Position Title: Trauma Specialist Counsellor with WORTH (Womens Outreach Trauma Health services)

Service of: Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services 

Award: SCHADS 

Grade: Level Entry 5: pay point to be negotiated depending on qualifications and experience. 

Hours: Up to 28 hours on a 3-year fixed term (Expiring 30 June 2025).  

The Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services (NORWACS) is focused on providing trauma informed, affordable services that are sensitive to the needs of women with complex health issues or recovering from violence. The Womens Outreach Trauma Health service (WORTH) is an initiative by NORWACS in response to devasting consequences for women following the natural disasters of 2022. NORWACS understands that vulnerable women experienced a compounding of trauma impacts, whereby pre-existing vulnerabilities associated with violence, abuse and adverse physical health were exacerbated. The additional barriers which occurred meant that women were no longer able to access emotional, psychological or physical health services to ensure and maintain wellbeing. 

As such, NORWACS has established an outreach model of trauma treatment designed to meet the wholistic health needs of women. The outreach model of treatment will aim to address this through the provision of psychosocial services such as counselling and social work, and the provision of a Women’s Health Nurse to service the unique physical health needs of women. This multi-disciplinary team will provide services to a variety of locally identified hubs, ensuring that women’s health and wellbeing needs continue to be serviced whilst acknowledging and meeting the changing nature treatment needs for women post natural disaster. The specialist clinical team will practice from a trauma informed framework acknowledging and addressing the trauma associated with violence and abuse against women, and facilitate services for women who are disproportionately affected by the natural disaster across the Northern Rivers Region.  

Selection Criteria

NORWACS considers that being female is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). 

Valid unrestricted drivers licence for use in NSW/Australia. 

Valid Working with Children Check and Criminal History Check

Being vaccinated against Covid 19 as per the Public Health (Covid 19 Vaccination of Health Care Workers) Order 2022. 

Essential 

1. A bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, counselling and/or related behavioural sciences with substantial experience; or associate diploma level with substantial experience in the relevant service stream. Membership of a professional association or eligibility to obtain membership to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 
2. Advanced knowledge and application of contemporary theory, practice and best practice guidelines relating to complex trauma and sound understanding of and commitment to intersectional feminist practice.
3. Expert practice experience in therapeutic counselling interventions with women impacted by domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and other related traumas, with sound understanding around the dynamics of violence, complex trauma and integrated models of practice. Capability to identify and respond to safety concerns, particularly those related to child protection. 
4. Demonstrated cultural competency in engagement with First Nations Australians and advanced understanding of the impacts of transgenerational trauma. 
5. Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and engage in collaboration regarding service planning and design. 
6. Effective communication both written and verbal, interpersonal skills and ability to identify key messages, issues and concerns when communicating with others. This is inclusive of the ability to document accurate data and maintain client file notes. 
7.  Knowledge of local service provision with the ability to form networks and partnerships. 
8. Willingness to work outside of core business hours and weekends as the need arises to provide service provision and attend community events. 

Desirable skills, knowledge, and experience 

1. Demonstrated experience working in Flood Recovery or knowledge of the disproportionate impacts of natural disasters on women.
2. Knowledge understanding around the needs and treatment barriers of regional and remote women. 
3. Experience in the development of and/or evaluation of outreach service programs.
4. Current Basic Life Support and First Aid training. 

If this position is of interest to you, please email [email protected] to request additional information or phone us on 6621 9800

Applications close Monday 31st October 2022 at 5pm.