Residential Withdrawal Nurse (RN) – Hope Centre 

Honesty     Trust      Respect     Concern      Love     

Residential Withdrawal Nurse (RN) - Hope Centre 

• Full-Time, Permanent.   

• Based in Bairnsdale, Hope Centre. 

• $56.5524 per hour per annum plus super.   

• $5,000 relocation allowance.     

• 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 Hope Centre program has 45 beds for people participating in the residential rehabilitation program and 3 beds where people can withdraw from alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in a supervised and supportive environment. The nurse roles work within a multi-disciplinary team and have responsibility for the medical and psychiatric needs of residents participating in the residential rehabilitation program and for the monitoring and management of a client’s withdrawal process.

The nurse liaises with medical staff (GPs or hospital staff) and other clinical staff (e.g., mental health clinicians) to ensure the safe and effective management of withdrawal and co-occurring physical and mental health conditions are effectively managed. The nurse also works closely with the broader team (e.g. Admissions, rehab team) to provide pre-admission, discharge planning and streamlined care for the client.

The nurse role has responsibility for the coordination of the medical office, ensuring the provision of nursing assessment, treatment and withdrawal care to residents. The key purpose of the position is to ensure that best practice clinical and health care processes are applied in the treatment of substance use. Registered Nurses also provide clinical supervision and support of the Enrolled Nurses by ensuring they are working within their scope of practice and fulfilling their APHRA registration requirements including clinical supervision and professional development.

Key areas of focus:  

• Assist in the delivery of high standard nursing assessment, pre-admission assessment and effective and safe treatment.

• Provide effective and safe withdrawal from substances that are within Clinical Guidelines and organisational Policies and procedures.

• Provide a high standard of nursing care including, but not limited to: medication management, nursing assessments, vital signs, clinical observations, completion of withdrawal scales, urine drug screens, pathology collection, wound care.

• Provide high quality nursing services that uphold the Nursing Standards of Practice, Scope of Practice and Ethics.

• Provide support and reassurance to residents; assessing, triaging and responding to resident treatment needs.

• Confidently work with physical health and mental health co-morbidities and conditions.

• Ensure Drugs of Dependence storage, processes and administration are as to Victorian Regulations and Registered Nursing Standards and scope of practice.

• Provide effective handover and communication to other nursing staff and members of the multidisciplinary team.

• Maintain medical stocks including all first aid kits used at the facility and offsite in vehicles and outings.

• Ensure adherence to universal infection control procedures and providing education where necessary.

• Provide and/or participate in residents assessment, admission, treatment planning, delivery of effective treatment and program exit planning.

• Support residents to increase their health literacy and to advocate for their needs.

• Provide relevant education and resources to residents and staff on a range of health topics, e.g., Hepatitis C, Diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases.

• Participate in clinical team meetings and communicating/liaising between clinical and medical staff regarding resident holistic health needs and treatment,

• Facilitate the commencement, stabilisation or reduction/withdrawal of Opiate Replacement Therapies, Nicotine Replacement Therapies and medications to assist with the management of alcohol cravings.

• Provide harm reduction interventions and education (e.g. safer substance use practices, provision of intra nasal Naloxone, training etc).

To be successful in this role, you must…   

1. Unconditional registration (current) with APHRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) as a Registered Nurse.

1. Highly developed clinical nursing skills including: comprehensive assessment, crisis intervention, withdrawal management, therapeutic communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, goal setting, case planning, development, monitoring and evaluation.

1. Experience working within a withdrawal setting or with people undergoing withdrawal from substances.

1. Demonstrated ability to engage residents and develop a positive rapport and therapeutic relationship.

1. An ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, open to giving and receiving feedback about self, and the capacity to recognise and resolve interpersonal conflict.

1. Experience in working with and supporting Enrolled Nurses and student nurses.

1. Ability to meet deadlines, balance competing demands and to priorities work effectively. Capacity to continuously review and make responsive changes where needed to ensure a high standard of service delivery. Ability to meet requirements of funding sources and provide data as necessary.

1. Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Highly developed judgement, decision-making, conflict resolution, representation and analytical skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in preparing and presenting reports, briefings, and correspondence.

*Note: refer to Appendix A for details on competencies

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/2026/03/POSTC4097-Residential-Withdrawal-Nurse-RN-–-Hope-Centre.pdf)

*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

• 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 and Study Leave

• 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 Cristina Francioli and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Cristina Francioli Program Manager Hope Centre at cfrancioli@odyssey.org.au.

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