• Full-time, ongoing position within a values-based organisation
• Based in our Dallas office, with free onsite parking
• Salary of 113k + Super + Not-for-profit salary packaging

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

Your impact

As a Senior Practitioner Counsellor Advocate, you will undertake a senior role within Mental Health and Wellbeing, providing leadership and professional support to Counsellor Advocates (CAs) within the Child Youth and Family team. The Senior Practitioner will provide secondary consultation, development and training. The role includes group work coordination, with the development, implementation and delivery of group work programs which are aligned to the Foundation House trauma recovery framework.

The Senior Practitioner will deliver safe, effective, connected, and person-centred assessment, counselling and advocacy services to clients of Foundation House who are survivors of torture or other traumatic events, with a particular focus on those clients identified as having complex needs. These programs will use a family-centred approach and developmentally appropriate, psychosocial therapeutic interventions informed by Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Integrated Trauma Recovery for People of Refugee Background (2nd edition). Group programs will be accessible, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and safe to meet the complex needs of refugee background survivors of torture and other traumatic events.

The Role

A key focus of the Senior Practitioner will be delivering services, individual and/or group based, predominantly to families fleeing recent conflicts. It requires collaborating with other Foundation House programs, teams and relevant community leaders or advisors and develop strong collaborative stakeholder relationships and partnerships with external organisations to ensure group programs are responsive to the needs of refugee background survivors of torture and other traumatic events.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership and support to Counsellor Advocates and the regional leadership team in the delivery of effective, safe, connected and person-centred client services to meet the complex needs of clients and families
• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with children, adults, young people and their families to develop clear formulations and therapeutic goals.
• Provide developmentally appropriate trauma-informed and trauma-focused counselling and therapeutic interventions for children, adults, young people and their families using a range of evidence-based modalities.
• Work alongside Group Work Coordinators to implement referral systems, group evaluations and group work processes.
• Identify critical issues that are affecting group participants’ sense of wellbeing, mental health and safety, and develop strategies for responding to those issues. This will include making referrals both internally and externally and undertaking advocacy with relevant health, community, education, legal services and government agencies.

The role is available as an ongoing, full-time position and is based in our Brunswick office.

What you’ll need to successfully apply

To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling, or other related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise to undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments and risk assessments with children, young people and their families.
• In depth understanding of child development and relevant theories for working with children, young people and their families.
• Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed practice and providing trauma-focused counselling interventions with children and young people using a range of evidence-based modalities in a culturally appropriate and safe way.
• Good understanding of how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems in Victoria to support the needs of refugee and asylum seeker children, young people, and families.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural context including working with interpreters.

In return

You’ll be rewarded with:

• An attractive remuneration package of $113k plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• 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.
• 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 detailed information about the role, the position description and more information about our hiring process.

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 [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Practitioner - Counsellor Advocate enquiry via EthicalJobs or by phone on 03 9389 8985.

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