Alcohol and Other Drug Careers

AOD Clinicians provide assessment, treatment planning and therapeutic support for people who want to make changes to their alcohol or other drug use. They come from a range of professional backgrounds, including social work, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy and counselling. They work with people on the health, social and emotional factors that affect their wellbeing and recovery.

Addiction Medicine Specialists are specialist medical doctors with advanced training in preventing, assessing and treating substance use and its health effects. They lead medical care such as withdrawal management and pharmacotherapy, and give expert advice to other clinicians. They also contribute to teaching, supervision and service development.

Addiction psychiatrists, and psychiatry registrars training in addiction psychiatry, specialise in supporting people who experience both mental health challenges and substance use. They provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and lead complex care with multidisciplinary teams. Addiction psychiatrists also support registrars through their advanced training. To learn more about medical and psychiatry career opportunities across our Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, explore our Psychiatry and Medical Careers page.

AOD Nurses are registered or enrolled nurses who provide health assessment and nursing care for people using alcohol and other drugs. Their work can include supporting safe withdrawal, managing medications and pharmacotherapy, and monitoring physical health. They also provide health education and harm-reduction advice. To learn more about mental health nursing career opportunities across our Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, explore our Mental Health Nursing page.

AOD Counsellors provide one-to-one, family and group counselling. They help people explore their relationship with alcohol and other drugs, build coping strategies, and work towards the changes they want to make. They use evidence-based approaches in a respectful, non-judgemental way.

Care and Recovery Coordinators support people with more complex needs to access, and move between, the services they need. These can include treatment, housing, health care and community supports. They help people stay connected with support before, during and after treatment, and work towards their own recovery goals.

AOD Peer Workers draw on their own lived experience of substance use and recovery to support others. They build trust and connection, reduce stigma, and offer hope. They help people find their way through services and have their voice heard in their care. Peer Workers are part of our lived and living experience workforce. To learn more about lived and living experience career opportunities across our Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, explore our Lived and Living Experience Careers page.

Dual Diagnosis Clinicians specialise in supporting people who experience both mental health challenges and substance use. They provide integrated assessment and treatment, and give advice and secondary consultation to other teams. They help mental health and AOD services work together so people don’t fall through the gaps.

Senior and leadership roles guide the direction and quality of our AOD services. They lead and supervise teams, oversee clinical governance and practice standards, and drive service improvement. They also build partnerships with community organisations and other services across the region.