North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) is committed to making healthcare more accessible and culturally relevant. It works with community members to support social justice principles which afford all people the right to dignity, respect, and the highest quality of care. With the recent addition of Victoria’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Room, NRCH is dedicated to combating stigma and discrimination experienced by people who use drugs, and improving their quality of life.

NRCH provides a range of medical, allied health, dental and community services to clients from all backgrounds. We also provide specialist health services in other parts of Victoria, and work with health, government and community services around the country.

We are currently seeking to appoint Needle Syringe Program Workers within our Alcohol and Other Drugs Team, on a casual basis.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Needle Syringe Program

• Provide a range of injecting equipment including needles/syringes (NS), medi swabs, sharps containers, condoms and lube in conjunction with resources and information on overdose prevention, HIV and Hepatitis B & C prevention and treatment options, information and materials on safer sex and on safe disposal.
• Ensure required level of stock is maintained, inform NSP admin worker of all stock requirements, educational and other resources and participate in keeping the storage room organised.
• Follow NSP and NRCH guidelines for infection control, replenish stock in the service as required and ensure NSP work space is kept in good working condition.
• Participate in needle/syringe retrievals and monitor the area around NRCH for inappropriate drug use and discarded equipment.

Alcohol and Drug Program – general duties

• Assess and monitor clients who present at the service at risk of overdose and/or who manifest other signs of high level or risky substance use
• Informed by an understanding of harm reduction and prevention, provide information or referral on good health, nutrition and diet, sexual health education, HIV, hepatitis prevention and hepatitis C treatment options and relapse prevention etc.
• Provide on request, referral information and supported referral to a range of other health, welfare, legal, housing and drug treatment services
• Routinely collect data and provide reports to Department of Health, Management and others on request.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement processes
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of an innovative AOD service delivery model
• Attend and participate in relevant internal and external meetings, professional development and other forums.
• Carry out other duties as requested by management.

Skills and experience

• Cert IV AOD/ 4 Core Competencies or willingness to undertake
• Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to undertake
• Demonstrated understanding of harm minimisation policy, in particular, harm reduction in relation to illicit drug use and health
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of the range of issues that impact people who use illicit drugs and relevant support strategies
• Understanding of co-occurring drug use and mental health and harm reduction in the context of illicit & other drugs and risks associated with the use of these.

The preferred candidate will be required to undergo a Police Check prior to any offer of employment being made.

Please note, interviews may commence prior to the closing date and only successful candidates will be notified.

For further enquiries please contact Kasey on [email protected], using the subject line: Needle Syringe Program Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.