Job Description

We are seeking an Intake Counsellor for our Children’s Counselling Program! This role is a SCHADS Level 6 (pay point dependent of experience), plus 12% superannuation and up to $15,990 salary packaging. This is a max term role from 17th August 2026 to 10th March 2028, and available part-time (0.8 FTE, 4 days per week).

About the role 

The Children’s Counselling Program provides a range of child-focused and trauma-informed counselling and group work interventions to children and their families who have experienced family violence.

The Intake Counsellor reports to the Counselling Team Leader and is responsible for receiving and screening referrals into the program. This role is required to provide short term trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate counselling interventions to children who have been impacted by family violence. This role conducts assessment of children’s counselling needs and the family’s readiness for counselling. This role also provides support and secondary consultation to both internal and external family violence services, as well as child and family services, regarding the needs of children and the impact of family violence on children’s development.

Key responsibilities: 

• Information provision and response for the GenWest Children and Youth Counselling program.
• Waitlist management for the GenWest Children and Youth Counselling program.
• Provide high-quality screening assessment, over the phone and in person, regarding suitability of clients for the GenWest Children and youth counselling program.
• Actively monitor, in conjunction with the counselling team leader, performance standards against DFFH requirements to ensure ongoing accreditation for the children’s counselling program.
• Ensure program data (IRIS) is collected to inform program planning and to meet data recording requirements of the DFFH and the GenWest board.
• Provide support and secondary consultation to other GenWest integrated family violence services staff and external service providers regarding the developmental needs of children and the impact of family violence (to ensure maximum collaboration and enhanced referral pathways.
• In collaboration with the counselling team leader, participate in the development, monitoring and review of a clear work plan that sets out objectives, activities, outcomes and evaluation methods for this position.
• Actively participate in cross-team and cross-stream mechanisms designed to facilitate links within and between the counselling team, the integrated family violence services stream and the whole organisation, ensuring that collaboration is embedded in all aspects of GenWest’s operations.

About you 

Essential 

• Tertiary qualifications in social work or equivalent discipline and eligibility for AASW membership or other professional body.
• Clinical training in creative modalities (art therapy and/or play therapy) with children is desirable.
• Highly developed understanding of child development therapy, trauma-informed therapeutic practice and attachment theory
• Relevant working experience within a comparable role
• Substantial direct service delivery experience (assessment & therapeutic interventions)
• Demonstrated understanding of legislation, theory and practice relating to provisions of family violence services to women and children
• Demonstrated commitment to the provision of high-quality services, feminist policy and practice

• Experience in development and maintaining effective working relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Sound computer skills including data base applications
• Working with Children check
• Police check (and international police check if lived overseas for a year or more in the last 10 years)
• Current VIC driver’s license

We are actively hiring for this role, so apply ASAP; applicants will be interviewed as applications are received, and the vacancy may be filled before closure date if an appropriate candidate is identified. All applications will close COB Friday 31st July.

To apply, please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in applying, along with a copy of your CV.

Should you have any questions or queries please email recruitment@genwest.org.au