Mental Health Counsellor: Counselling Support Services (CSS) Program

About the role: 

As a Mental Health Counsellor with us, your role will involve working with participants to perform a bio-psychosocial assessment, build therapeutic alliances, support client lead decision making and goal setting and ensuring adequate service coordination and transfer of care.

In collaboration with the Therapeutic Alliance consortia’s management and support team, The Buttery will ensure that all interventions will be evidence based such as psycho-education, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, relaxation strategies, skills training, interpersonal therapy and narrative therapy. 

Our Counselling Support Services Program (CSS) aims to:

• provide timely intervention for those identified as needing either low to moderate intensity mental health counselling support according to the stepped care model.
• the CSS model supports those participants aged 16 years and older that identify with a mental health condition or concern.
• work collaboratively with the therapeutic alliance members at hub and spoke location to achieve the alliance’s expectations of high-quality collaboration services.

Hours and location:

The hours are 21 per week until 30 June 2025 with possibility of extension. The role is based in Grafton which is 35 minutes from Maclean and 50-60 minutes from both Yamba or Coffs Harbour. The CSS Program is a hub and spoke model meaning support is delivered through a centralised shared hub and support in the surrounding communities.  You will have access to a vehicle for work in the community.

About you: Selection criteria:

Qualifications and checks

1. Degree or higher qualification in counselling with PACFA registration (type of registration to be confirmed) 
2. Current and valid Driver’s Licence 
3. A satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Working with Children Check,
4.  Current COVID vaccination and current First Aid certificate

Professional skills and experience

1. Experience providing psychotherapy and counselling support using a range of interventions such as psycho-education, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, relaxation strategies, skills training, interpersonal therapy and narrative therapy
2. Significant experience with assessments and supporting collaborative decision making.
3. Experience working within the mental health sector with a variety of stakeholders
4. Demonstrated proficiency using the Microsoft suite, a variety of databases and video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Teams.
5. Demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity, equal employment opportunity, legislative compliance and workplace health and safety

What’s in it for you: 

The Buttery supports its staff with generous work conditions and benefits – whether its ways to make money go further, a great work culture, recognition of First Nations Peoples, or opportunities to develop skills. The Buttery’s reward package includes: 

• Flexible working solutions to support work-life balance. We offer the potential to scale your hours up or down over time. 
• Six weeks paid annual leave (pro rata) is provided to spend more time on holiday. 
• Internal opportunities to transfer and work in other programs.  
• Training and development opportunities. 
• Access to external clinical supervision for direct service staff. 
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program includes access to an online wellbeing platform and financial and legal advice, free to staff and their immediate family. 
• Salary sacrifice benefits allow a 6-12% increase in take home pay. Staff receive an ATO-approved incentive and can access 15,899 of tax-free salary to pay a mortgage, rent, loan, credit card or school fees. 
• A $2,650 meal and accommodation card. 
• The ability to package computer, phone, or novated vehicle lease costs. 

Find out more: 

For a position description, see https://www.buttery.org.au/employment-opportunities

For any other queries, please contact [email protected]

This role is remunerated at SCHCDS Level 5 ($47.50ph) plus super, which is a package of approximately 97k with access to salary packaging to potentially increase your take home pay by another 5k). 

How to apply: 

Please email your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria above to [email protected]

In your cover letter, please use each of the selection criteria’s above as a heading and write a brief paragraph under each one addressing it. Unfortunately, applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Applications close: We will be processing applications as they arrive and will make offers as soon as a suitable applicant is found.

About us: The Buttery is a not-for-profit charitable organisation established in 1973.Through residential and community-based programs, we specialise in the treatment of alcohol and other drug misuse and mental health concerns. Our programs are evidence-based, best-practice and informed by the latest research into addiction treatment. We never stop believing in change for the better, and we work constantly to improve the lives of the people we support. 

The Buttery recognises the benefits that diversity and inclusion bring, and encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply to our vacancies. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and CALD and LGBTIQA+ community members are encouraged to apply.