withdrawal management, contributing to treatment and discharge planning, referral, group work and community follow up.
• Applied knowledge and competency in case management and treatment options for people and their families who present with problematic or harmful drug use.
• Demonstrated experience in liaison and working in partnership with government and non-government services, and community groups.
• Demonstrated leadership within a diverse range of inpatient and/or outreach settings with the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team or autonomously.
• Demonstrated high level communication skills, advanced written and oral communication, and competent computer skills.
• Evidence of a current unrestricted driver's licence and the ability to travel as required, including long drives and overnight stays.

We look forward to learning more about you and what you can bring to our team

Information for applicants

Southern NSW Local Health District is committed to closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As part of this commitment, information is provided to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job applicants through the NSW Health recruitment process. This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must comply with the policy.

Southern NSW Local Health District is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment aligned with NSW Health's Child Safe Standards. All staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and others who bring diverse experiences. For accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this when you apply or contact us for support.

To be eligible for permanent employment, you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport.

Need more information?

• Click here for the Position Description
• Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries, contact Elizabeth Bruce at the provided NSW Health email or phone number.