About The Role

• Permanent, Part Time 0.8 FTE
• Hastings locations

The Family Violence Counsellor – Women and Children provides counselling support and group work for women, children and their families who have been exposed to or have been directly affected by family violence. The service is delivered both face to face and through a variety of technologies. The Family Violence Counsellor – Women and Children is an integral part of the Bayside Peninsula Family Violence Program.

The Family Violence Counsellor – Women and Children also provides support to families in refuge, offering single sessions for families, women and children and facilitating group work. This intervention aims to assist the clients to debrief their current situation and support stabilisation during the process of transition out of a violent environment.

The Family Violence Counsellor – Women and Children will also work in conjunction with schools, liaise with and advise teachers and principals on students affected by family violence. Education is provided to schools around how to understand and manage behaviours associated with family violence.

About You

• Formal qualifications in psychology, counselling, family therapy, social work or equivalent demonstrated experience
• A current Employee Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)
• Registration with an appropriate professional body e.g. ACA, PACFA, AASW, AHPRA is highly desirable

Key Selection Criterea

• Demonstrated extensive individual counselling and group work experience utilising a range of theoretical and practice frameworks for women and/or children presenting with complex trauma
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting comprehensive therapeutic safety and needs assessments and making professional judgements and decisions informed by these assessments
• Demonstrated experience in working with women and children experiencing family violence
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and maintaining professional case records
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.

Family Violence Minimum Mandatory Qualifications under Recommendation 209

As per the minimum mandatory qualifications requirements via https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners :

All candidates wishing to apply for this role must be able to demonstrate that they:

1. are considered EXEMPT under the policy

OR

1. hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification

OR

1. have minimum 5 years relevant professional experience, OR a related qualification as per the mandatory minimum qualification requirements.

OR

1. hold significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience, and have faced barriers to educational pathways

Please note that candidates wishing to enter the specialist family violence workforce via a related qualification or 5 years related professional experience pathway, OR the significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience pathways will be required to work towards an equivalent qualification within specified timeframes (as per the mandatory minimum qualifications policy). If you believe these pathways may apply to you and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected]  to discuss this further.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ)

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive. 

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.  

Good Shepherd employees are committed to inclusive practice that responds to the specific needs, context, and circumstances of service participants. We embrace the diversity and intersectionality of individuals and recognise a person’s right to a unique identity comprising culture, language, ability, community, gender, sex, sexual orientation and lived experience.

Additional Information

Employment is subject to:

·   Relevant Qualifications/Registration Name

·   A current national Police Record Check

·   A current Employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) or state equivalent

·   Proof of the right to work in Australia

 The above requirements will need to be supplied and verified prior to commencement 

Work Health and Safety (WH&S):  All team members are required to carry out their duties in a manner that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others by reporting all incidents and injuries as well as cooperating with any measures introduced in the workplace to improve WH&S.

Pre-existing injury: The person appointed to this position will be required to disclose any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position. This will assist the organisation in providing a safe work environment.

Equal opportunity: Good Shepherd is an equal opportunity employer. We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity. All team members have a responsibility to be familiar with and adhere to the organisation’s policies and procedures.

Child Safe Employer: Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.

Cultural competency: Good Shepherd strives to maintain a culturally competent and inclusive workplace. All team members are expected to undergo cultural competence training as part of their professional development plans.