Palmerston Association – Comorbid Case Worker

Part-time | 45.6 hours per fortnight | 12-month fixed term

Albany

Make a Real Impact at Palmerston Association

Since 1980, Palmerston has been a leader in AOD support across WA, helping people improve their wellbeing. We offer specialised services in alcohol and other drug treatment, mental health, and wellbeing, through counselling, group support, residential rehabilitation, and education—reaching communities across the Perth metro, Peel, South West, and Great Southern regions.

About the Role

Here’s your opportunity to be part of a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s making a genuine difference every day.

Palmerston’s Homelessness Outreach Project will seek to establish relationships with people in Albany experiencing AOD and homelessness and who typically do not access health services.  The model deploys a Comorbidity Case Worker and a Nurse to deliver mobile community outreach to Albany’s homeless population.  Travelling by car and on foot, the team will target known ‘hotspot’ locations to reach people who are otherwise unlikely to present to service providers through traditional channels.  The goal is to deliver harm reduction activities alongside opportunistic primary health care and education.

📌 This role focuses on delivering high-quality, client-centred care to individuals who face significant barriers in accessing primary health services, including those experiencing homelessness. Working within a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and strengths-based framework, you will build trusting relationships with clients to support their engagement with health and support services. Case management may include short-term crisis intervention (up to 6 weeks) or longer-term support, depending on individual needs.

As a key team member, you will walk alongside clients from diverse backgrounds, offering tailored support through assessment, planning, counselling, and coordinated care. Your empathy, understanding, and commitment will empower clients to work toward their recovery goals and improve their overall wellbeing.

This role is classified at Level 5 under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010.

This role requires confidence, compassion, and a steady presence. Working alongside vulnerable individuals means facing complex situations, high emotions, and occasional setbacks. That’s why we’re looking for someone who embodies compassion, connection, acceptance, and respect—someone who can offer unwavering support while maintaining the ability to navigate difficult moments with confidence and care. With a commitment to excellence in service, you’ll provide the stability and encouragement that empowers individuals on their journey toward change.

What We’re Looking For

You’re more than your qualifications—you’re someone who brings heart, empathy, professionalism and a strong commitment to supporting clients in improving their wellbeing. The ideal candidate will meet the following selection criteria:

• Tertiary or equivalent or relevant qualifications in social, behavioural or health sciences or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience working within a case management framework.
• Understanding of mobile, street based and assertive outreach support and interventions.
• Understanding or experience working with people at risk of experiencing homelessness, including knowledge of healing-oriented approaches.
• Strong passion for working with people and ability to engage people actively and assertively with complex needs.
• An understanding of the homelessness service system with knowledge of patterns, trends, systemic issues, and principles in working with people.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills encompassing interpersonal, verbal and written, and negotiation skills.
• Strong organisational, interpersonal and time management skills
• Knowledge of alcohol and drug issues and co-occurring conditions
• Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Why Join Us?

At Palmerston, we value people—our clients, our communities, and our staff. Here’s what you can look forward to:

✨ Great Benefits:

• Salary packaging up to $15,900 + $2,650 for meals/entertainment
• 5 days of life & wellness leave (pro rata)
• 9 weeks paid parental leave for the primary carer
• 2 weeks paid partner leave for non-primary carers
• Option to purchase an additional week of leave each year
• Partial access to long service leave after 5 years
• Flexible, family-friendly work arrangements
• 17.5% annual leave loading (award-based staff)
• 5 days paid gender affirmation leave

🌏 Inclusive Culture:

• Cultural leave (2 paid + 8 unpaid days) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• Staff-led working groups (RAP, Rainbow, Environmental, Disability Access & Inclusion)
• Aboriginal Staff Forum to connect and collaborate
• Our annual Big Day Out brings staff together from all sites to relax, connect and celebrate our work
• We’re Rainbow Tick accredited—the first and only AOD provider in WA to achieve this!

How to Apply

Ready to bring your passion to Palmerston? We’d love to hear from you.

Click “Apply” on Seek! Or, if its more convenient for you, drop off your application at one of our sites.
Be sure to include:

• Your resume
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria
• Answers to all application questions

⏳ Applications close: 23^rd July 2025
We’re reviewing applications as they come in—so don’t wait!

A Few Final Details

You’ll need a valid WA Working with Children Check and a National Police Clearance (issued within the last 3 months).

📞 Got questions? Contact Tina Edwards-Pope at 08 9892 2100 or email [email protected]

Diversity makes us stronger. We seek and welcome diversity and a breadth of experience and backgrounds in our teams. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people who identify as LGBTIQ+ are encouraged to apply.

If you would like to have a yarn on what it’s like to work at Palmerston as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander employee at Palmerston please contact Wayne Ryder on 08 9399 5344 or [email protected].

Recruitment agencies, we appreciate your consideration. However, we strive to fill our opportunities through direct channels whenever feasible. If we require agency assistance, we will reach out.