What’s ACON’s Community Care Team you say?

We provide free (or very low cost) and confidential counselling, care coordination, peer support and ageing support services to people living with HIV and their families, and LGBTQ+ people, our team comprises counsellors, psychologists, peer workers, social workers and client liaison officers.

The Care Coordination service, within ACON’s Community Care team, is multi-disciplinary, trauma informed and client led.

Ok, so what’s the role?

This position delivers a psychological counselling and care coordination service to clients of diverse sexualities and/or genders (LGBTQ+ people), and people living with HIV. Clients may present in suicidal crisis, or they may require support for their mental health and resilience, sexual, domestic and family violence, homelessness, NDIS, substance use or for support with gender affirmation.

You will:

• Conduct psycho-social assessments and identify the need for immediate assistance for clients and making referrals for longer-term support in relevant cases.
• Maintain a caseload of clients providing short-term psychological counselling and care coordination services using a range of evidence-based strategies and interventions.
• Work with clients presenting with multiple and complex needs to develop care plans, navigate health, medical and community services, support applications and advocacy for Housing/Centrelink/NDIS and develop self-management skills.
• Support people who have been newly diagnosed with HIV, living longer term with HIV or are at risk of or affected by HIV.
• Work in collaboration with crisis services and mental health services to ensure appropriate levels of care and support for the individual.
• Maintain the consistent and accurate collection of clinical outcome measures (COMS) for the purposes of therapeutic intervention and to demonstrate service outcomes.
• Establish and maintain networks with public, NGO and other services to facilitate client referrals, advocating on behalf of clients where necessary and appropriate.

Who are we looking for?

• Someone experienced in psychological counselling and/or care coordination experience in the fields of SDFV, or mental health or suicide prevention or HIV/sexual health or disability.
• A person with demonstrated understanding, knowledge, and commitment to working with people of diverse sexualities and/or genders, and people living with and affected by HIV.
• Someone experienced in undertaking trauma-informed psychosocial assessments, goal setting and care planning, advocacy, building referral pathways and using short-term evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• A person with demonstrated knowledge and experience supporting clients to access the health and social services sector and other community-based organisations and mental health services.
• Someone who takes initiative and can work autonomously within a supportive team.

What else can we tell you?

ACON provides a colourful, nurturing, and fun workplace. Our employees and volunteers are the foundation for our ongoing effectiveness and for our capacity to deliver innovative community engagement and health promotion programs and initiatives for our communities.

To support the successful candidate in their new role at ACON we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Generous learning and development opportunities.
• Potential for tailored mentoring opportunities.
• Supportive working environment with a knowledgeable and friendly team.

What’s the remuneration and working details?

• Salary: $89,689 to $105,978 FTE (Gross per-annum, PLUS Superannuation and Leave Loading) – commensurate with skills, qualifications, and experience.
• Location: Gadigal/Sydney office (Surry Hills) with some flexible working options a possibility (WAFTO).
• Hours: Full-Time (70 hours per fortnight) on a 12-month fixed term contract with the possibility of extension.

We offer flexible working arrangements and a generous array of entitlements often above the National Employment Standards (NES) including:

• Salary Packaging up to $35,000 gross up value (i.e., currently up to $15,900 Expenses + $2,650 Meals, tax free).
• Generous pro-rata leave entitlements – including up to an extra week of paid leave for full time employees to be taken during our Christmas and New Year’s shutdown period.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to a comprehensive counselling service free to employees.

How can I find out more details and apply?

If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our team and help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. By joining us, you will be part of a mission to create a healthier and more inclusive community.

We’d love someone who has experience already in this area but people at all levels of experience are absolutely welcome to apply. We highly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of all genders to apply.

For more information on the role, please contact TL Tran on [email protected] or (02) 9206 2000.

If this sounds like the position and organisation you’ve been looking for, click Apply Now.

All applications must include:

• Your completed ACON Employment Application Form – with all the details filled in where requested;
• Your Cover Letter outlining how you meet the Selection Criteria (max. 4 pages); and
• Your Resume (max. 4 pages).

A position description is attached.