Clinical Nurse Specialist - Drug & Alcohol Consultation Liaison

Lead drug & alcohol consultation at John Hunter, Belmont or Maitland - make a real difference in substance use recovery at your choice of major hospital.

Employment Type: Temporary Full and Part Time Opportunities

Position Classification: Clinical Nurse Specialist Grade 2

Remuneration: $ - $ Per Annum + 12% Super + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: Up to 38

Requisition : REQ
641685

Location: Newcastle, Belmont or Maitland

Applications Close: Sunday, 8th March 2026

To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

Location & Roles

• 📍John Hunter Hospital – Temporary Part Time (Until June 2026)
• 📍Maitland Hospital – Temporary Part Time (Until June 2027)
• 📍Belmont Hospital – Temporary Full Time (Until June 2027)

Where You’ll Be Working

Join the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services (DACS) Consultation Liaison (CL) team, delivering specialist support. This dynamic service improves health outcomes for people of all ages experiencing harmful substance use, providing individualised, case-managed care and leadership in withdrawal management across inpatient and community settings. You'll work closely with emergency departments, primary treating teams, the Youth Drug and Alcohol Clinical Service (YDACS), and multidisciplinary stakeholders, using a stepped-care approach to support children, young people and adults.

About The Role

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist - Drug & Alcohol Consultation Liaison, you'll provide expert assessment, case management and specialist advice to patients withdrawing from substances, collaborating with ED and inpatient teams to deliver safe, individualised care. Your work will span inpatient consultations, community follow-up and youth-focused support, including OAT treatment guidance, patient engagement and liaison with the broader DACS and YDACS programs.

Reporting to service leadership, you'll balance autonomy in clinical decision-making with close teamwork to optimise treatment pathways and health outcomes at your assigned hospital.

About You

You're an experienced Registered Nurse with a passion for drug and alcohol care, skilled in engaging patients with complex substance use needs across all ages, including youth. You bring advanced clinical judgement, strong patient engagement skills and expertise in D&A interventions like OAT treatment, thriving in fast-paced hospital environments while building collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary teams.

• Current Authority to Practice as a Registered Nurse with AHPRA
• Relevant post-registration qualifications in drug and alcohol, mental health or related field, plus at least 3 years' experience in the clinical area (or equivalent)
• Eligible to drive in NSW and willingness to travel for work purposes
• Demonstrated patient engagement skills and knowledge of D&A OAT treatment
• Ability to provide specialist consultation and case management in inpatient and community settings
• Strong collaboration skills with ED, inpatient teams and youth services
• Commitment to evidence-based practice and supporting vulnerable populations

You'll receive comprehensive orientation to DACS services, ongoing training and support from the multidisciplinary team to ensure a smooth transition and continuous professional growth.

At Hunter New England Health enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day:

• ✅Sustainable Healthcare:
  Together towards zero
• ✅Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full-time employees)
• ✅4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
• ✅Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance
• ✅Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus…