Senior Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counsellor

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission. 

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the ‘Courts Group'. 

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdictions own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

CCV

The County Court of Victoria is established pursuant to the County Court Act 1958. It has original and appellate jurisdiction and is the principal trial court in the State of Victoria. The Court hears over 12,000 criminal, common law, and commercial cases each year. The County Court has unlimited monetary jurisdiction in common law and commercial matters. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Court hears all indictable offences except treason, murder, and related offences.

There are a total of 80 Judges of the Court and over 300 staff, including judicial support staff. The County Court regularly conducts circuit sittings at 12 circuit courts situated in major centres throughout regional Victoria.

The County Court is committed to continuous improvement in accordance with the International Framework for Court Excellence. The Court's vision is to be a leader in court excellence, delivering the highest standard of justice to the community and inspiring public confidence in the rule of law.

About the Role

The Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) is a front-end diversion program which offers a coordinated approach to the assessment and treatment of accused at the pre-trial or bail stage. CISP aims to improve treatment, court, sentence and re-offending outcomes for program participants by providing regular case management support and links to health and social care services. The Senior AOD Counsellor will provide high quality engagement, assessment, counselling and support services to participants of the County Court CISP Pilot.

Your duties may include:

• Providing high quality engagement, assessment, counselling and support services to individuals and their families, through evidence-based counselling interventions
• Operating within diverse therapeutic frameworks and treatment modalities including:

1. Individual Counselling (and some possible group work/family sessions)
2. Family Inclusive Practice
3. Dual Diagnosis and Trauma Informed principles
4. Motivational Interviewing

• Collaborate around the development of treatment plans with CISP and provide effective counselling interventions to meet the individual needs of clients and their families, including those with complex needs. These interventions may include assisting clients to:

1. Identify their substance use triggers and high-risk situations
2. Develop practical skills such as problem solving, goal setting and assertive communication
3. Develop insight into their thinking and behaviour in order to help them make and sustain positive changes to their substance use and offending;
4. Understand the relationship between their substance use and other areas of their lives, such as mental and physical health, relationships and lifestyles; and
5. Access a range of community services and supports to promote recovery.

• Providing information, individual support, education and practical assistance to clients to help them to reduce the harms of their substance use.
• Collaborating and providing secondary consultation with other services/professionals where an integrated/multidisciplinary approach is required. This includes, but is not limited to, mental health, housing, employment, financial counselling, generalist counselling, family counsellor, domestic violence worker and culturally appropriate services.
• Working with diverse communities including people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, CALD and LGBTQI.
• Maintain a high standard of documentation (including client files and records) compliant with accountability structures and in accordance to professional, legislative, service contractual obligations and organisational standards.
• Prepare reports for the Court and provide expert advice to the Judges.
• Undertake other duties as directed by the Practice Leader and/or Specialist Courts Manager.

Note:  This is a fixed term opportunity until 16 March 2026.

About You

As a preferred candidate, you will have at least 3 years experience in the provision of drug and alcohol assessment and counselling services.  You will be able to demonstrate:

• proven ability to work effectively with people and families experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug use in a respectful, compassionate and positive manner
• ability to support positive bhavioural and recovery-orientated care
• ability to convey warmth, openness, empathy and concern for the welfare of clients
• demonstrated understanding of community-based interventions for reducing alcohol and drug related harm and the ability to collaborate effectively with partner agencies and other service providers
• experience in therapeutic approaches such as motivational enhancement therapy, cognitive behavioural coping skills training, family inclusive practice, self-help groups, and community reinforcement approaches
• proven written and verbal communication skills providing authoritative advice on complex issues to provide strong support for a perferred position
• proven problem solving abilities to develop and evaluate solutions and contingency plans ensuring stakeholders are actively engaged in the problem-solving process
• information technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• empathy for those whose lives have been affected by problematic alcohol and other drug use and mental health disorders

Specialist knowledge in on or more relevant areas such as Family Therapy, Mental Health, Family Violence, Trauma, Criminology is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• A relevant health, social or welfare tertiary qualification such as Social Work, Psychology, Nursing or Allied Health Sciences, or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Minimum competencies in AOD or completion of the required competencies (or able to complete within the first 12 months of employment)
• Fulfils requirements for DHHS Accredited Forensic Clinical Drug Assessor

How to apply

Click the ‘Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:

• resume 
• a short cover letter

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.