Youth AOD Practitioner - The Zone

Honesty     Trust      Respect     Concern      Love 

• Part-Time (0.6 FTE), Fixed-Term 10 months 
• Based in Broadmeadows, though primarily outreach based. 
• $108,016.22 pro rata per annum plus super.   
• Comes with a vehicle 
• 17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options  
• Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance 

About Odyssey Victoria:

Odyssey Victoria (OV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey Victoria we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community. OV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.

Role Purpose: 

The Zone is a youth-focused alcohol and other drug (AOD) service delivered through a partnership between Odyssey Victoria, YSAS and Drummond Street. The program provides accessible, youth-friendly and integrated support to young people and their families experiencing AOD use, mental health and other complex social and wellbeing needs. The Zone takes a young-person-centred, trauma-informed and strengths-based approach, working collaboratively with young people and other services to support improved health, wellbeing and life outcomes. 

The role of the Youth AOD Practitioner The Zone, is to provide evidence informed AOD treatment and collaborative care to young people, using brief interventions, care planning, AOD counselling, harm reduction and trauma informed frameworks. The Youth AOD Practitioner will provide treatment and collaborative care that is both safe and effective for young people and families with intersectional needs. 

The Youth AOD Practitioner The Zone will provide resilience based AOD case management, drawing on their lived and/or work experience, delivering structured non-residential AOD rehabilitation programming (both individual and group). The role will also collaborate and integrate treatment with co-located and out-posted services at the Youth AOD Intersectional Care Coordination Platform. 

Key areas of focus:  

• Provide AOD support and collaborative care to young people and their families (if appropriate/safe) using brief intervention, care planning, harm reduction, trauma-informed frameworks.  
• Facilitate the development of basic life skills for young people.  
• Facilitate intensive and structured non-residential AOD rehabilitation programs.  
• Work collaboratively with all members of the Youth AOD Intersectional Care Coordination Platform  
• Support and encourage young people to develop links with other services.  
• Model appropriate behaviour and facilitate positive communication between young people.  
• As required advocate on behalf of young people. 
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of an innovative service delivery model for young people.  
• Develop linkages with referral services, and where possible, include young people in the evaluation of the service.  
• Collaborate with other support services and community-based activities to integrate support and provide optimal service provision. 
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement in relation to service delivery or business support services and systems. 
• Provide referral and links to a range of services including drug and alcohol, primary health, family, housing, legal, justice, employment /educational and recreational services. 
• Develop and establish collaborative relationships with key stakeholders to enhance service co- ordination. 

To be successful in this role, you must…  

1. Tertiary/Degree qualification in Social Work, Youth Work with one years experience, AOD or equivalent or Associate Diploma with relevant experience.  
2. AOD Competencies, or willingness to complete Within 12 months of employment *Note: refer to Appendix A for details on competencies. 
3. Understanding of and experience working with young people and their families with intersecting needs.  
4. Demonstrated ability in assertively engaging and supporting young people from a range of backgrounds, genders, and age groups.  
5. Knowledge of theories and frameworks including trauma informed care and adolescent development and demonstrated ability to relate these to case management practice. 
6. Ability to work collaboratively within a team and strong crisis and risk assessment skills. 
7. Demonstrated experience of participation in collaborative work practices with internal and external services  
8. Demonstrated experience or understanding of planning and facilitating intensive and structured non-residential AOD rehabilitation programing (both individual and group). 

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria, please click HERE (http://odyssey.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/POSCS4038-Youth-AOD-Practitioner-The-Zone.pdf) - also attached below.

*Appendix A (AOD Competencies)  

OV requires people in clinical positions to have the following competencies (or their equivalent). Where people do not already have these competencies, OV will invest in the person’s professional development by providing them through its RTO.  

The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:  

• CHCAOD001 - Work in an alcohol and other drugs context  
• CHCAOD004 - Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues.  
• CHCAOD006 - Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.  
• CHCAOD009 - Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans 

What we can give YOU! 

In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:   

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities 
• Providing work that is meaningful and challenging, with career development opportunities through project and secondment opportunities and succession planning 
• Providing career pathways across diverse OV programs. 
• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) 
• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave, Study Leave and Sabbaticals 
• Flexible working arrangements such as monthly RDO’s for full-timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements). 

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional development and personal wellbeing. 

Application information 

Please apply directly via our careers website (applications via external recruitment websites or via email will not be considered) 

Applications should be addressed to George Hatzimanolis and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.  

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact George Hatzimanolis Operations Manager – Child, Youth & Families on, ghatzimanolis@odyssey.org.au using the subject line: Youth AOD Practitioner - The Zone enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately. This role will be open for one week and close once a suitable candidate has been selected, which may be prior to the application deadline, so please don’t wait to apply!  

Our commitment to diversity 

At OV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position. 

Safety screening 

OV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us. 

All Odyssey Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees