Nunkuwarrin Yunti, the foremost Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Adelaide aims to promote and deliver improvement in the health and wellbeing of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families in the greater metropolitan areas of Adelaide and regional areas to advance their social, cultural and economic status. The Organisation places a strong focus on a client centered approach to the delivery of services and a collaborative working culture to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.

Nunkuwarrin Yunti is a Child Safe Organisation.

About the Program

The Paanthi team provides counselling and support to assist people to deal with a wide range of issues including grief & loss, depression, trauma, family and/or relationship matters and any other issues which impact on social and emotional well-being. The program provides holistic, culturally appropriate case work. Narrative Therapists provide Targeted Counselling Support for people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, peer agencies, Nunkuwarrin Yunti or other sources of referral.

The Royal Commission has indicated its intention to focus on violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of First Nations people with disability. Given this focus, the department is establishing counselling services focused on support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be affected by the Royal Commission’s inquiries.

These targeted counselling services will provide culturally appropriate, counselling services, to support Indigenous Australians with disability, their families and carers that are affected by the Royal Commission. These services will be primarily in-person, medium-term, trauma-informed counselling, in addition to other methods of counselling, such as telephone or online support to help those who may have complex needs and require more in-depth support and/or refer people to other services if other supports or non-related therapies are required.

About the Role

The primary role of the Counsellor / Narrative Therapists is and not limited to:

• Provide culturally appropriate, trauma informed counselling services to people that have been affected by the Royal Commission that are accessible, client-focused and meet the needs of people with disability, their families and carers.
• Build capacity in the delivery of trauma informed counselling services specifically tailored for people with disability, including those with more complex needs.
• Provide access to interpreting or cultural translation services as required.
• Provide supportive referrals to legal support services, advocates, financial support services, counselling and psychological care providers.
• Refer to or collaborate with appropriate services to provide social and practical support to clients such as housing, health, mental health, financial and aged care services in order to meet the critical needs of the individual.
• Accept referrals from the Royal Commission and other Australian Government funded Royal Commission support services, such as the national telephone counselling and referral service, as well supporting clients that directly approach the service.
• Support and participate in evaluation processes as required.
• Operate within   diverse therapeutic frameworks and modalities including, individual counselling, group work, family inclusive practice and Narrative Therapy principles
• Participate in the promotion of counselling services which enhance the coping capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and individuals and which ensure that services are delivered in a culturally safe manner.
• Provide education/awareness presentations to the wider community in relation to social and emotional wellbeing improvements for Aboriginal people as well as Disability Royal Commission Counselling services.
• Encourage clients to access a range of social health and welfare services, which include other Nunkuwarrin Yunti programs and external agencies.
• Establish and maintain collaborative and productive working relationships with current and potential stakeholders and partners, both internally and externally.
• Use available information systems and best practice evidence to inform program planning and clinical decision-making, and to evaluate outcomes.

Remuneration

This position is under the Nunkuwarrin Yunti Enterprise Agreement classification of Health Services Level 4 (Salary sacrifice and paid Christmas and New Year break)

To Apply

Note: For all roles within Nunkuwarrin Yunti, the successful candidate would require a mandatory Working with Children Check (SA) and National Police Check. 

As a condition of employment, the successful candidate are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in line with the Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No.6) (COVID019) Direction 2022 and are subject to any subsequent amendments or new directions.

Please complete your application with your Resume, a Cover Letter and the Application Questions during your application submission. Incomplete application will not be considered.

We encourage and thank all applicants for their time, however only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Should you have any queries or for further information please contact HR via [email protected] [link removed]

Due to the nature of this role, applicants from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Please note applications close by COB 28 October 2022

Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc is the organisation that is recruiting for the job vacancy you have applied for and will process your personal information as described in this Privacy Statement and will be responsible for complying with applicable data protection laws. Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc respects your privacy and will treat your personal information as confidential. We will use and share your personal information as described in this Privacy Statement https://nunku.org.au/working-with-us/employment/ [link removed]

All positions within Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc will be required to undergo a six (6) months probationary period.

ESSENTIAL – includes qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge

• A recognised qualification in Narrative Therapy and/or Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health or related field with demonstrated experience in working within a Narrative Practices framework. The minimum qualification is a Diploma from a current endorsed national training package in these areas.
• Holds registration with relevant professional body such as the Australian Counselling Association or equivalent.
• Demonstrated understanding of the history and effects of the forcible removal of Aboriginal& Torres Strait Islander children, and a comprehensive understanding of social and emotional well-being issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrated Narrative Therapy counselling skills with experience and knowledge of social, emotional and mental health issues which may include culturally appropriate healing methods, and trauma and grief counselling skills.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health sector, such as awareness of the relevant acts, laws and statutory authorities.
• Experience in managing clinical caseload of clients with high and complex needs.
• Proven well developed written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.
• Computing skills relevant to the position and competent in the use of information and communication technology including MS Office.

DESIRABLE

• An understanding of multiple therapeutic approaches for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Demonstrated Narrative Therapy counselling skills with experience and knowledge in implementing with Aboriginal people.
• Minimum of three years vocational experience in Counselling/Narrative practice.
• Experience in the delivery and design of therapeutic groups.
• Experience in working with Aboriginal people and/or communities
• An understanding of multiple therapeutic approaches