Senior Practitioner - Child and Youth Counsellor

Job No: 90204
Location: Cairns, QLD

  • Make a difference in the lives of children and youth affected by domestic violence
  • Join a supportive team of professionals who are passionate about ending domestic and family violence
  • Attractive remuneration circa $81,800 (pro-rata) 

About the Organisation

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. (CRDVS) aims to use its specialist knowledge and skills to prevent domestic and family violence in the community and to empower those affected by it. 

CRDVS's vision is "Making a difference – bringing domestic and family violence to an end".  We seek to do this by providing a comprehensive and client centred quality service to all vulnerable clients. The organisation provides a confidential and free service for family members who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, domestic and family violence. CRDVS will at all times strive to uphold high levels of professionalism and accountability.

The service is staffed by a close-knit team of qualified professionals with experience in adult and child counselling, court support and training.

About the Opportunity

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. (CRDVS) has a rewarding opportunity for a Senior Practitioner - Child and Youth Counsellor to join their teams based in Cairns on a full-time basis. 

In this role, you will provide quality counselling and community education, to children and youths who have experienced domestic and family violence. The aim of this responsibility is to reduce the impact and trauma of domestic and family violence they have experienced and may still be experiencing. 

You will also be responsible for providing day-to-day supervision and support to direct client service workers (the Cairns counselling team), provide professional training, and assist with developing and maintaining CRDVS client programs.  

More specifically, your duties will include:

  • Developing and providing appropriate, specialised face to face counselling, group work and crisis support for children and young people who have been affected by domestic violence;
  • Working flexibly with a variety of modalities including trauma-informed practice, appropriate to counselling children and young people who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence as their individual needs and learning styles dictate;
  • Advocating for clients and developing and maintaining links and networks with other organisations to provide effective services and improve coordination of appropriate responses to domestic and family violence;
  • Providing phone and face to face crisis support, advocacy, information and referral to people experiencing domestic and family violence and providing information and support to carers of child witnesses of domestic violence, individually and in group settings;
  • Providing regular internal supervision and coordinating the services provided by the Cairns counselling team i.e. Phone/intake rosters, group work, crisis appointments and on-going appointments;
  • Preparing and maintaining confidential records of client work including case management plans, reports and assessments;

The ideal candidate will have appropriate tertiary qualifications in the social or behavioural sciences (e.g. Psychology, Social Work, Art Therapy, Counselling) or a related discipline and will have substantial experience in providing counselling interventions and support specifically to children and young people. 

To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated experience in staff supervision and the ability to lead a team of professional and experienced staff. 

You will also have an in-depth knowledge, analysis and understanding of domestic violence and its effects on women, children and adolescents, as well as other issues affecting child welfare such as child abuse and neglect. 

Candidates will need to have demonstrated experience of and high level of skills in counselling interventions and an ability to articulate a number of theoretical frameworks including Trauma Informed Practice.

CRDVS requires a resilient applicant with good coping mechanisms, an initiative and creative energy. Also required are computer literacy skills, including Microsoft Office applications.

All applicants must hold (or obtain) a current C Class driver's licence, a Working With Children Card and a formal police criminal history check.

Please note: The position is based in the Cairns office 

To download a full position description, please click here. 

About the Benefits

In return, you will be rewarded with attractive remuneration of $81,800. You'll also enjoy an excellent work/life balance!

If you are looking for a challenging yet meaningful and personally satisfying role, this is it. CRDVS offers a supportive and flexible workplace, with a team of professionals that is passionately devoted to ending domestic violence in the community. The organisation is proud of its close-knit team culture and low staff turnover, indicative of not just the personal reward in the work, but the supportiveness of the team.

Staff and management are open to new ideas, so this is a perfect role for someone who enjoys the freedom to improve systems and processes to work more effectively. On top of a comprehensive induction to the organisation's services and management, you will also be supported to continue your professional development, with training, conferences and other career advancement opportunities available. You will also receive regular in-house and external professional supervision.

People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, as well as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, are encouraged to apply!

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