Northpine Christian College is a vibrant Prep to Year 12 co-educational Seventh-day Adventist Christian community committed to developing and nurturing the whole child.

The college is seeking an experienced and suitably qualified School Counsellor to join our team in a full-time ongoing role, commencing Term 4 2023 (3 October). A School Counsellor at Northpine Christian College is part of our wellbeing team, working in a Christian school environment to provide an exceptional standard of support to students ranging from Prep to Year 12.

The successful applicant will have a proven track record of effective therapeutic work with children and young adults as well as dealing with a variety of issues including supporting students experiencing social, emotional and/or psychological concerns. Proven ability to build and develop effective relationships with students, parents and staff is essential. The Counsellor will be registered with an Australian recognised Counselling Organisations, upholding ethical, legal and professional standards.

To be considered for this role you must:

• Have suitable qualifications and experience in counselling 
• Hold a current Queensland Blue Card
• Have a commitment to the Christian ethos of Northpine Christian College
• Previous experience in an education institution or similar industry

Role Requirements

• Membership with PACFA or ACA (or equivalent) 
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Strong time management skills and the ability to balance administrative, disciplinary, and support services such as Enhanced Learning
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and capacity to develop and work as part of a high-performing team, including administration, restorative practice, and enhanced learning
• Sound understanding of school management systems and senior school requirements (ATAR) 
• Enjoy working with children and teenagers and finding best outcomes for students
• Active listening skills and a leader who engages with and offers professional advice 
• Warm and empathic to students, parents and staff
• Clinical note-taking
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm during critical incidents
• Ability to understand parent/teacher circumstances
• Patience and the ability to accept criticism

Responsibilities

• Support the whole child’s needs, considering their emotional, social, psychological, physical and spiritual well-being
• Provide therapeutic interventions to individual students or groups of students to assist them with the circumstances of their lives such as family breakdown, mental health issues, grief and loss, transition/developmental issues, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, child abuse, self-harm, and relationships
• Apply professional knowledge base to treatment planning
• Liaise and collaborate with internal and external professionals in order to best support students 
• Support students with social, emotional and behavioural challenges and assist staff in this space  
• Identify signs and symptoms of mental health problems and disorders and make referrals when appropriate
• Work as part of the College’s student development team, participating in welfare meetings, professional development, conferences and peer supervision 
• Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the Child Protection framework, reporting and compliance obligations
• Provide adhoc training to staff and students about self-care, child protection, case management, mental health issues and any other topic within your scope of expertise 
• Develop and implement pro-active programs to address issues (such as anxiety or depression) common to a group of students
• Maintain high-quality records consistent with professional and legislative requirements
• Observe the College’s policies, ethical guidelines, legal requirements and standards of practice, including informed consent, confidentiality, and reporting child abuse when interacting with students 
• Complete reports and refer to administration

Written applications for this position, including resume and three current work referees, should be submitted to [email protected] to the attention of the Principal.

Applications close Monday, 11 September 2023.

Only those with a legal right to work in Australia may apply, and the appointing body reserves the right to fill this position at its discretion and to close applications early.

For more details on our College, please visit www.northpine.qld.edu.au