Student placements

Are you currently studying social work, psychology, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), counselling, youth work or another relevant qualification? Do you have an interest in working in the AOD sector and a passion for working with people affected by alcohol and drug issues to achieve their goals?

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About student placement

Odyssey House Victoria (OHV) offers a variety of student placements that are challenging and rewarding. A placement with OHV can offer you a valuable introduction to work in the AOD sector through a structured and meaningful experience. Depending on your qualification and your goals, you may work with groups including children and families, young people or people with complex histories of long-term alcohol and drug use.

At OHV, we are committed to providing student placements that benefit students, our organisation and most importantly, the people we work with. You will be on the ground doing varied work that directly impacts people with alcohol and drug issues.

We have a strong culture with staff, students and volunteers committed to our core values of love, trust, respect, honesty and concern. We are always looking for dedicated, team-minded and empathetic people who are open to learning new skills and ways of working.

Eligibility

  • Placements are all clinically focused, and high school work experience students are not eligible.
  • eligible qualifications vary by program and site. For more information on relevant qualifications see individual tabs below.
  • OHV accepts placement students from business and administration disciplines on an ad hoc basis. If you are a business or admin student looking to complete a placement or a professional project, please email HR@odyssey.org.au to find out more.
  • generally, preference will be given to students who are required to complete a placement as part of their qualification.
  • students will need to complete a Police Check and a Working with Children Check before commencing their placement. Any student placement offer is conditional until proof of these checks is provided.
  • applications that do not follow the correct process will not be considered, so please read the below section carefully.

Application process

  1. Applications open periodically on our website. Intakes will be in approximately October/November for Semester 1 and March/April for winter and Semester 2 each year. You are required to apply for specific program areas (see placement area tabs for information and links to apply). You can apply for as many areas as you wish, though it is advised that you tailor your application to the specific program area.

    Please ensure you attach both of the following documents to the application submission page that you are presented with when you click APPLY:

    • Your CV
    • A completed application form. This includes the completed cover letter field, addressing:
      • Key selection criteria stated within the specific program area position description
      • Why you are interested in doing a placement with Odyssey House Victoria
      • Any skills, previous experience, professional interests or qualities you possess that you believe align with the work of the organisation and/or program area
      • Any relevant requirements of your placement not covered by the form

    We recommend checking to ensure that your application  form has saved correctly with all of the required content.

  2. If you progress to the next stage, you will be required to have a face-to-face interview.
  3. If you are a preferred candidate you will need to undertake our safety screening requirements, including completing a Police Check and a Working With Children Check, and providing the results of these checks before beginning your placement. OHV will reimburse you for the costs of these checks. If you already have a WWCC, you will need to provide evidence that you have updated your WWCC details to list OHV as an employer before you can commence your placement.
  4. Once all of the above is completed, you can sign your paperwork and begin your placement on the agreed date.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Odyssey House Victoria has committed to a STRETCH Reconciliation Action Plan and is committed to providing meaningful and culturally respectful student placement opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students of relevant disciplines. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who is considering a placement with OHV, you can apply via the above process or you can contact Ian Bloomfield, Aboriginal Cultural Advisor, to discuss your goals. You can get in contact Ian by calling our reception on 9420 7600 and leaving your details.

Application form

Please download and complete the Student Placement application form. Please ensure you fulfil all requirements prior to submission.

Placement areas

Location

Lower Plenty, with the possibility of some travel to Richmond.

Eligibility

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are encouraged to apply.

Bachelor or Master of:

  • Social Work Psychology (masters only)
  • Counselling
  • Child development
  • Nursing

Certificate IV or Diploma of:

  • AOD
  • Aboriginal Health

Areas of work

A student placement at the Therapeutic Community (Lower Plenty) may under supervision, and working as part of a team, assist with:

  • Facilitating client admissions through:
    • Assessing client suitability;
    • Participating in preparation and support groups;
    • Consulting with other services as appropriate; and
  • Supporting senior residents during the admission process
  • Participating in risk assessment and treatment planning processes
  • Participating in therapy and psychoeducation groups
  • Supporting client exit processes
  • Working as part of a clinical team
  • Gain understanding of group work processes
  • Participate in staff and resident meetings
  • Work with families and in the children’s centre (if suitable)
  • Gain awareness of Aboriginal culture and safety in a generalist service

Position description

Please download and review the position description of this program area to respond correctly to the key selection criteria.

Apply now

Learn more about the Therapeutic Community >

Location

Richmond (with some travel across Melbourne required). Students on placement with KIF will need to have a driver’s license (either full or probationary license).

Eligibility

The following students will be considered:

  • Master of Social Work
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) with previous placement or relevant work experience
  • Bachelor of Social Work with relevant work experience

Areas of work

As a student, you would work alongside the Kids In Focus team in a variety of settings to support families affected by parental alcohol and other drug problems. These settings include:

  • Children’s Courts and Magistrates Courts across Melbourne
  • Child Protection offices across Melbourne Hospitals
  • Clients’ homes
  • Schools and day care centres

The role of the student will be to support the team to engage and support the families. The student will shadow the case managers throughout engagement periods, inclusive of:

  • Assessment Referrals to other services
  • Case management
  • Family support
  • Harm reduction discussions and relapse prevention support
  • Parenting strategies and support
  • Outreach
  • Supporting clients at court
  • Transporting clients

The student may also have the opportunity attend camp and be involved in receiving and assessing new referrals. These opportunities will depend on the time of the placement and the student’s capability.

Position description

Please download and review the position description of this program area to respond correctly to the key selection criteria.

Apply now

Learn more about kids in focus >

Location

Melton (with the possibility of intermittent travel across the surrounding areas)

Eligibility

The following students will be considered:

  • Bachelor or Diploma of Youth Work
  • Master of:
    • Social Work
    • Psychology
    • Occupational Therapy

Areas of work

Youth Work students may undertake the following tasks:
  • Providing a safe and welcoming space for clients and their families presenting to headspace Melton
  • Shadowing intake workers
  • Attending staff, intake and clinical meetings
  • Participating in clinical reviews and supervision
  • Supporting community engagement and health promotion activities
  • Co-facilitating the centre’s Youth Advisory Group and Family and Friends Advisory Group
Masters students may undertake the following tasks:
  • Duty work
  • Completing comprehensive assessments
  • Developing individual care plans
  • Providing brief interventions
  • Co-facilitating groups
  • Participating in clinical reviews and clinical supervision
  • Attending and contributing to staff, intake and clinical meetings
  • Supporting community engagement and health promotion activities

Position description

Please download and review the position description of this program area to respond correctly to the key selection criteria.

Apply now

Learn more about Youth and Family Services >

The South West catchment will offer a number of short term (less than 200 hours) and long term (200 hours or over) placements per year. Please note that ACAP students will receive priority for long-term placements, though all interested students are encouraged to apply.

Location

Werribee (with intermittent work at other sites within the South West region of Melbourne)

Eligibility

Bachelor or Master of:

  • Social Work
  • Counselling
  • Psychology

Certificate IV or Diploma of:

  • Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Mental Health Community Services

Areas of work

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For Social Work Students:

Duty in central intake, completing comprehensive assessments, developing individual treatment plans and providing brief interventions. Your assessment and treatment plans will address risk for both the client and their family and social network. You will participate in clinical reviews and clinical supervision. You will be responsible for a counselling caseload, join our Care & Recovery Workers in their outreach and advocacy functions, and provide facilitation support to our therapeutic day program

For Counselling and Psychology Students:

duty in central intake, completing comprehensive assessments, developing individual treatment plans and making referrals, and providing brief interventions. Your assessment and treatment plans will address risk for both the client and their family and social network. You will participate in clinical reviews and clinical supervision. You will be responsible for a counselling caseload, including the development of therapeutic treatment plans and case recording

For Cert IV and Diploma Students:

Observing and supporting our central intake, observing comprehensive assessments, developing individual treatment plans and making referrals, and preparing notes of observed interventions. Your observations will include assessing risk for both the client and their significant others. You will participate in clinical reviews and clinical supervision and other Catchment meetings

Position description

Please download and review the position description of this program area to respond correctly to the key selection criteria.

Apply now

Location

Footscray or Melton, with the possibility of intermittent work at other sites across the North West region of Melbourne.

Please note: If you have a preferred location, please specify this in your cover letter. If you would be unable to travel to one of these locations please specify this also.

Eligibility

Bachelor or master of:

  • Social Work
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Counselling

Odyssey Institute students, mental health nursing and occupational therapy (psych specialisation) students seeking short-term exposure placements will also be considered.

Areas of work

A day in the life of this position includes:

  • Duty work for central intake
  • Completing comprehensive assessments
  • Developing individual treatment plans
  • Providing brief interventions
  • Participating in clinical reviews and clinical supervision
  • Joining our Care & Recovery Workers in their outreach and advocacy functions

Short-term exposure placements will be observational. If you are completing a long placement, you may be responsible for a counselling caseload.

Position description

Please download and review the position description of this program area to respond correctly to the key selection criteria.

Apply now

FAQs

I would like to work for OHV. What is the likelihood of a job opportunity once I complete my placement?

While we can’t guarantee job opportunities with OHV following your placement, we are growing fast and frequently advertise new roles. If you have a successful placement and we feel that you are a ‘good fit’, we would strongly recommend that you apply for relevant roles listed on our careers page once you have completed your studies. Many of our staff started with OHV as students.

I am concerned that I may not pass the safety screening. What if issues arise during my Working with Children Check or Police Check?

OHV is committed to child safety and has zero tolerance of behaviours that compromise the safety of children. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for a placement with us.

A disclosable outcome on your Police Check does not automatically preclude you from a placement with OHV. We acknowledge that clients can benefit from working with staff and students who have lived experience and strong boundaries. Additionally, we recognise that recovery from drug and alcohol abuse is a journey and therefore applicants may have a police record.

I have a question that has not been answered by this page. How can I get more information?

You can email hr@odyssey.org.au with any additional questions. Please ensure you have read all information and FAQs carefully prior to contacting OHV.

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