Assistant Director, Therapeutic Support

Council Jobs; Canberra; On-site; AUD 128,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

The Assistant Director Therapeutic Support at ACT Government leads a small multidisciplinary team to deliver therapeutic services to students with complex needs, embedding trauma-informed practice across schools. The role focuses on leadership, case management and collaborative planning to enhance wellbeing and educational outcomes.

Working across multiple school sites, you will provide direct one-to-one support, partner with educators, families and external agencies, and drive coordinated

Qualifications

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people within educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed practice.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating interagency responses.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate therapeutic support services for students with complex needs.
• Provide targeted one-to-one therapeutic support and case management.
• Collaborate with educators, families, and external services to ensure coordinated care.
• Promote trauma-informed, evidence-based practice across schools.

Skills

Therapeutic support

Trauma-informed practice

Multidisciplinary teams

Education

Therapeutic discipline qualifications (Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Speech Language Pathology)

Job description

Classification: Senior Officer Grade C/Health Professional Level 4
Salary: $127,597 - $141,511 plus superannuation
Position No: 72563
Directorate: Education
Advertised (Gazettal date): 19 October 2026
Contact Officer: Andrew Stead on************@act.gov.auor620 79000

Closes: 02 November 2026

Details

The Assistant Director Therapeutic Support provides leadership, coordination and direct therapeutic support services to students with complex needs, ensuring a trauma-informed and student-centred approach is embedded across all areas of practice. Leading a small multidisciplinary team, the role is responsible for guiding therapeutic interventions, case management activities and collaborative support planning that enhances student wellbeing, engagement and educational outcomes. The position plays a critical role in fostering safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments where students can thrive.

Working at the intersection of education and therapeutic care, the Assistant Director Therapeutic Support brings a strong therapeutic lens to school-based practices and decision-making. The role delivers targeted one-to-one support for students experiencing significant social, emotional, behavioural or developmental challenges, while partnering closely with educators, families, external agencies and community services to ensure coordinated and holistic support. Drawing on contemporary trauma-informed principles, the position helps build the capability of school staff to understand and respond effectively to the impact of trauma and adversity on learning and behaviour.

The Assistant Director Therapeutic Support provides expert case management oversight and serves as a key bridge between educational and therapeutic supports, ensuring students and families can access the right services at the right time. Through collaborative leadership, evidence-based practice and a commitment to positive student outcomes, the role contributes to the development of responsive support frameworks that strengthen student wellbeing, resilience and long-term success.

This role requires flexibility to work across multiple school sites and provide targeted support to students as required. The specific school location, student cohort, and length of placement may vary over time in response to service demands and organisational priorities.

Eligibility/Other requirements

SOGC Highly Desirable

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people with complex needs within educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed practice and its application in schools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex interagency responses.

HP4 MANDATORY

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in a therapeutic discipline such as Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Speech Language Pathology, with eligibility for professional registration or membership where applicable.
• Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under theWorking with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required. For further information on Working with Vulnerable People registration refer to -Apply for or renew a WWVP registration - Access Canberra

HP4 HIGHLY DISERABLE

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people with complex needs within educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed practice and its application in schools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex interagency responses.

Notes

This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of 12 months with the possibility of permanency.

This position will be filled at either the SOGC or HP4 level, dependent on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only.

#LI-DNI

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.