Naturopath/Massage Therapist

• Ongoing, part-time (0.8 EFT) position in a values-based organisation
• Based in our Werribee office, with some travel to Sunshine
• 106k + Super + NFP Salary Packaging (pro-rata to 0.8 EFT)

Rebuilding Shattered Lives – supporting refugees to recover from torture and other traumatic events

Your impact 
The Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Area within Foundation House delivers evidence-based best practice interventions that are safe, person-centred, effective and connected, and are trauma-informed and trauma-focused. Services are culturally safe and responsive to individuals and their families. The services offered include:

• Individual (child, youth, adult), parent and family counselling
• Psychosocial and therapeutic advocacy
• Therapeutic and psychoeducational group work
• Complementary therapies, including naturopathy, massage, shiatsu, yoga, and other natural therapies

Complementary Therapies (CT) has been a part of Foundation House for more than 35 years and the CT team is an integrated part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing area, providing natural therapies and bodywork alongside the work of counsellor/advocates and other practitioners.
  
The role
The Naturopath/Massage Therapist is part of the Complementary Therapies team. The CT team works with people of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds individually and via group work across all areas of Melbourne. 

This position provides a range of trauma informed therapeutic services to clients focussing on herbal medicine, nutrition, massage or shiatsu therapy and somatic practices.  Assessments and therapeutic approaches consider the client’s refugee background with their understandings, knowledge and experiences of healthcare. 

In practice the role requires working collaboratively with the Mental Health and Wellbeing counselling team, and other CT team members, with the goal of delivering positive improvements in subjective and objective measures of health with shared clients.

• This is a part-time (0.8 EFT) ongoing position based in our Werribee office, with approximately 1 day a week in the Sunshine office, and some travel for groupwork or outreach.
• Please note this role requires approximately 50% massage or shiatsu, and 50% naturopathy service delivery.

About you 
You will:

• Provide a trauma informed approach to natural therapies and bodywork health assessments of clients referred to the Complementary Therapies program. This includes taking detailed health histories to enable appropriate and relevant services to be delivered. Clients may disclose experiences of torture and trauma during their natural therapy episode of care.
• Provide a range of natural therapies including herbal and nutritional medicine, lifestyle and exercise guidance with sensitivity and awareness of cross-cultural and refugee trauma contexts. Deliver services in a culturally responsive manner.
• Provide therapeutic massage, or shiatsu, relaxation practices, and other bodywork. This includes hands-on massage or shiatsu, as well as hands-off approaches such as movement and somatic body-mind practices.
• Participate in the planning and facilitating of therapeutic group work involving natural therapies and/or body work and relaxation practices, as required.
• Deliver natural therapies and bodywork in a safe manner as per industry guidelines and scope of practice.
• Advocate on behalf of clients experiencing barriers to accessing allied health and medical services in the community to develop the capacity of those services to deliver care that is trauma informed and culturally appropriate.

What you’ll need to successfully apply
To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria: 

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline, such as Bachelor of Health Science or an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy. In addition to a Naturopathic qualification, a minimum qualification of a certificate or diploma in massage, or shiatsu therapy, issued by a reputable school or institution is required.
• Experience in providing naturopathy, nutrition, herbal medicine, and massage or shiatsu, following a comprehensive assessment.
• Some experience of working with survivors of trauma, marginalised or disadvantaged populations, and/or CALD backgrounds, demonstrating an understanding and sensitive approach to clients.
• Thorough knowledge of herbal medicine, nutrition, and drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions.
• Demonstrated understanding of the health system and services and how they operate in Victoria.

In return 
You’ll be rewarded with: 

• An attractive remuneration package of $106,388 plus superannuation (pro rata to 0.8 EFT)
• 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.

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.

How to apply
Please upload your CV and a cover letter (maximum one to two pages) outlining why you are suitable for this role and how you meet the selection criteria as described above.

Refer to our careers with us page for more information about our hiring process and a copy of the position description.
  
Applications are due to close 14th of April 2025. Please note, applications will be considered as they are received and may close early.

For enquiries please contact Justin Curreen-Harris from our HR Team via jobs@foundationhouse.org.au or by phone on 03 9389 8985.

If you think you have what it takes but don’t necessarily meet all selection criteria, please still get in touch as we would love to talk with you and see if you could be a suitable fit.

Hiring is subject to satisfactory Police Check, current Working with Children Check, and proof of the right to work and live in Australia.