Counsellor

Job Description:

Role title: Counsellor (Level 1-2)

Role type: Permanent, part time (24 hours per week)

Shift details: Monday to Friday position

Department and location: Community Outpatients – Drug Health Service, St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Sydney

Salary: $79,419.00 to $113,301.00 Pro-rata + Super + Salary Packaging

Welcome to St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney

Join a team built on a proud legacy of world-class care, true compassion, and deep community roots.

Founded by the Sisters of Charity and powered today by St Vincent’s Health Australia, the Sisters' legacy of compassionate service is our living heartbeat. As Sydney’s premier and iconic inner-city public hospital, we serve the entire population, providing world-class care to all people, including the most vulnerable in our community. Across our renowned precinct, we feature cutting-edge programs and surgery infrastructure, fostering clinical excellence and professional growth.

Located in the vibrant heart of Darlinghurst, we are positioned just minutes from Kings Cross station, with direct, high-frequency bus connections from the east, and seamless links from Gadigal and Museum stations right to our doorstep.

Read on to explore this exciting role and the fantastic perks waiting for you here.

About the role

• Deliver high-quality specialist assessment, psychosocial interventions, therapeutic sessions, and health education to clients who use methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA, including facilitating individual and group programs.

• Develop, evaluate, and revise individualised multidisciplinary care plans and clinical pathways, incorporating discharge planning, routine outcome measures, and consultation with clients to ensure effective treatment.

• Liaise with internal and external agencies, provide referrals, and coordinate with relevant services to ensure clients receive holistic, high-quality care, including bio-psycho-social assessments in line with best practice principles.

• Participate in clinical review, supervision, professional development, and reflective practice, including training, peer feedback, and use of audio/video recordings to support skill development and ongoing learning.

• Contribute to service development through quality improvement, policy and procedure initiatives, clinical research activities, and the delivery of education about stimulant use to other service providers and community groups.

• Maintain accurate, confidential documentation in electronic medical records, advocate for clients and significant others, organise work effectively with flexibility and priority setting, and stay up to date with interventions and pharmacotherapy relevant to the field.

About you

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or other behavioural sciences, with eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.

• Demonstrated experience working with drug and alcohol clients with complex needs, using a range of therapeutic modalities.

• Proven clinical skills in assessment and brief interventions with clients experiencing drug and alcohol issues and co-existing mental health problems.

• Demonstrated understanding of the health and social issues affecting people who use drugs, contemporary treatment approaches, and the application of harm reduction and strengths-based approaches.

• Highly developed written and verbal communication, interpersonal skills, and high-level computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Patient Record Systems.

What we can offer you

• Exceptional Rewards: Competitive pay and not-for-profit salary packaging to maximise your income

• World-Class: Be part of a renowned precinct alongside the Garvan & Victor Chang institutes

• Excellence: Premier heart/lung transplant program, advanced robotics, & pioneering HIV/AIDS initiatives

• Cutting-Edge Oncology: Deliver advanced cancer care and trials at the renowned Kinghorn Cancer Centre

• Community: Support vital programs for First Nations, homelessness, mental health, & drug and alcohol care

• Professional Advancement: Accelerate your career with study leave and Curran Foundation scholarships

• Health & Wellbeing: Fitness Passport, discounted private health, & cultural recognitions and celebrations

• Coming from NSW Health?: Smooth transfer of your qualifying service and leave entitlements

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

Please note, visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For this role you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have an Australia visa that grants you the work rights necessary for the role.

Equal opportunity

We celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone.

As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and join us in delivering care that heals body, mind, spirit and community.

How to apply

The closing date for applications is 7th August 2026.

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting how your interest, skills, and experience align with each of the things listed in the About You section of this job advert. 

Respectfully, this role is not open to recruitment agencies.

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct