Recovery Worker

• Join us to focus on integrated, recovery – oriented care that empowers individuals to live independently and achieve their personal goals.
• 12-months Fixed term Part time opportunity based in NSW
• SCHADS Level 4B ($44.58-$47.97 p/h) + Salary Packaging up to $15,899 + 17.5% Leave loading

Wellways is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of mental health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

About This Program

YouThrive (formerly Youth Community Living Support Service) is an NSW Government-funded program that provides community-based psychosocial support for young people aged 15–24 who have a serious mental health issue and are at risk of functional disability.

YouThrive is in partnership with Local Health Districts across five targeted NSW locations. The program aims to support recovery, reduce chronic disability, and prevent unnecessary hospitalisation through tailored services that help young people stay connected to family and community, engage in education and employment, maintain stable housing, and experience continuity of care. It also assists families to better understand and support their young person while strengthening collaboration between clinical and community services

About The Opportunity

The Recovery Worker – AOD provides support to participants experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges through a recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approach. The role focuses on practical support, service navigation, and care coordination to ensure responsive and person-centered service delivery. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, the Recovery Worker – AOD contributes to consistent, integrated care by sharing expertise and supporting colleagues in areas including harm minimization, overdose prevention, and practice informed by an understanding of co-occurring mental health and AOD needs. The role also facilitates participant access to a range of supports, including psychoeducation, brief interventions, rehabilitation pathways, pharmacotherapy, and specialist AOD services. In addition, the Recovery Worker – AOD develops and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote seamless, coordinated, and holistic support aligned with participants’ individual goals.

The Key Deliverables of the role are

• Provide person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and strength based support for participants with cooccurring mental health and substance use needs.
• Build safe, non-judgmental, affirming and culturally competent relationships that promote identity, autonomy, wellbeing and harm minimization.
• Coordinate and support effective service responses for participants experiencing co-occurring mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) challenges, ensuring timely access to appropriate supports.
• Use evidence-based recovery planning tools (e.g. Recovery Star, before–During–After frameworks) and co-develop Individual Support Plans (ISP).
• Improve access to AOD-related supports, including psychoeducation, brief interventions, rehabilitation pathways, pharmacotherapy, and specialist services.
• Promote and support participant use of Wellways Connect.
• Support and contribute to workforce development activities related to AOD practice
• Develop and sustain strong partnerships with AOD services, community groups, youth services, and safe spaces to support integrated and coordinated care pathways.
• Represent Wellways professionally across community settings, ensuring visibility and connection with stakeholders.

Please Note: this position could be based out of our Campbelltown, Penrith, Bella Vista, Lismore or Newcastle West office

You will also need

• Minimum Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, or an equivalent qualification with an AOD specialisation, and relevant experience in a mental health and/or AOD context. Where formal AOD qualifications are not held, equivalent experience in an AOD or co-occurring mental health and AOD role may be considered.
• Strong understanding of recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and youth-focused practice, with contemporary knowledge of co-occurring mental health and AOD recovery, including harm minimization principles.
• Experience engaging and supporting young people from diverse identities and backgrounds.
• Current Working with Children Check and NDIS Workers Screening Check
• Current valid Driver’s License and the ability to undertake travel for the role
• Right to Work within Australia
• Satisfactory National Police Records Check
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module Certificate

Wellways connects people, strengthens families, and transforms communities for individuals of all ages experiencing disabilities or challenges to their social and emotional wellbeing. A leading for purpose mental health and disability support organisation operating nationally, our services span mental health, disability and community care and reach more than 7000 people each year!

Working with a diverse range of people, Wellways creates an inclusive community where everyone can imagine and achieve their hopes and potential.

What We Offer

• A purpose driven culture where people can thrive, everyone is respected, and differences are valued
• An equitable, diverse, and socially inclusive work environment
• Salary packaging up to $15,899 enables you to spend a portion of your salary before it is taxed to pay for things like rent, mortgage repayments, car leasing
• Meal and Entertainment allowance via salary packaging up to $2,650 per annum
• Receive 17.5% leave loading every time you take annual leave
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Access for you and your family to our Employee Assistance Program

For a confidential discussion about the role, we encourage you to contact Nicola Lomax on ***email_hidden***

Once you APPLY click here for a copy of the position description

Wellways is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people.   Successful applicants must undergo a comprehensive screening process prior to their commencement.

If you’d like to know more about our reconciliation commitment, click here Reconciliation | Wellways

Job Description Summary

Contract End Date

30/06/2027

Culture

We’re passionate about our work, which is enjoyable, challenging and rewarding. All of our teams work to ensure everyone can imagine and achieve their hopes and potential. We know that people are unique and the experts on their life and are not defined by impairments, diagnosis or labels. We aim to specifically promote safety and inclusivity for LGBTIQ+ and First Nations communities.

How To Apply

This is your opportunity to join a values based, growing, innovative and nationally recognised organisation with over 2,000 staff members across 93 sites.

Please select "Apply" below to complete your application.

Applications Close

18/06/2026