• Duration: Full time until June 30th 2025, with possibility of extension subject to funding
• First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply
• DS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.

About the role

Drummond Street Services (DS), Cafs and Wellways are working in partnership to establish and implement the QHub/QSpace project, providing co-designed, place-based services to LGBTIQA+ young people and their families/carers across Ballarat, Geelong and the Surf Coast. Working alongside a range of organisations, LGBTIQA+ groups, individuals, families and communities, QHub/QSpace will meet local needs and provide a range of safe, accessible and wrap around mental health and wellbeing support for local LGBTIQA+ communities. 

The LGBTIQA+ Youth and Family Practitioner will provide high-quality youth, family, mental health and wellbeing counselling and case management services and group interventions to LGBTIQA+ young people and their families within DS’ Family Services Model of Practice. The Practitioner will work as part of the QHub/QSpace team, based in Geelong and providing outreach to the Surf Coast. 

Your responsibilities

• Provide queer sensitive and affirmative counselling and case management services to a diverse range of LGBTIQA+ young people and their families, including people of colour and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, in Geelong, Ballarat and the Surf Coast
• Provide assessment, treatment and delivery of a range of evidence-based mental health interventions to individuals and families, ranging from crisis intervention to longer-term therapeutic engagement.
• Conduct bio psycho-social assessments of individual and family-based risk and protective factors associated with mental health outcomes and provide focussed therapeutic counselling and interventions for clients presenting with mental health conditions (eg anxiety, depression)
• Conduct assessments of risk and protective factors including comprehensive risk assessments as appropriate
• Develop and implement individual and/or family case plans in collaboration with the client or clients
• Provide appropriate referral to both internal and external support services to meet needs identified through the assessment and case planning processes
• Contribute to the development and delivery of group interventions relating to LGBTIQA+ health and well-being for the diverse range of LGBTIQA+ people and their families, including people of colour and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• Provide regular written reports to the client’s referrer as required.
• Utilise appropriate assessment tools and measures, as well as outcomes and evaluation tools
• Contribute to the achievement of individual, team and organisational program targets and KPI’s as per contractual agreements with funders and those determined by DS
• Provide queer affirmative and culturally sensitive case consultations to internal and external clinicians and services 

About you 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Highly developed interpersonal, oral and written skills
• High level skills in counselling and case management
• Strong knowledge of determinants of mental health within LGBTIQA+ and intersectional communities
• Family-aware and inclusive practice whilst holding risk and safety as paramount
• Cultural and diversity humility
• Sound group facilitation skills
• Belong to LGBTIQA+ communities as well as other communities with whom DS assertively engages 

Selection Criteria

All of the following must be addressed in your application to be considered:

• Qualifications in social work, psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, family therapy, or related field
• Minimum two years' experience in providing interventions to LGBTIQA+ individuals and groups
• Demonstrated ability to provide counselling and therapeutic interventions with positive client outcomes
• Demonstrated capacity to provide case management
• A commitment to and experience in working with people from LGBTIQA+ communities
• Demonstrated experience in delivery of group programs
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs, issues and sensitivities of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal, LGBTIQA+ and culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities
• Demonstrated experience of working with families with complex needs such as family violence, drug and alcohol and mental health issues
• Demonstrated capacity to work within integrated, collaborative and systemic approaches
• Demonstrated organisational skills including the ability to meet deadlines and prioritise work tasks
• Demonstrated capacity to work creatively, show initiative, contribute ideas and be active in a supportive team environment in an agency working to support individual and family relationships
• This role requires the ability to drive a DS fleet vehicle, provide your own transport or have other transportation options to perform the inherent requirements of the position.  If you believe that you are unable to fulfil this requirement of the position, then please discuss with the hiring manager

Please review the position description attached which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria

Application process

• All applications will be directed via Apply Now to our careers portal – LGBTIQA+ Youth and Family Practitioner - QHub/QSpace
• All applicants must include a resume and with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position
• Applicants shortlisted for an interview will be required to provide evidence of their qualifications during the interview process

Please contact Jack Khouri, QHub Manager, [email protected] using the subject line: LGBTIQA+ Youth and Family Practitioner - QHub / Qspace enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0431 821 131 to discuss your application further.

A position description is attached.