Peer Support Worker (Health Education Officer Graduate/Non-Graduate) - Harm Reduction Program

Employment Type: Casual

Position Classification: Health Education Officer Graduate / Non-Graduate

Remuneration: $34.08 - $62.28 per hour + Superannuation

Location: predominantly Redfern Health Centre; however may also be required to work at Marrickville and Canterbury Health Centres.

Requisition ID: REQ686038

Sydney Local Health District is one of the fastest-growing Local Health Districts in New South Wales. It fosters innovation, values its people, and supports ongoing professional growth. Every day, our staff make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. Come build an exciting and rewarding career with us!

About The Role

The position forms part of the casual relief pool and is responsible for providing short-term workforce coverage to replace substantive staff during approved leave, vacancies and unexpected absences. The role contributes to the ongoing delivery of safe, efficient, and high-quality services.

The Harm Reduction Program provides a number of services that aim to reduce the transmission of blood borne viruses. This includes the Needle and Syringe Program, which is an evidence based public health program that provides sterile injecting equipment, peer support and healthcare navigation to people who inject drugs. Additionally, the Primary Health Care service offers multidisplinary assessment, treatment and referral for vulnerable people including those who inject drugs.

The Peer Support Worker – Harm Reduction Program will participate in service delivery across the Sydney Local Health District Harm Reduction Program. The primary objectives of this position are to:

Use their lived experience of substance use issues to provide a range of harm reduction interventions for clients of the program, including needle syringe provision; health education, and brief interventions and referrals.Contribute to, and participate in community education, group programs, health promotion projects and initiatives to expand and diversify the range of harm reduction services available.

Your responsibilities will include:

Provide a range of harm Reduction interventions for clients of the program, including needle syringe provision; health education; brief intervention and referral.Work within the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Harm Reduction Program to provide information on a range of primary health care services for the prevention and care of blood borne viruses among injecting drug users.Provide information and a range of educational strategies for clients, other professionals and the community as required.Undertake other clinical duties, as required by the Team Leader and / or Manager, Harm Reduction Program.Participate in the entire range of existing community initiatives and health promotion projects, such as stocking of syringe dispensing machines, active retrieval and hotline calls, injecting waste sweeps and provision of support for secondary Needle Syringe Program (NSP).Provide a range of injecting resources and harm reduction advice, as required by clients.Establish contact with individual clients of the program and provide information and advice on the range of services offered by the Harm Reduction Program, relevant to the individual needs of clients.Provide a range of brief interventions including: health and welfare advice, health information, crisis intervention and promotion of community services as required by clients.

For more information, please view the Position Description

Ideal Candidate

Lived experience of substance use issues and demonstrated experience of working with injecting drug users in a range of harm reduction settings.Understanding of, and commitment to, the harm reduction approach to drug useCurrent NSW Drivers Licence (P1 and P2 acceptable).

Benefits And Perks

Additional Public Holiday during Xmas for celebrations!Opportunity for extra tax savings through Salary Packaging, Novated Leasing & Meal Entertainment allowance, visit SalaryPackagingPlusUpskill with free courses, qualifications and coaching via Sydney EducationFree Employee Assistance Program (EAP) confidential counselling for staff and their familiesAnnual influenza vaccination on us!Discounted Fitness Passport membership and free telehealth nutrition and wellness resources from qualified professionals.

For more information, visit SLHD Benefits

This recruitment may be used to create a talent pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months.

Working for Sydney Local Health District - NSW Health

This is a Category A position. To be employed by NSW Health you are required to provide evidence of vaccination to comply with the NSW Health Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases Policy (PD2026_004).

SLHD is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability are encouraged to apply for all internal and externally advertised positions. If you require assistance, please advise the contact person at the time of your application.

Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles within NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/

Sydney Local Health District is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards.

For more information about SLHD please visit ‘Working with Us’

To further connect with us, check us out on LinkedIn

For enquiries, please contact Dee Holland via email at Dee.Holland@health.nsw.gov.au

Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day, apply now!

Applications Close: 3 September 2026

For Applicant Support and Information, visit ‘Applicant Information’