![Counsellor Advocate – Child Youth and Family Counsellor Advocate – Child Youth and Family](https://b2474340.smushcdn.com/2474340/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/picture-547.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Organisation : Foundation House
Location : Melbourne
Work type : Full-time, Part-time
Sector : Children, Community Development, Families, Humanitarian, Mental Health
Salary type : Annual Package
Application closing date : 4 Dec, 2023
About the organisation
Rebuilding Shattered Lives – supporting refugees to recover from torture and other traumatic events
Our story
The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. (also known as Foundation House) was founded in 1987 to advance the health, wellbeing and human rights of people of refugee background who have experienced torture or other traumatic events. We have worked with over 100,000 people from more than 70 different communities and are recognised as a national leader in the provision of trauma-informed and trauma-focused service delivery.
Foundation House is an inclusive employer.
Foundation House is an equal opportunity employer; we foster a work environment that is inclusive and diverse. We are values driven and are committed to improving the life outcomes of refugees and asylum seekers.
Foundation House is a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently have approximately 250 staff across our five offices in Brunswick, Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood and Sunshine, and we also provide services in partnership with other agencies in regional and rural Victoria.
Foundation House is a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.
Read more about our history on our website here.
About the role
Your impact
Foundation House adopts a holistic and integrated approach to meeting the needs of our clients and their communities. We do so to ensure a more complete application of trauma-informed principles and trauma focussed interventions. As such, Foundation House aims to address both the complex psychological impact of torture and trauma along with addressing the challenges clients face in terms of the broader social and economic determinants of mental health.
As a Child, Youth and Family Counsellor Advocate, you will work with the Foundation House Trauma Recovery Framework to provide assessment and counselling using a diverse range of developmentally appropriate psychosocial therapeutic interventions. These services will be accessible, trauma-informed, culturally safe, and appropriate to the needs of our clients and their families. Foundation House provides regular supervision and professional development support to assist you in undertaking your work as a Counsellor Advocate.
Your role will also involve a range of advocacy including liaison and facilitated referrals with relevant health, community, education, and legal services to support access to, and responsiveness of those services. Where therapeutically indicated and consistent with our Trauma Recovery Framework, accompanied appointments to such services will also form part of your role. These functions have proven to be vital in delivering a holistic trauma-informed approach, building trust with clients and enabling a greater level of control and safety over their lives. Continuous feedback about your work with clients, via the client information system, is essential to inform the systemic advocacy Foundation House provides, which is aimed at improving client services and relevant areas of government policies and programs.
For further details on our Counsellor Advocate model, please see our website https://foundationhouse.org.au/be-involved/careers-with-us/our-counsellor-advocate-model/
About You
We are looking for a Child, Youth and Family Counsellor Advocate who is committed to advancing human rights and is passionate about supporting trauma recovery for refugee background children, young people and families. You will be compassionate, thoughtful, professional, accountable, committed to continuous learning and demonstrate integrity in all you do.
You will embrace working with people from many cultural and religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. You will demonstrate flexibility in providing support to our clients.
We have ongoing positions available across our offices in Sunshine, Dandenong, Dallas (close to Broadmeadows) and are offering between 0.8 EFT and 1 EFT.
What you’ll need
To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria:
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling, or other related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience and expertise to undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments and risk assessments with children, young people and their families.
- In depth understanding of child development and relevant theories for working with children, young people and their families.
- Demonstrated expertise in providing trauma-focused therapeutic counselling interventions with children and young people, using a range of evidence-based modalities in a culturally appropriate and safe way.
- Good understanding of how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems in Victoria to support the needs of refugee and asylum seeker children, young people, and families.
- Ability to write professional psychosocial reports for a variety of key stakeholders including legal and government bodies.
In return
You’ll be rewarded with:
- An attractive remuneration package, ranging between $102,554 and $107,079 plus superannuation
- Salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options.
- A role with true purpose to make a difference in people’s lives.
- A welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment.
- Excellent training and professional development.
- Generous leave provisions with option to purchase additional leave.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this job listing.
Please quote in application: Counsellor Advocate – Child Youth and Family via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Children, #Community_Development, #Families, #Humanitarian, #Mental_Health