TAFE NSW Life-Changing Careers
$158,345 – $162,265 salary package - includes base salary ($139,508 - $142,962), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
At TAFE NSW, we are dedicated to life-changing impact.
That's why we offer world-class training and education that delivers the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Life-changing impact starts with an incredible team that sees their career as an opportunity to transform someone's world. Whether that's inspiring students, supporting colleagues, or helping communities and industries thrive, every role at TAFE NSW contributes to meaningful outcomes.
We live by our values of Customer Focus, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence. These values guide how we work, connect with others and deliver on our commitment to students and communities across NSW.
At TAFE NSW, you will discover a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative environment, where you can innovate, create value, and do meaningful work.
We provide you with tools, ongoing training and professional development, health and wellbeing programs, and a 35-hour working week, 4 weeks annual leave and 3 weeks non-attendance leave.
Make a meaningful contribution as a Senior Counsellor, leading the delivery of high-quality counselling services that support prospective and enrolled students to achieve their educational, vocational, career and personal goals. In this leadership role, you will provide direct counselling services while overseeing the efficient management of counselling programs, ensuring services are responsive, effective and aligned with best practice standards.
You will supervise and support a team of counsellors, providing professional guidance, development opportunities and case supervision to foster a high-performing and collaborative team environment. Working closely with education and support teams, you will identify emerging student trends, provide specialist educational consultancy, contribute to service planning and implementation strategies, and build strong partnerships with community and professional networks to enhance support pathways for students.
This position plays a key role in maintaining professional standards, driving continuous improvement initiatives and ensuring counselling services meet the diverse needs of students while contributing to TAFE NSW's commitment to student success.
This is a full-time, campus-based position, with the successful candidate working on-site and undertaking travel to other campuses within the region as required.
The successful applicant may be located at Wollongong, West Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra, Yallah or Moruya Campus (subject to availability).
Please note this exciting opportunity is expected to commence in January 2027.
You are a degree qualified Counsellor, Social Worker or Psychologist with a passion for supporting student success and a demonstrated ability to lead and develop counselling teams. You bring substantial experience delivering personal, educational and vocational counselling services, together with strong leadership capabilities and a commitment to professional excellence.
You have experience managing complex and competing priorities across counselling service delivery, staff supervision, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. You are confident providing professional support, mentoring and case supervision to counselling staff, while fostering a positive, collaborative and customer-focused culture.
Your ability to build productive relationships with students, teachers, managers, community organisations and professional networks enables you to deliver integrated support services and identify opportunities to improve outcomes for students. You are skilled at analysing emerging trends, identifying service needs and providing expert advice to inform decision-making and service improvements.
You maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and practice, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and professional requirements. You are committed to continuous professional development, champion safe and inclusive practices, and lead by example through TAFE NSW's values of Customer Focus, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence.
Above all, you are passionate about creating positive outcomes for students and empowering your team to deliver high-quality counselling services that make a life-changing impact.
To find out more about the role, click to view the Role Description
TAFE NSW is committed to building a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply. If you require adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor listed below.
To apply for this role, click 'apply now' and provide:
Targeted Question: Senior Counsellors are required to communicate complex information, provide professional advice, and build productive relationships with a range of stakeholders. Describe a time when you needed to gain understanding, support or commitment from others regarding a complex counselling, student support or service delivery matter. How did you tailor your communication to your audience, and what was the outcome?
A career of life-changing impact awaits you. Apply now!
Applications close Thursday 22 October 2026 at 11:55pm AEDT.
General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: Please contact Clinton Debreceny, Talent Acquisition Advisor via email at Clinton.debreceny1@tafensw.edu.au or 02 7921 1310.
Role-specific enquiries: Please contact Rachael Buckerfield, Manager Counselling & Career Development via email at Rachael.Buckerfield1@tafensw.edu.au or 0409 438 565
For support with preparing your application and understanding the recruitment process, visit our Application Process page, and explore the helpful resources available through I Work for NSW.
This is a child-related position. Successful candidates must hold a valid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to commencing. TAFE NSW will also conduct an Australian National Criminal Record Check on the preferred applicant as part of the pre‑employment process.
To be eligible for a position at TAFE NSW, you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.
A Talent Pool, valid for 18 months, may be created from this recruitment process and used to fill future vacancies.
