Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Peer Worker

Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Peer Worker 

‘A Peer Worker is someone who has been through it before, someone who can be a light to what can be possible.’ 

About the Organisation 

Make a difference to young people and join one of Tasmania’s most innovative primary health services.  The Link Youth Health Service (The Link) is a not-for-profit organisation providing free health and wellbeing services to young people aged 12 to 25.  

The Link has been providing a range of services to young people in the CBD and surrounds of Hobart and Southern Tasmania for over 30 years, including general health and wellbeing, sexual health, alcohol, and Other Drugs support and, since 2012, mental health services through our headspace Hobart Centre.   

The Link’s vision is healthy and empowered young Tasmanians and we work towards this ambition by engaging with young people and those that support and care for them: family, friends, carers and Other community organisations. We believe young people should be at the centre of care and decisions about themselves and we provide safe spaces for them to do this in a non-judgmental and consent-focused environment.  

About the Role

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other DrugsPeer Worker will:

•  Use their lived experience of: 
  • Substance use and seeking support for their drug use and mental health recovery, or 
  • Supporting others and helping them navigate their drug and/or mental health challenges.  
  • Being a carer/parent/support for a young person during a period of substance use/mental health challenges and recovery. 
• Support a young person’s recovery process through helping maintain and guide wellbeing goals for young people seeking support for their substance use. 
• Advocate for the health and wellbeing of young Tasmanians, especially those experiencing problematic substance use. 
• Build supportive relationships with young people and model experiences of recovery. 
• Be able to reflect upon own path of past substance use/recovery and use lived experience to help young people along their recovery and harm minimisation journey. 
• Provide early intervention supports and harm minimisation education to young people aged 12 to 25.  

This opportunity is fixed-term up to 0.7 FTE to the 30 April 2025.  

Skills, Experience, Qualifications and Certifications

Essential 

• Has completed, in the process of completing OR open to completing the Drug Education Network Peer Workforce training or another ATOD peer training program (such as SHARC or a New Zealand recognised ATOD Peer training program)  
• Has lived experience in the area of substance use and/recovery or lived experience of supporting a young person who has/had problematic substance use.  
• A willingness to purposefully use your own experiences to help others further their own understanding of harm minimisation and recovery.  
• The ability to work as part of a team and autonomously in the design, development and delivery of outreach services, health promotions, stakeholder collaborations and education.  
• A minimum of two years in recovery with the ability to effectively take responsibility for maintaining own recovery, mental health, and wellbeing. 
• A willingness to continue to engage in recovery supports where appropriate.  
• Be able to demonstrate an awareness of strategies to maintain recovery and wellbeing.  
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.  
• A basic level (or ability to acquire) of information technology and how it is used in a modern workplace. 

Essential Certifications

Evidence of the following must be provided prior to appointment to the position:  

• A current Tasmania Working with Vulnerable People Registration  
• A current National Police Check  
• A current Australian Driver’s Licence 

How to apply for the Position

Before applying for the ATOD Peer Worker position, applicants need to understand that being an ATOD Peer Worker means you will be drawing on your lived experience in the everyday duties of your work.  

For more information and to obtain the position description please contact Angela Waite, CEO – ******@thelink.org.au or phone 03 6231 2***. 

To apply for this position, please submit your application through Seek, providing a cover letter and Curriculum Vitae. Candidates shortlisted for an interview will be required to address the Selection Criteria in writing or verbally. 

Applications close:  Tuesday18 June 2024 by close of business.