Counsellor

Pathway Talent; Bowral; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathway Talent is recruiting on behalf of New Horizons Enterprises Ltd for an experienced Carer Counsellor to join the Carer Gateway team. This role provides an opportunity to support unpaid carers experiencing emotional, psychological and relationship challenges associated with their caring responsibilities.

Through short-term therapeutic interventions, you will help carers strengthen their wellbeing, resilience, coping strategies and confidence.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work or similar, with qualifications recognised in Australia.
• Current accreditation or membership with ACA, PACFA, or AASW.
• Minimum three years’ work experience in Australia.
• Experience delivering therapeutic counselling with needs assessments and individual sessions.
• Experience psychosocial and risk assessments and responding to needs/risks.
• Experience in Rogerian/CBT or similar approaches.
• Knowledge of grief and loss, trauma-informed practice, family systems and strengths-based approaches.
• Strong confidentiality, privacy, boundaries and ethical practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to engage clients and build relationships.
• Ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong client-record documentation and computer literacy.
• Current professional indemnity insurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-informed counselling to carers experiencing emotional, psychological and relationship challenges.
• Complete psychosocial assessments, formulation and intervention planning.
• Provide individual, family and group counselling in line with program guidelines.
• Apply strengths-based, solution-focused, grief and loss, CBT-informed, ACT-informed and trauma-informed approaches where clinically appropriate.
• Support carers to strengthen coping skills, emotional wellbeing, resilience, self-care and confidence.
• Undertake risk assessments relating to suicide, self-harm, domestic and family violence, neglect, abuse and other safeguarding concerns.
• Develop safety plans and escalating identified risks appropriately.
• Support carers to access additional services such as advocacy, aged care, mental health, disability, peer support, coaching and community services.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and treatment documentation.
• Participate in clinical supervision, reflective practice, service development and continuous improvement activities.

Skills

Counselling

Psychology background

CBT

ACT-informed

Risk assessment

Documentation

Communication

Autonomous work

Indemnity insurance

Education

Tertiary qualification in Counselling/Psychology/Social Work

Tools

Computer literacy

Record-keeping software

Job description

Pathway Talent is recruiting on behalf of New Horizons Enterprises Ltd for an experienced Carer Counsellor to join the Carer Gateway team.

This role provides an opportunity to support unpaid carers experiencing emotional, psychological and relationship challenges associated with their caring responsibilities. Through short-term therapeutic interventions, you will help carers strengthen their wellbeing, resilience, coping strategies and confidence.

About the Role

As a Carer Counsellor, you will provide professional, evidence-informed counselling within the Carer Gateway service model.

You will work closely with Carer Navigators, Coaches, multidisciplinary colleagues and external services to ensure carers receive responsive, coordinated and appropriate support. Services may be delivered face-to-face, by telephone and through secure digital platforms.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing evidence-informed counselling to carers experiencing emotional, psychological and relationship challenges associated with their caring role.
• Completing psychosocial assessments, formulation and intervention planning.
• Providing individual, family and group counselling in line with program guidelines.
• Applying strengths-based, solution-focused, grief and loss, CBT-informed, ACT-informed and trauma-informed approaches where clinically appropriate.
• Supporting carers to strengthen coping skills, emotional wellbeing, resilience, self-care and confidence.
• Undertaking risk assessments relating to suicide, self-harm, domestic and family violence, neglect, abuse and other safeguarding concerns.
• Developing safety plans and escalating identified risks appropriately.
• Supporting carers to access additional services such as advocacy, aged care, mental health, disability, peer support, coaching and community services.
• Maintaining accurate and timely clinical records and treatment documentation.
• Participating in clinical supervision, reflective practice, service development and continuous improvement activities.

About You

You will bring a professional, compassionate and person-centred approach, together with the clinical capability to support carers experiencing a range of complex circumstances.

To be successful, you will have:

• A tertiary qualification in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, Psychotherapy or another relevant behavioural health discipline, with qualifications recognised in Australia.
• Current accreditation or eligibility for membership with an appropriate Australian professional association, such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), or Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• A minimum of three years’ work experience in Australia.
• Demonstrated experience delivering therapeutic counselling services, including conducting needs assessments and providing individual counselling sessions.
• Experience undertaking psychosocial and risk assessments and responding appropriately to identified needs and risks.
• Demonstrated experience in, and the ability to provide, Rogerian/person-centred and/or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or similar therapeutic approaches.
• Sound knowledge and practical understanding of grief and loss, trauma-informed practice, family systems and strengths-based approaches.
• A strong understanding of confidentiality, privacy, professional boundaries and ethical practice requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with clients and build professional, respectful relationships.
• The ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and exercise sound professional judgement, while also working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong clinical documentation, record-keeping and computer literacy skills, including the ability to maintain accurate and timely client records.
• Current professional indemnity insurance appropriate to the relevant professional discipline.

Highly Regarded

It would be advantageous if you also have:

• Experience supporting carers, families or people affected by disability, mental illness, chronic illness or ageing.
• Knowledge of Carer Gateway, My Aged Care, disability and community service systems.
• Experience facilitating therapeutic or psychoeducational groups.
• An understanding of culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience working with First Nations communities and culturally diverse populations.

Pre-Employment Requirements

The position description identifies requirements including:

• National Criminal History Check.
• Working with Children Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check where required by the contract, duties or service setting.
• Current unrestricted Australian driver's licence.
• Access to suitable transport for work-related travel.
• Evidence of the right to work in Australia.
• Completion of relevant mandatory and role-specific training.

A Safe and Inclusive Workplace

Pathway Talent has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect and harm and is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children, young people, people with disability and the communities we serve.

In line with this commitment, all appointments are subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment and safeguarding checks, including background screening, qualification and registration verification, and any role-specific compliance requirements.

Diversity & Inclusion

Pathway Talent is committed to supporting inclusive, diverse and culturally safe workplaces.

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're an experienced counselling professional who is passionate about supporting carers and delivering high-quality, person-centred therapeutic support, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to use your professional expertise to help unpaid carers strengthen their wellbeing, resilience and capacity to sustain their caring role.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.