Position: Locum Guidance Counsellors/Psychologists
Commencing Date: 2023
Salary Range: $50.77 – $62.72 per hour pending experience
Tenure: Temporary Positions
Closing Date: Monday, 19 December 2022 unless filled prior

Townsville Catholic Education is currently seeking committed and enthusiastic Locum Guidance Counsellors/Psychologists to provide temporary support within our schools across the Diocese.

Townsville Catholic Education supports a diverse region extending from Townsville to the Burdekin and Whitsunday regions in the south, and north to Ingham and Halifax, south-west to Winton, and west to the border with the Northern Territory, encompassing Mount Isa and several small, isolated western towns and east to Palm Island.

Townsville Catholic Education provides a supportive, flexible working environment where care for the individual is an important part of our ethos.  We employ motivated people who want to work together to produce excellent outcomes for our students. Our staff are recognised as being central to achieving our mission. 

About the Role

The position of Locum Guidance Counsellor/Psychologist will provide professional expertise, leadership and support to the school community in the development, implementation and evaluation of plans and programs to assist students in achieving positive educational, developmental and lifelong learning outcomes.

The position will collaboratively negotiate, develop and implement programs for student that have a focus on preventative and early intervention strategies; are responsive to identified personal, social, emotional and educational needs; and aim to foster resilience and personal skills development.

Guidance Counsellors are guided by a specific theoretical orientation influenced by their global view of the school and the services available to it.  Any intervention with Primary and Secondary school students has to take particular notice of the student within the context of the family.  The focus is on the student within this and other contexts, realising that the responsibility for each student’s welfare and progress remains within the family and local school.  A particular emphasis will be to empower school communities to assist students in crisis or with diverse learning needs.

Key Accountabilities

• Advocate, provide counselling, psychoeducational assessment and individual student support recommendations and advice to students, teachers and parents concerning educational, behavioural, mental health and family issues.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and facilitate effective working relationships and partnerships with parents, school staff and external support agencies in order to provide a comprehensive support, case management and referral service that optimises students’ access and engagement in educational programs.
• Conduct activities such as student observation and psychoeducational assessment in order to determine the nature of student learning difficulties, disability, developmental levels or psychological and emotional status in order to make recommendations for educational adjustments and interventions.
• Assist schools in the implementation of student protection, behaviour support policies and risk management processes that may involve the development of individualised student plans. Monitor and review the implementation of the student plans together with the classroom teacher and other stakeholders.
• Balance the ethical issues of privacy and confidentiality for each student with the appropriateness of sharing information with others, and maintain a comprehensive and professional record keeping system that complies with policy and legal requirements of parental and legal access to official records.
• Participate in relevant professional development, and prepare and implement professional and personal skill development programs and in-services for teachers, school officers and parents. Participate in regular professional supervision sessions.
• Provide leadership and specialised support in response to student protection issues, critical incidents and emergencies, including the development and implementation of stress management, grief management and behaviour management programs for students (individuals and small groups).
• Maintain the standards that are established by the professional body with which the Guidance Counsellor is affiliated.

About You

Experience

• Proven capacity to develop and implement counselling programs and associated strategies and services to support the needs of students with personal, social and emotional needs
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively respond to sensitive and complex student issues within an ethical framework.

 Knowledge

• Capacity for effective counselling and individual case management involving a multidisciplinary approach, within an environment of competing priorities
• Capacity to develop and implement student support programs and services for students with high support needs that reflect best practice and that align with relevant policies and procedures.

 Skills

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to develop and sustain productive relationships within and beyond the school community.

Mandatory Criteria

• Current Working with Children Suitability Card – The successful candidate will require a paid Blue Card before commencement as per the No Card, No Start policy developed by Queensland Government – exemption for AHPRA or OCT Registration
• Current full registration as a teacher in Queensland, and one year (minimum) full-time (or part-time equivalent) coursework Masters, majoring in guidance and counselling
  OR
• Full registration as a psychologist through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Psychology Board of Australia or a fourth year qualification or fifth year qualification in psychology that will enable general registration as a psychologist through AHPRA Psychology Board of Australia following completion of the board approved internship or accredited sequence of study
• Current Driver’s Licence
• Ability to travel from time to time within the Catholic Diocese of Townsville
• Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role in a safe manner

Desirable Criteria

• Professional membership with the Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association (QGCA) or the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Some employees may be subject to pre-employment medical assessments during the selection process. Depending on the nature of the position, it may be necessary for successful applicants to be immunised against certain preventable diseases in order to minimise the risk of transmission.

What we offer

• Competitive hourly rate: $50.77-$62.72 per hour pending experience 
• 4 Weeks Annual Leave with 17.5% leave loading prorated
• Salary packaging options 
• Modern facilities, equipment and resources
• Superannuation up to 12.75% employer contribution (in a  co-contribution arrangement)
• Access to long service leave after 7 years of continuous service
• 14 Weeks’ paid parental leave (eligibility criteria applies)
• Deferred Salary Scheme
• Corporate health insurance 
• Induction, professional development and learning opportunities
• Wellbeing programs and initiatives.

How to apply

• Complete the application form including contact details (phone and email) of two professional referees
• Attach a covering letter, of no more than 2 pages, addressing the experience, knowledge and skills to support the key accountabilities of the role identified in the position description. 
• Upload a current resume 

For a confidential discussion, please call Annette McCarthy on 07 4773 0900

For further information regarding the remuneration package please contact TCEO Human resources [email protected]

Please see the Position Description and the TCEO Guidelines for supporting Provisional Psychologists for more information.  

Applications during the shortlisting phase will be kept confidential. 

Applications close 3pm Monday, 19 December 2022 unless filled prior.