• SCHADS Award Level 6 (Salary Sacrifice available)
• 22.8 hours per week
• Ongoing position (subject to funding)
• South Burnett (Based at Murgon office, with regular travel required throughout the region; company vehicle available)

Applications are sought for the position of Youth Sexual Violence Counsellor in our RESET Program. The position will be based 3 days per week in our Murgon Office and will require travel across the South Burnett Region. There may be the option to increase to 4 days per week at the end of 2025.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide therapeutic intervention including comprehensive risk assessments to young people (10 to 17 years) who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours. The RESET program works towards a multi-systemic framework and provides intervention and support to the young person’s family and primary support people. This position is currently funded by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety under the Youth Sexual Violence Initiative.

The focus of the Youth Sexual Violence program is on providing effective intervention to young people engaging in harmful sexual behaviour and strengthening family functioning to prevent further harm. The program also aims to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships, referral pathways and building capacity with existing key agencies working with young people at risk and their families.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Practice with contextual awareness of the factors contributing to sexual violence including sexually harmful behaviours in children and young people.
• Provide trauma informed, developmentally sensitive and culturally safe therapeutic interventions to young people (10 to 17 years) who engage in harmful sexual behaviours.
• Provide thorough assessments including the use of appropriate assessment tools toward the development of effective case plans and safety planning.
• Provide a range of group programs including therapeutic and educative programs to young people and their families and other service users.
• Provide relevant education, information and resources to young people and their families and other allied agencies relevant to harmful sexual behaviours.
• Participate in training, mentoring and evaluation of program outcomes.
• Liaise with statutory bodies and other relevant services regarding case planning and monitor child protection concerns accordingly.
• Liaise with community and sector networks to develop and maintain appropriate collaborative partnerships with relevant services and agencies.
• Actively participate in ongoing professional development.
• Engage in regular supervision with the Team Leader YSVA Program, Mentor/Training Practitioner, and external supervisors as required.
• Any other duties within scope of the job role and as reasonably requested by a member of the leadership team and/or Board of Management.

All Service Staff Duties:

• Work within and towards the organisational vision, mission, and values
• Ensure the maintenance of client confidentiality including keeping confidential client records;
• Participate in annual staff appraisals/assessments;
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training;
• Participate in annual and other planning sessions to develop a strategic response to sexual violence;
• Support a culture of transparency and accountability within the service, and contribute to a positive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture and environment;
• Perform any other reasonable tasks at the request of the leadership team.

Organisational Environment:

Laurel Place Inc. is funded by The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety. Laurel Place is governed by a Board drawn from the local community. The service employs approximately 50 staff across four programs and four locations in Maroochydore, Gympie, Murgon as well as Moreton Bay

The service provides a range of options to women, men, children, young people, families and the community that work towards reducing the impact and incidence of sexual violence in the Sunshine Coast, Gympie, South Burnett, and Moreton Bay Regions. Laurel Place also operates Women’s Space from the Maroochydore location which provides support to women who have experienced all forms of gendered violence.

The service also focuses on providing education, information and resources to the target groups and wider community.

This position reports to the Team Leader, Murgon office and receives clinical support and supervision from Reset Program Trainer/Mentor and YSVA Team Leader. The position reports more broadly to the Director, Counselling Services, Executive Director, and Board of Management. The position will also work collaboratively with the Support Worker – First Nations Clients.

Selection Criteria: Required

• Tertiary qualifications in social/behavioural sciences and experience working with young people who engage in high risk behaviours. Experience working with children and young people who engage in sexually reactive and harmful sexual behaviour is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of the complexity of youth sexual violence and the factors contributing to engagement in sexually reactive behaviours, including sexualised and sexually abusive behaviours, in children and young people.
• Demonstrated experience providing trauma informed, developmentally sensitive and culturally safe interventions to children, young people and their non-offending family members, supporters and carers.
• Well-developed skills in assessment, development of safety plans, case planning and intervention relevant to young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviours.
• Demonstrated ability in group facilitation including working with family members and supporters.
• Proven ability in establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with a range of stakeholders including government and non-government organisations.
• Ability to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary team environment.

Essential

• Must possess (or be eligible for) a working with children check – Positive Notice Blue Card
• Current Open Qld Driver’s Licence
• Eligibility to work in Australia

* We currently have a number of positions advertised across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton, Gympie and Murgon regions. Please check our website for a full list of currently available positions: https://www.laurelplace.com.au/work-with-us*