If you are a dedicated and compassionate counsellor with a passion for supporting students’ emotional and psychological wellbeing, we invite you to join Peninsula Grammar’s dynamic Wellbeing Team.

Peninsula Grammar is a K-12 coeducational school of excellence, located on the Mornington Peninsula, is renowned for its academic achievements and extensive co-curricular program. In caring for students and their learning, we encourage them to take up life’s challenges both at school and beyond.  Peninsula Grammar values the inherent uniqueness of every individual and fosters the pursuit of excellence in each child.

The successful applicant must be aligned with the School’s ethos, vision and values and supportive of the School’s approach to Positive Education and Psychology, details of which can be found on our website. Applications should be addressed to the Principal and emailed to [email protected] by 

This is a 12 month (maternity leave replacement) contract role for a part-time (FTE 0.4), term-time only position.

Queries relating to this position should be directed to:

Meagan O’Hehir

HR Administrator 

E: [email protected]

P: 9788 7846

Peninsula Grammar is a Child Safe School.

All staff are to abide by its Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct.

All people employed by the School must be eligible to work in Australia.

Reporting directly to the Head of Wellbeing, the School Counsellor is a key player in the delivery of quality pastoral care and wellbeing programs at Peninsula Grammar. The incumbent is expected to develop a full understanding of, and play a significant role in the welfare, support, and pastoral care needs of students in the School. The position works closely a wide range of stakeholder to deliver student wellbeing support, contribute in the development implementation of School wellbeing programs and initiatives. 

Counselling 

• Experience in proving counselling support to children and or young people using a range of evidence-based therapies including Narrative Therapy, Solution focused therapy, and or CBT 

• Counselling must consider a systemic approach in working with students at the School 

• Undertake appropriate professional development to maintain counselling knowledge and skills 

• Maintain knowledge and experience with evidence-based group programs for mental health issues and resilience building 

• Exercise professional judgement to appropriately refer a student to an external professional 

• Developing links with external professionals and agencies and liaising with them 

• Working, liaising and supporting students and their families 

Assessment, Intervention & Wellbeing 

• Counsellor should be able to identify mental health issues and determine the level of concern or risk for that student 

• Counsellor should have good engagement skills with young people be able to work with students in a short-term intervention and also respond to crisis support when required 

• Knowledge and understanding of mental health and developmental issues and their relationship to child and adolescent development 

• Comprehensive understanding of self-harm and risk assessments and appropriate responses 

• Familiarity of evidence-based programs 

• Willing to work collaboratively with staff members on the development of preventative programs 

• Working alongside key staff members in the roll out of wellbeing programs 

Strategic 

• Recognise trends emerging in the school community and plan coordinated proactive initiatives 

• Collaborate with leading staff of the School in policy writing, strategic outcomes of the School 

• Have a sound understanding of the strategic direction of the School and assist in its development 

Professional Learning 

• Provide and facilitate professional learning and information for teaching staff 

• Provide professional learning and information to parents 

• Consult with relevant staff regarding management of individuals, groups or events 

• Become aware of trends occurring across year groups, staff and parents and plan intervention accordingly. 

Administrative 

• Keeping and maintenance of individual records, files and notes 

• Collection, collation and maintenance of practice related data, e.g. caseload, trends, presenting issues 

• Informing relevant staff of current referral issues and suggest strategies to manage these 

• Manage confidential information sensitively and in accordance with privacy and recordkeeping requirements  

Child Safety 

• Ensure adherence to all student safety standards and mandatory reporting requirements 

• Attend training to maintain compliance with all child safety legislation, standards and regulations 

• Complete all mandatory training in a timely manner 

• Escalate and report all matters related to student safety immediately 

• Understand and work diligently to deliver student duty of care accountabilities. 

Key Capabilities and Competencies 

The incumbent is expected to have established knowledge, skills and competencies to be effective in this role:  

• Knowledge of current evidence on management of traumatic incidents. 

• Participation in the development and review of school policies and plans for critical incident response. 

• Assisting with school wide management of, and response to, critical incidents and emergencies 

• Familiarity with PsyBA mandated APS Code of Ethics and Guidelines. 

• Sound communication skills – written and verbal 

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills  

• Effective organisational skills to deliver on outcomes and tasks within the required timeframe 

• Excellent comprehension – written and verbal 

• Exercise strict confidentiality and discretion 

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and collaborative working platforms 

• Work effectively in a demanding and changing work environment 

• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence for ‘One School’, through the positive embracing and implementation of change 

• Satisfactory level of health and fitness to competently undertake the inherent requirements of the job 

• Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively to deliver on priorities  

The successful applicant will:

• Be a registered counsellor with AHPRA.
• Demonstrate highly developed counselling skills with the capacity to interact with students, parents and staff.
• Ideally have experience in primary and/or secondary school settings.
• Have a strong focus on proactive programs.
• Be able to create and present professional development to a range of audiences.
• Be able to develop and implement a range of preventative programs for students.
• Display empathy, commitment, resilience and be highly motivated to contribute.
• Have a strong moral and ethical compass and cultivate creditability and honesty.
• Possess a positive outlook, exceptional interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence with demonstrated ability to build authentic, collaborative relationships.