Job Description

Family Counsellor | Family Support Service| Townsville

• Employment Term: Permanent Part-Time (22.8 hours per week, with possibility of increase to 34.2 hours per week at a later date)
• Location: Townsville
• Remuneration: $53.43 per hour + Super + NFP Salary Packaging (save tax and increase your take-home pay)
• Applications Close: Applications will be reviewed as they are received and therefore may result in the role closing early if the right applicant is found.

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare Queensland

At UnitingCare we are leaders in crisis response, the protection of vulnerable people and children, financial resilience and family wellbeing. Our FaDS (Family and Disability Services) team work passionately across Queensland to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

We’re looking for an experienced and compassionate Family Counsellor to join our Family Support Program in Townsville and provide therapeutic support to children, young people, adults and families experiencing challenging and complex circumstances.

In this rewarding role, you’ll provide assessment, counselling and education to support clients experiencing difficulties in relation to separation and divorce and on-going parenting of children; domestic and family violence; sexual abuse; child abuse; financial; relationship discord and grief and loss. Your work will focus on enhancing empowerment and resilience outcomes for clients, ensure wellbeing and safety and to strengthen their ability to engage and maintain positive relationships.

What you'll do

• Undertake assessments, counselling, referrals and case reviews that include children, adults, couples, families and groups.
• Use best-practice counselling approaches to support clients navigating family and relationship challenges.
• Advocate for clients and connect them with appropriate services and supports.
• Develop group support/education programs to address a range of issues relating to separation and divorce, and on-going parenting of children, domestic and family violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, relationship discord and grief and loss.
• Develop and deliver tailored education/ behaviour-change activities focused on empowerment, resilience and early intervention.
• Provide consultation, coaching and support to colleagues on case-related matters.
• Deliver counselling across a range of community settings, including schools and community centres where required.
• Maintain accurate and professional client documentation and case records

What you'll bring

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A degree in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services or Behavioural Science from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Sound knowledge and/or demonstrated experience providing therapeutic counselling to clients experiencing complex issues such as domestic and family violence, financial wellbeing concerns, abuse, relationship difficulties, and grief and loss.
• Experience developing and facilitating group education programs.
• The ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary human services environment.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication and advocacy skills.
• A current Driver Licence
• Working with Children Check (Blue Card)

Membership, or eligibility for membership, with APS, PACFA, ACA, AASW or FCA is desirable

What makes a difference for you?

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• NFP Salary Packaging: Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum. To learn more about this benefit watch the video via the following link: Salary Packaging Explained
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events
• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference 
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others

We’d love you to be part of our UnitingCare family

Joining our FaDS, team, you’ll also be welcomed as part of the UnitingCare family. The second-largest Queensland employer, we’re a proud not-for-profit with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and have been leading by example for more than 100 years.

Child safe, Child friendly

UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will:

• provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children
• implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services
• appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur
• abide by the Child Safe Standards and adhere to the Reportable Conduct Scheme  

Diversity & Inclusion

Our approach is simple – everybody is welcome here.  At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.  

Safe workplace

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.  

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed in creating services and workplaces that are welcoming and safe for every person. We work together to protect children, young people, adults and the elderly from harm within our services and the communities we support. We speak up for their safety to ensure their voices are heard. Our recruitment and workplace practices reflect our dedication in preventing abuse, harm and exploitation across UnitingCare.