Anchor - Child and Family Counsellor – Children and Families

About the opportunity

This is a part-time 12 month contract opportunity working 2-3 days week and will be based at Campbelltown Family Relationship Centre -

Flexibility to work either 14 hours or 21 hours/ week across 2-3 days.

Uniting Counselling and Mediation The Anchor Program is expanding our support to children and young people (0–18), and their parents. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a new specialist Anchor counselling model, designed to recognise children as victims in their own right and provide them with longer-term, trauma-informed care.

As an Anchor counsellor, you will provide individual therapy, family therapy and group-based support to children and young people. You’ll also engage with parents to help strengthen the parent-child relationship and reduce the chronic stress and trauma symptoms children are experiencing post-separation.

About you in the role

• Help children and young people, and their parents navigate the challenges of parental separation and divorce through a 6 to 10 session model.
• Deliver long term trauma-informed therapy (up to 20 sessions) for children and young people impacted by DFV.
• Facilitate therapeutic group programs for children, young people, and parents (when required)
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team through regular case discussions, team meetings, and professional development.
• Client-facing work per day, with time dedicated to supervision, documentation, and training.
• Contribute to the rollout of modality-specific interventions, including trauma-focused CBT.
• Provide high quality individual, child, youth and family therapy to repair and strengthen family relationships
• Provide family therapy in conjunction with other Uniting Counselling and Mediation Staff (e.g. family dispute resolution practitioner) in a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Provide child consultation as part of child inclusive practice to families after separation and divorce, including involuntary and court-ordered clients.
• Assist in the development, facilitation and promotion of clinical group work programs within the centre, and with external stakeholders such as community services and schools.
• Under the direction of the Centre Manager/Supervisor, you’ll liaise and network with relevant agencies to facilitate effective and high-quality services to our clients including the development and implementation of specific case management models.

About You

• Tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling or related field
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working therapeutically with children, young people (0–18), and/or parents.
• Understanding of child protection issues and trauma-informed practice.
• Eligibility for membership with a relevant professional body.
• Experienced in working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and individuals from a range of cultural backgrounds.
• Able to remain neutral and exercise discretion and sensitivity in complex situations.

Even better:

• Experience delivering long-term counselling or group therapy.
• Knowledge of and experience working in the context of DFV and high-conflict family dynamics.
• Training in trauma-focused approaches (e.g., CBT, play therapy).
• Experience in adult individual counselling, couple and family therapy.
• Experience working with court ordered and involuntary clients
• Experience in working within a Family Law context.
• Familiarity with the Family Law Act 1975 and other relevant legislation (e.g. Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act).
• Available to work Thursdays from 10:30am – 6:30pm

Why Work at Uniting

At Uniting, we care for you while you care for others.

• Salary packaging benefits – increase your take-home pay.
• Wellbeing support – tools and programs to support your physical and mental health.
• To have a career that matters in an organisation that focuses on making an impact
• Receive comprehensive training and development in areas of child, youth and family counselling and to learn within a supportive work environment
• To work within a strong clinical and supervision framework.
• Do you want to increase your disposable income by reducing the tax you pay? As a Uniting employee you can package up to $15,900 from your salary for everyday purchases, and up to $2650 for entertainment purposes.
• You receive up to 3 ex-gratia days (on top of annual leave) at the end of the year.
• Up to 76 hours of family violence leave

If the idea of working for a progressive not-for-profit organisation excites you, then click 'Apply Now' to get your application started!

Contact Alex Sullivan asullivan@uniting.org using the subject line: Anchor - Child and Family Counsellor – Children and Families enquiry via EthicalJobs / 0466801937 should you have any questions.

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks which may include a National Police, reference and Working with Children checks.

Closing date: 11:55pm on the closing date

About Uniting

When you’re part of Uniting NSW.ACT, you’re part of a diverse, purpose-led team of people making a real difference in the world around them. We contribute to the work and mission of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care. Our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

Uniting acknowledges the continuing sovereignty and rich cultural diversity of Australia’s First Peoples. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Peoples on whose lands we live and work.

Uniting is a Child Safe Organisation committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people.