NSP/Community Development Worker

• 3 casual roles
• Located across Collingwood and Footscray
• Work for a multi-award-winning iconic community health organisation
• Generous salary packaging options to reduce your cohealth taxable income

So why cohealth?
cohealth leads the way in reducing health and social inequity in partnership with people and the communities in which they live. Named Premier's Health Service of the Year (Primary) and the Supporting LGBTIQ+ Health Service at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, cohealth's 1000 staff demonstrate courage, leadership, innovation, and agility in their commitment to providing inclusive and culturally safe health services that protect the human rights of all people of all gender identities, sexualities, ages, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, faiths, and abilities.

Our inclusive workplace culture enables staff to bring their whole selves to work, where uniqueness is valued, and people experience a feeling of belonging. Our aim is for everyone to thrive in their role. Please click here to find out more.

About the role
The Needle and Syringe Program (NSP)/ Community Development Worker provides harm reduction services to People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) through support and advocacy, education, brief intervention, linkages to treatment and referral services.

Please refer to the Position Description for more information.

Your duties include:

• Operate NSP outreach (day and night), providing equipment, information, and harm reduction education
• Provide harm reduction education, advocacy, referral, needles/syringes to service users to support safer using and disposal through all modalities
• Build relationships with service users, carers, clinicians, and community agencies
• Support service users to navigate health and community services, including referrals and linkages

What cohealth offers:

• Exciting Parental leave benefits
  • cohealth offers primary carers 14 weeks paid parental leave upon completion of only 6 months of continuous service
  • Eligible co-workers will continue to receive superannuation on unpaid parental leave as well
• Salary packaging to suit you - tax free amount of up to $15,900 p.a (mortgage, rent, or credit cards) and a further $2,650 p.a (meal, entertainment expenses and holiday accommodation) alongside generous reward programs from our salary packaging providers. Find out more on salary packaging here: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Jobs-and-employment-types/Working-as-an-employee/Salary-sacrificing-for-employees/
• Novated Leasing available
• Counselling services for you and your immediate family through our EAP-Access provider, and mindfulness, resilience, and wellbeing programs
• We offer inclusion, equality, and opportunity in a workplace where making a difference counts (based on our guiding principles and values)

Our ideal candidate:

• Qualification in AOD, Community Development, Social Work, or relevant field (Cert IV+ with 2 years' experience) - lived experience highly regarded
• Knowledge of health and social issues for PWUD, including harm reduction principles
• Experience engaging respectfully with people from diverse and complex backgrounds
• Strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Computer literacy and ability to work independently in a busy, client-focused setting
• WWCC, NCCHC, Victorian Driver's Licence, and Immunisation Category A compliance

Application Process

To apply for this job click on apply now and you will be asked to upload your CV/ resume and Cover Letter.

We will be conducting interviews for this role as applications are received.

Applications close on the mentioned date at 10.00 PM.
If you have any questions regarding this role, please contact Scott Withy on Scott.Withy@cohealth.org.au

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), a Working With Children Check (WWCC), complete a Pre-Employment Declaration Form, evidence of legal rights to work in Australia, and evidence of vaccination.

Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of immunisation assessment including Influenza within 12 weeks of commencement [B]. This is in accordance with the Victorian Minister of Health Mandatory Vaccination Orders and legislated requirement for influenza vaccination.

To apply for this job go to: https://cohealthcareers.org.au/Current-Jobs & enter ref code: 6796313. Applications close 28 August 2025.

Our ideal candidate:

• Qualification in AOD, Community Development, Social Work, or relevant field (Cert IV+ with 2 years' experience) - lived experience highly regarded
• Knowledge of health and social issues for PWUD, including harm reduction principles
• Experience engaging respectfully with people from diverse and complex backgrounds
• Strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Computer literacy and ability to work independently in a busy, client-focused setting
• WWCC, NCCHC, Victorian Driver's Licence, and Immunisation Category A compliance