School Counsellor/Social Worker

Inclusion Support Position – Happy Heart Hub

Commencement: Immediate start or by 14 January, 2023.

Salary: $80,000 – $119,999 plus attractive salary packaging benefits. Relocation assistance will be provided where applicable. Quality accomodation also available. 

Yipirinya School has developed an Inclusion Hub, the “Happy Heart Hub”, which provides the support needed for students to access all aspects of Yipirinya School life. Our Inclusion Support team will aim to make inclusive education part of everyday practice in Yipirinya School classrooms and to improve the achievement, participation and wellbeing outcomes for students. This team currently consists of a multiple Occupational Therapists, Aboriginal Elders, Allied Health Workers, Case Managers and Administration Support. We are seeking to grow our team with an emphasis on providing a healing response to trauma and promotion of student wellbeing. 

School Context

Yipirinya School is an independent Indigenous community school in Alice Springs controlled by an Indigenous Council and catering for Indigenous students from the nearby community and outstations. The school has excellent, purpose-built classrooms, and support facilities for all teachers. All classroom teachers currently have the support of a full-time Indigenous Assistant Teachers. The school offers a two-way learning approach (bi-lingual & bi-cultural) to education and we are the only school in Australia that offers learning in four Aboriginal languages. Relationships Based Learning, and Healing Centred Behaviour Support are significant improvement priorities at the school.

About the role

In an exciting time of growth, Yipirinya School is seeking to appoint a passionate and dedicated individual to the position of Counsellor/Social Worker. The Counsellor/Social Worker supports school leadership through the application of specialist professional knowledge and strategies to identify and address student issues to promote student safety, wellbeing, and to facilitate successful learning. The Counsellor/Social Worker forms a vital part of the support services available to students.

The Counsellor/Social Worker will:

• Provide effective, high quality counselling support to:
  • resolve individual, peer group, social and emotional concerns and monitor trends, patterns, areas of concern that may become apparent within the school/parent/caregivers/community.
  • individuals and small groups of students with special needs including grief and loss, anger management and other needs.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and guidance to members of the Wellbeing Team including acting as an escalation point for complex case management, critical incidents or emergencies.
• Where appropriate, work in partnership with other Inclusion and Wellbeing leaders to develop an Inclusion and Wellbeing Program and Curriculum that meets the needs of students.
• Support and work with School leadership when dealing with identified students requiring counselling support.
• Provide subject matter expertise and/or policy advice across a range of programs or activities undertaken by the school, formulate policies and provide specialist advice on policy formulation to school leadership.
• Represent the school to negotiate and utilise services to access outside counselling and promote the school and community counselling services to the wider school community and facilitate activities.
• Refer students and their parents/caregivers to specialised external agencies when further professional interventions are required.
• Comply with State and Federal law pertaining to child protection and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Work in partnership with School leadership to proactively promote positive pastoral development and establish a connection with students ‘at risk’.
• Assist in the development and review of procedures and policies relating to student wellbeing and assist teachers in their teaching of health-related topics concerning pastoral care, behaviour management, student wellbeing and resilience.
• Maintain clear accurate case notes and files on all counselling interventions, storing case notes securely to ensure confidentiality and in line with current ‘best practice’.
• Maintain appropriate, continuous professional knowledge by attending professional development and actively participating in relevant network/professional groups.

Essential Selection Criteria

• A University qualification in Counselling (or equivalent) and demonstrated knowledge and experience in a comparable position. 
• Specialised professional knowledge with depth in providing effective counselling support to clients (students), including working with youth and children with special needs.
• Ability to lead and deal effectively with unexpected situations and/or emergencies.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and providing guidance, mentoring and training to team members and staff in matters relating to student wellbeing.
• A demonstrated knowledge of Child Protection legislation, and ability to work in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
• A capacity to develop and deliver educational and pastoral programs to groups of students and staff.
• A demonstrated knowledge of support agencies and the capacity to engage them as required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) and proven ability to quickly develop a strong positive rapport with students, staff, and parents/caregivers and foster effective relationships with all school community members.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, along with an ability to effectively prioritise tasks, be proactive and meet required timelines.
• The ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality in relation to staff, students and parents/caregivers at the College
• Demonstrated computer skills, knowledge, and experience, with particular expertise in the Microsoft Office suite.

Further information

1. APPLICATION AND CURRICULUM VITAE IS NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 5 PAGES. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 5PM MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER, 2022.

2. Contact Dr Gavin Morris, Principal, Yipirinya School phone 08 8952 5633.