Are you a qualified and experienced Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Worker or Counsellor in Australia, dedicated to supporting individuals on their recovery journey? Do you possess strong skills in AOD assessment, intervention, and relapse prevention, and are you looking for a flexible way to deliver your services via telehealth? Mentalzon.com invites compassionate and skilled AOD practitioners to join our platform, connecting you with clients across Australia seeking private AOD support and counselling online.

About Mentalzon.com:

Mentalzon.com is a contemporary platform focused on enhancing access to a range of mental health, well-being, and specialist support services. We recognize the critical need for skilled AOD practitioners and the profound impact they have. Our platform empowers AOD Workers/Counsellors to establish or expand their independent private practice, offering autonomy, secure technology, and a way to reach individuals needing specialized AOD care remotely.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver Remote AOD Support & Counselling: Provide confidential and non-judgmental AOD counselling, psychoeducation, and support services to individuals via secure telehealth.
• Conduct AOD Assessments: Perform AOD-specific assessments (e.g., screening, brief interventions, risk assessment) appropriate for a telehealth setting to understand client needs and inform support plans.
• Develop Client-Centred Plans: Collaboratively develop individualised support plans with clients, focusing on their goals, harm minimisation strategies, and relapse prevention techniques.
• Utilise Evidence-Informed AOD Strategies: Apply evidence-informed AOD intervention models and strategies, such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches for AOD, psycho-education, and brief interventions.
• Support and Education: Provide support and information to clients regarding AOD issues, recovery pathways, and coping strategies. Where appropriate and with consent, this may extend to family members.
• Maintain Professional Records: Ensure accurate, confidential, and timely documentation of client interactions and progress, adhering to ethical guidelines, relevant professional standards, and Australian privacy legislation (e.g., Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)).
• Uphold Ethical Conduct: Practice strictly in accordance with relevant ethical codes for AOD practitioners and/or your specific professional qualification (e.g., counselling, social work).
• Referral Pathways: Identify when clients may require more intensive support (e.g., detoxification, residential rehabilitation, specialist mental health or medical care) and facilitate appropriate referrals with client consent.
• Adherence to Telehealth Best Practice: Comply with best practice guidelines for delivering AOD services remotely.

Essential Requirements:

• Qualifications: Minimum of a Diploma level qualification (AQF Level 5 or higher) specifically in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Community Services (with AOD specialisation), Counselling (with AOD focus/experience), Mental Health (with AOD focus/experience), or a closely related human services field. Higher qualifications (e.g., Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Public Health with AOD specialisation) are highly regarded.
• Specialist AOD Experience: Demonstrated, significant experience working directly with individuals experiencing alcohol and other drug issues in a support, counselling, case management, or therapeutic role within Australia.
• Core AOD Knowledge & Skills: Strong understanding of AOD types, effects, dependency, recovery models, harm minimisation principles, relapse prevention strategies, and the impact of AOD on individuals and families. Proficiency in AOD screening/assessment, motivational interviewing, and AOD-specific counselling techniques.
• Understanding of Co-occurring Issues: Awareness of and ability to work with clients who may have co-occurring mental health conditions (dual diagnosis), within the scope of your role and telehealth capabilities.
• Right to Work: Must possess the legal right to work on a self-employed basis within Australia.
• Technical Proficiency: Competence in using secure video conferencing platforms for service delivery, and familiarity with electronic record-keeping or client management systems.
• Professional Environment: Access to a stable high-speed internet connection and a private, secure, and professional workspace compliant with confidentiality requirements for telehealth.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Current professional indemnity insurance covering AOD work/counselling practice (including telehealth) in Australia.
• Commitment to Professional Development: Evidence of ongoing commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relevant to the AOD field.

Desirable Requirements:

• Membership or accreditation with a relevant professional body (e.g., DAPAANZ - Drug and Alcohol Practitioners' Association Aotearoa New Zealand, ACA - Australian Counselling Association, PACFA - Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, AASW - Australian Association of Social Workers, if primary qualification aligns).
• Formal training and certification in specific evidence-based AOD therapies (e.g., advanced Motivational Interviewing, CBT for AOD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for AOD).
• Significant experience providing AOD services via telehealth.
• Experience in private practice.
• Experience working with diverse populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD communities, youth, and those mandated for treatment.
• Eligibility to provide services as an NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) therapeutic support provider for individuals with psychosocial disability related to AOD use.

Conditions of Engagement (Self-Employed Basis for Private Practice):

• Flexibility and Autonomy: Define your own working hours, session availability, and client load to suit your professional and personal life.
• Work Remotely from Anywhere in Australia: Provide services from any suitable, private, and professional location within Australia.
• Private Billing – No Medicare Rebates: Set your own competitive sessional rates for private AOD support and counselling services.
  • Important Note: Services provided by AOD Workers/Counsellors in this specific capacity on this platform are generally not eligible for Medicare rebates. Clients will be paying privately.
  • Some clients may have NDIS funding that could cover services if you are an NDIS registered provider and the support aligns with their plan.
  • (Typical private AOD counselling rates can vary, e.g., AUD $80 - $180+ per session, depending on qualifications, experience, and service type).
• Reach Clients in Need: Connect with individuals across Australia seeking specialized AOD support through the Mentalzon.com platform.
• Focus on Client Support: Our platform aims to facilitate client connections, allowing you to concentrate on your direct client work.

How to Join Mentalzon.com:

1. Register Your Interest & Profile: Sign up on Mentalzon.com. You will be guided to create a professional profile detailing your AOD-specific qualifications, relevant experience, any professional memberships, areas of expertise, and your approach to AOD support.
2. Upload Verification Documents: Submit copies of your relevant qualifications, evidence of AOD-specific training and experience, proof of identity, and details of your professional indemnity insurance.
3. Verification Process: Our team will review your credentials and experience in the AOD field.
4. Set Your Availability & Services: Upon successful verification, define your consultation hours, the types of AOD support services you offer, and your fee structure.
5. Commence Client Engagement: Begin receiving enquiries or bookings for private AOD consultations. Manage all aspects of client engagement, including fee arrangements and service delivery, directly with your clients, adhering to professional and ethical standards.

Why Partner with Mentalzon.com as an AOD Worker / Counsellor?

• Make a Difference: Use your specialized AOD skills to support individuals in making positive changes and improving their well-being.
• Practice with Autonomy: Enjoy the freedom to manage your practice according to your professional judgment and client needs.
• Transparent Collaboration: Free registration to join. Mentalzon.com is designed to support your independent practice; any platform service fees will be clearly communicated.
• Expand Your Reach: Connect with a wider range of clients who may not have access to local AOD services.

If you are a qualified and experienced AOD Worker or Counsellor in Australia, committed to ethical, person-centred practice, and seeking a flexible telehealth opportunity, we encourage you to connect with Mentalzon.com.

Note: Appropriate qualifications and demonstrated experience in the Alcohol and Other Drugs sector are essential for practitioners on this platform. Services offered in this role are typically on a private fee-paying basis and are generally not eligible for Medicare rebates (unless the practitioner holds separate, concurrent registration and provider status in a Medicare-rebated profession like Psychology or as a GP, and is practicing under that specific registration for a given service). This opportunity is for self-employed practitioners. You are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all professional, ethical, and legal requirements relevant to your AOD practice in Australia.