Counsellor –Sisters of St John of God

                                                                                               Part Time (.6 FTE) – Allocation can be expanded

                                                                                                               Contract until 30th June 2026.

Who are we?

Outcare provides person centred care for people whose circumstances place them at risk of entry to the criminal justice system, or who are currently serving a sentence. The purpose of Outcare is to support people to regain direction and reintegrate into the community.

Our Sisters of St John of God program comprises a comprehensive suite of supports for women involved in the justice system and experiencing family domestic violence. The Counsellor position in our Sisters of St John of God program, will work with clients and co-design support plans with to remove barriers to successful engagement with community services. 

The Role:

We are seeking a Counsellor in our Sisters of St John of God program at Outcare. The Counsellor is responsible for the provision of support, education and assistance based on their own experiences and learnings. The position is designed to promote and enable personal and professional growth of the client, enhance their reflection skills and enhance client outcomes as they progress through their own journeys. Although listed as a three day position there is flexibility to negotiate this.

This will involve the following:

• Assessment and Evaluation: Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify the unique needs, strengths, and vulnerabilities of each woman, ensuring tailored support and interventions.

• Individualized Counselling: Provide one-on-one therapeutic counselling sessions to address trauma, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and other issues specific to the individual.

• Group Therapy Facilitation: Lead and facilitate group therapy sessions to foster mutual support, share coping strategies, and address common challenges among participants.

• Care Plan Development: Collaborate with the individual and the multidisciplinary team to develop and implement comprehensive, holistic care plans that prioritize the well-being and autonomy of the client.

• Crisis Intervention: Provide timely and effective crisis intervention as needed, ensuring safety and support during critical incidents.

• Referral and Collaboration: Establish connections with external agencies and services to ensure clients have access to a wide range of support, including housing, vocational training, and medical care.

• Advocacy: Act as an advocate for clients, ensuring their rights are upheld and they have a voice in decisions affecting their well-being, both within the justice system and in the broader community.

• Educational Workshops: Organize and deliver workshops on topics such as coping mechanisms, self-care, relationship-building, and life skills to empower justice-involved women towards a positive future.

What we give back:

• Family friendly and flexible working arrangements

• Great salary packaging options (reduces your taxable income)

• Career progression opportunities  

• Free, confidential counselling service

• Working with a great team of like-minded people

• Ongoing training opportunities

Key Experience and Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualification in counselling, social work, or another related field.

• Two-years’ experience supporting Justice-involved individuals, or any other group experiencing systemic disadvantage.

• Detailed understanding of the challenges Justice-involved women face.

• Ability to gain a successful prison clearance.

• Knowledge and understanding of the challenges of family and domestic violence.

Other Employment Requirements:

• Australian Drivers licence

• Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate

• Police Clearance (within 3 months) – A criminal record does not make you ineligible to fill this position.

How to apply:

Doing full written job applications are not for everyone, we LOVE and value lived experience.  There are three ways to apply for this job

• Send a 1-page letter telling us about you and how your experience, qualifications and journey could help others. Attach a resume with it.

• Send a video of you telling us about you and how your experience, qualifications and journey could help others

• Send a voice recording of you telling us about you and how your experience, qualifications and journey could help others

 The journey is important and the learnings from it are even more important. Tell us why you can be a Counsellor with the St John of God program.

Applications close 3rd November 2023. Please note we may proceed with interviews before the closing date.

Keen to learn more about this exciting opportunity? Simply contact the Manager – Reintegration, Lukas Carey or send written applications via SEEK or video / Audio applications to [email protected]