The Disaster Recovery Team (DRT) is a specialist multidisciplinary service within the Mental Health Service Group that provides psychosocial recovery and mental health support to communities affected by natural disasters and significant emergency events across the Townsville Hospital and Health Service catchment.

The team is activated in response to disaster events and works alongside local, district and state recovery arrangements to support individuals, families and communities experiencing disaster-related distress and disruption.

The Disaster Recovery Team provides:

- Community outreach and engagement activities.
- Psychosocial recovery support and early intervention services.
- Mental health and alcohol and other drugs support following disaster events.
- Community education regarding recovery, wellbeing and resilience.
- Service navigation, referral and linkage to recovery supports.
- Consultation and support to health professionals, recovery agencies and community organisations.

The team works closely with Local Disaster Management Groups, Community Recovery Hubs, government agencies, non-government organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and local communities to strengthen recovery outcomes and build community resilience.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker provides cultural leadership, community engagement and specialist cultural advice to ensure recovery services are culturally safe, responsive and effective for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Key Responsibilities

- Disaster recovery and psychosocial support

- Participate in disaster preparedness, response and recovery activities.
- Provide culturally appropriate psychosocial assessments, interventions and recovery support.
- Travel to disaster-affected communities and participate in outreach and recovery hubs.
- Connect consumers with mental health, housing, financial assistance, primary healthcare and other support services.

- Cultural safety and advocacy

- Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers,



families and communities.
- Ensure cultural considerations are incorporated into assessments, care planning and recovery services.
- Provide cultural advice to multidisciplinary teams.
- Support staff cultural capability through education and mentoring.
- Identify barriers to accessing services and contribute to addressing health inequities.

- Consumer assessment and care coordination

- Build culturally safe relationships with consumers and families.
- Undertake culturally informed assessments and develop recovery plans.
- Coordinate referrals and access to health and community services.
- Monitor consumer progress and provide ongoing follow-up.

- Community engagement and partnerships

- Establish relationships with communities, Elders, Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
- Participate in community consultations and outreach activities.
- Support disaster preparedness, health promotion and community resilience initiatives.
- Represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in recovery planning.

- Health promotion and education

- Deliver culturally appropriate health education and prevention activities.
- Promote health literacy, self-management and social and emotional wellbeing.
- Support community education and resilience-building activities.

- Service improvement and professional practice

- Contribute to service planning, evaluation, data collection and reporting.
- Assist with developing culturally responsive policies, procedures and models of care.
- Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, case reviews, supervision and professional development.
- Maintain workplace safety, quality standards and professional responsibilities.





Mandatory qualifications A Diploma in one of the following:

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care
- Mental Health
- Alcohol and Other Drugs

Applicants without the qualification may still apply if they demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities and commit to completing the qualification within an agreed timeframe if appointed.

The position is an identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate the following key requirements, knowledge and experience which are outlined under 'The Role'. The ideal applicant will be someone who has proven ability and can demonstrate the following:

- Cultural Leadership and Advocacy: Demonstrated ability to provide cultural leadership, advice and
- advocacy to support culturally safe and responsive disaster recovery services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Disaster Recovery and Community Engagement: Demonstrated experience delivering trauma-informed psychosocial recovery support, outreach and engagement within disaster-affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with communities, multidisciplinary teams, government and non-government stakeholders to improve recovery outcomes.
- Program Delivery and Communication: Demonstrated ability to plan, deliver and evaluate services,
- maintain accurate records and reports, and apply solid communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

If you're passionate about improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we'd love to hear trom you.

Follow the links below to apply:

Queensland Health Careers Portal

https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/

QLD-TV696413

SEEK

https://au.seek.com/job/95711513

For more information, contact

Sterling Wedel on (07) 4433 8122.

📌 Senior Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Identified) (Townsville)
🏢 Townsville Hospital and Health Service
📍 Townsville