Organisation : Lighthouse Foundation
Location : Melbourne (Fawkner or Keysborough)
Work type : Full-time, Part-time
Profession : Community Services, Mental / Health Counseling, Social & Support Work
Sector : Youth & Young People
Salary type : Hourly
Salary : SCHADS Level 6, $106,387 per annum, plus Salary Packaging
Application closing date : 21 Jun, 2025
About the organisation
Lighthouse Foundation provides homes and therapeutic care programs to children and young people impacted by long-term neglect, abuse, and homelessness. Our focus is to create caring communities where kids can feel safe, form meaningful relationships, and begin to heal from traumatic experiences. For the past 30 years, our proven Model of Care has successfully transformed the lives of over 1,000 young people using a range of evidence-based strategies. We now educate and support Foster Carers in the same way, so that they too can take care of some of Australia’s most vulnerable children.
About the role
HOW WILL I HELP?
As a Therapeutic Specialist, you will provide direct clinical support to children, young people and families with complex needs within Lighthouse programs. You will provide therapeutic leadership aligned with the Lighthouse Model of Care and this includes holding a small case load, therapeutic assessments and care planning for children and young people, contributing to clinical planning, delivering training and supporting the implementation of trauma-informed practice across foster care, kinship care and family services. You will work directly with the children and young people, as well as their caregivers.
This ongoing, full-time role is central to supporting children and young people in our care, leading teams in the application of the Lighthouse Model of Care, and contributing to a culture of safety, healing, and growth.
Lighthouse Foundation’s Children’s Services provides tailored therapeutic supports to children and young people in foster care, kinship care and those living with parents. The programs uniquely operate from ‘Hub Homes’ in both the Northern and Southern Suburbs, whereby the Children’s Services teams base themselves and deliver supports and therapeutic interventions for children and families. The Therapeutic Specialist role will become part of our caring community. Our Hubs operate like a home away from home for young people, where they visit for individual support, and to participate in a therapeutic environment, with community events.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
- SCHADS Level 6
- Opportunity to work from a home like environment in our Fawkner or Keysborough Hubs
- Clinical Supervision & reflective practice opportunities
- Ongoing training and development
- Being part of a caring community, who really values you
WHAT DO I NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
From a professional standpoint you will require:
- A tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, or a related field
- A thorough understanding of the impact of trauma, disrupted attachment and abuse/neglect on a child or young person’s development and wellbeing
- Substantial experience working therapeutically with children and young people, in particular those who have an out of home care experience
- Demonstrated capacity to achieve positive outcomes when working with children and young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and presentations
- A strong ability to develop therapeutic alliances with children and young people who have experienced significant family disruption, personal trauma and those who present with complex psychological and social needs
- An ability to select and utilise relevant theoretical frameworks and tools in formulating suitable psychosocial assessments of young people and the ability to work with Care teams to implement therapeutic interventions
- Ability to provide secondary consultation in relation to children and young people who present with complex needs, taking into consideration the most appropriate immediate response as well as short term, medium term and long-term needs
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the needs of Aboriginal and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) children and young people, and able to provide culturally sensitive and effective care
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to plan, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines as required
- Demonstrated commitment to personal and professional development
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Other key skills which would be desirable:
- Experience delivering therapeutic training / workshops
- A well-developed understanding of child, youth and family services and the Child Protection system in Victoria and a commitment to working in partnership.
For this role you will please note you will also need:
- Current driver’s license
- Valid first aid certificate (or willingness to obtain one)
- Criminal Records check
- Current Working with Children check
CONTACT PERSON
Emma Gniel, 0421 761 895 or emmag@lighthousefoundation.org.au
How to apply
We welcome your application and ask that you please review the attached position description, provide your Resume and Cover letter, broadly addressing the key selection criteria highlighted.
To submit your application, click Apply Now.
Lighthouse celebrates diversity and affirms the right of access, equity, and equality for every young person, staff member and volunteer in the Lighthouse Community. Our organisation is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We also practice from a position of cultural safety and awareness, across diverse languages, religions, and cultures. we respect, respond and continue to learn about the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Lighthouse Foundation is a Child Safe Organisation, we are committed to a thoughtful and protective environment that supports our babies, children and young people to feel safe and respected, and to build their capacity to feel deeply cared for and important to other human beings.
Please find attached the position description.
Please quote in application: Therapeutic Specialist – Children and Family Services via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Youth_and_Young_People
