•Salary Packaging options available
• 14-week paid parent leave
• Paid Christmas closure
• Professional development and training opportunities

About the Organisation:
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was established in 1973 to address the specific health needs of Victorian Aboriginal people, families and communities.

VAHS was established by local Aboriginal people, who showed courage and shared a vision for Aboriginal people to determine our own health journey. This is expressed as one of the fundamental rights of all peoples.

VAHS core principles are Community Control, where the users (our community) are the owners of VAHS. The governance of which is provided by a Board of Directors elected by the VAHS members.

Connected to this is the principle of self-determination whereas the right for Aboriginal people to have and run their own services.

With over 350 staff, VAHS has expanded to four clinics across Metropolitan Melbourne (Fitzroy, Preston, South Morang, St Albans). This includes a range of social & emotional well-being services and a residential youth drug and alcohol facility in Hastings.

As well as providing a variety of health services, VAHS is committed to supporting the well-being of the community through a holistic view that includes a variety of streams, including contributions towards and organisation of health related community events and activities. VAHS is also committed to research into the ongoing health and well-being needs of the community. VAHS applies the principle of data sovereignty to our research.

VAHS is a child safe organisation, committed to child safety and wellbeing, and recruits’ staff in accordance with the Child Safe Standards Victoria.





About the Opportunity:
The AOD Team Leader provides leadership to the Alcohol and Other Drug program. The role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe, trauma-informed and evidence-based AOD services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and Community.

The position provides direct supervision and leadership to the AOD workforce, supports complex case management, oversees forensic and mandated referral pathways, and ensures the AOD program meets contractual obligations, service targets and quality standards.

Working within a multidisciplinary Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) model, the AOD Team Leader strengthens partnerships across health, justice, mental health, housing, child and family services, and rehabilitation sectors to support holistic care and recovery outcomes.

The position promotes healing, resilience, cultural connection and self-determination through a harm minimisation and strengths-based approach.

Key Selection Criteria
To be considered for this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Minimum five years’ experience in the Alcohol and Other Drugs sector, with experience supporting people with complex AOD needs.
• Leadership, supervision and mentoring experience, with the ability to develop a high-performing,



accountable and culturally safe workforce.
• Knowledge and application of harm minimisation, trauma-informed practice and culturally secure approaches to AOD service delivery.
• Understanding of Aboriginal Community Controlled principles and commitment to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Ability to manage complex service delivery, stakeholder relationships, referrals, funded program requirements, performance targets and compliance obligations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, clinical and problem-solving skills, with a strong commitment to Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Child Safety and continuous quality improvement.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
• Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Social Work, Psychology, Community Services, Mental Health, Counselling or related discipline.
Desirable:
• Completion of AOD Skill Set or advanced AOD qualifications.
• Relevant leadership or management qualifications.

This is not an aboriginal identified position, however, preference may be given to persons of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander descent (as permitted under The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010 s12: “A person may take a special measure for the purpose of promoting or realizing substantive equality for members of a group with a particular attribute”).

We do not offer sponsorship at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. If you have elected that you require sponsorship on your application form, unfortunately, your application will not be considered.

📌 Team Leader AOD (Preston)
🏢 VAHS
📍 Preston