Mental Health Clinician: Safe Haven Lismore

About the role: Join Our Safe Haven Team as a Clinician and make a profound impact in the lives of those in distress. You'll have the opportunity to provide trauma-informed and person-centred care in a supportive drop-in service. Your small team in each haven has a Senior Clinician, Caseworker, Peer Worker - and you.

Here's what makes this role special:

Meaningful Work: Provide compassionate care to participants experiencing distress, making a real difference in their lives. In turn, you will gain significant experience and skills.

Diverse Challenges, Real Impact: No two days are the same at our drop-in service. You'll be at the heart of the action, supporting people facing complex and intersecting challenges — from homelessness and trauma to mental health, substance use, and the criminal justice system. If you thrive on variety and want a role where your adaptability truly matters, this is it.

Skills That Count: Your ability to think on your feet, de-escalate tense situations, and respond with kindness will be essential.

Person-Centred, Community-Focused: Here, compassion isn't just encouraged — it's expected. You'll work in a supportive, values-driven environment where every participant is treated with dignity and respect. Your resilience and emotional intelligence will help create a space where people feel safe, heard, and empowered.

Hours and location:

Family friendly hours: There is no weekend work. Work 30 hours a week, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 3:30pm for 30 mins for lunch.

Dedicated debriefing time: From 3:00pm to 3:30pm, the Haven is closed, giving you valuable time for debriefing and note-taking.

Location: This position is based in Lismore and flexibility to occasionally cover staff leave in other havens (in Murwillumbah and Mullumbimby) is part of the role. On these occasions funding for transport is provided. The program is transitioning, so flexibility across different tasks is expected as part of this evolving role.

The role is funded until 31st January 2026.

About you: Selection criteria: (Must be addressed in application – see "How to apply" below)

Qualifications and checks

1.     Tertiary qualification at university level in Counselling, Nursing, Social Work or Psychology and registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), Australian Counselling Association (ACA).

2.     Licences and checks: A current and valid Driver's Licence, satisfactory current Criminal Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement. If you don't already have first aid, we will support you to complete it.

Professional skills and experience

3.     Demonstrated experience in delivery of mental health and/or suicide prevention support services in a community setting.

4.     Demonstrated experience in undertaking risk assessments and managing crisis situations.

5.     Experience in providing counselling and support to individuals from a trauma-informed approach.

6.     Demonstrated experience providing case management support for persons with complex support needs

7.     Familiarity with a range of local referral services

8.     Availability to work from from Monday to Friday

Find out more: For a position description, see

For any other queries, please contact

This role will be remunerated at SCHCDS Level 5 $51.00 with access to salary packaging to potentially increase your take home pay by another 5k.

How to apply: Please email your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria above to

In your cover letter, please use each of the selection criteria above as a heading and write a brief paragraph under each one addressing it. Unfortunately, applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Applications close: We will be processing applications as they arrive and will make offers as soon as a suitable applicant is found.

Why you'll love working with us

We support our staff with generous work conditions and benefits - whether its ways to make money go further, a great work culture, or opportunities to develop skills. The Buttery's reward package includes:

·     Flexible Working Solutions: We support your work-life balance with flexible working arrangements.

·     Extra Annual Leave: Enjoy two additional weeks of annual leave (pro rata) to spend more time on holiday.

·     Career Growth: Explore internal opportunities to transfer and work in other programs.

·     Professional Development: Benefit from ongoing training and development opportunities.

·     Supportive Environment: Access to our Employee Assistance Program and to external clinical supervision for direct service staff

·     Salary Sacrifice Benefits: Increase your take-home pay by 6-12% with ATO-approved incentives, allowing you to allocate up to $15,899 of tax-free salary towards your mortgage, rent, loans, credit card, or school fees.

·     Meal and Accommodation Card: Receive a $2,650 card for meals and accommodation.

·     Convenient Packaging Options: Package your costs for smartwatches, EarPods, professional memberships or a novated vehicle lease.

About us: The Buttery is a not-for-profit charitable organisation established in 1973.Through residential and community-based programs, we specialise in the treatment of alcohol and other drug dependence and mental health conditions. Our programs are evidence-based, best-practice and informed by the latest research into recovery. We never stop believing in change for the better, and we consistently work to improve the lives of the people we support. We operate from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie across Bundjalung, Githabul, Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl, Dunghutti and Birpai lands.