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

Your impact

Foundation House adopts a holistic and integrated approach to meeting the complex needs of our refugee background clients and their communities to ensure the application of trauma-informed principles and trauma focused interventions.

As a Counsellor Advocate, you will work with the Foundation House Trauma Recovery Framework to provide expert assessment and counselling using a diverse range of developmentally appropriate psychosocial therapeutic interventions. These services address both the complex psychological impact of torture and trauma, along with addressing the many challenges our clients face in terms of the broader social and economic determinants of mental health.

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.

The CA role

We have full-time ongoing and fixed term contract positions available in our Dallas (Broadmeadows), Dandenong, Ringwood and Sunshine offices.

Regular supervision, guidance and professional development support is provided to assist you in undertaking your work as a Counsellor Advocate and to support high quality services to our clients.

For further details on our Counsellor Advocate model, please see our website

About you

We are looking for Counsellor Advocates who are committed to advancing human rights and are passionate about supporting trauma recovery for refugee background individuals and families.

You will:

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with individuals and families to develop clear formulations and client-centred therapeutic goals
• Provide developmentally appropriate trauma-informed and trauma focused counselling and therapeutic interventions using a range of evidence-based modalities
• Provide psychoeducation in individual, family and group settings
• Identify critical issues clients experience that are affecting their sense of wellbeing, mental health and safety, and develop strategies for responding to those issues. This includes making referrals and undertaking advocacy with relevant health, community, education, legal services and government agencies.

As a Counsellor Advocate you will also embrace working with people from many cultural and religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

What you will need to successfully apply

Positively respond to the below selection criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling, or other related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in counselling, preferably in a refugee trauma recovery context or another area of trauma-focused service provision.
• Demonstrated experience conducting psychosocial assessments and risk assessments of adults and families.
• Ability to write high quality professional psychosocial reports for a variety of key stakeholders, including legal and government bodies.
• Good understanding of how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems in Victoria to support the needs of clients and their families.

In return

You will be rewarded with:

• an attractive remuneration package, ranging between $93,860 and $107,079 plus superannuation based on experience
• salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 plus 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 both 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.

Read more about our history on our website here.

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.

Please refer to the position description for detailed information about the role. For more information about our hiring process, please refer to our careers with us page.

Please note, applications will be considered as they are received.

For enquiries please contact our HR Team via [email protected] using the subject line: Counsellor Advocates enquiry via EthicalJobs 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.