Counsellor

Deakin University; Warrnambool; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site childcare

Gym facilities on campus

Medical centres on campus

Flexible working arrangements

Extended parental leave

Job summary

Deakin University is seeking a Counsellor to provide accessible, inclusive mental health support to a diverse student community. You will deliver evidence-based assessments, brief counselling, and referrals to promote wellbeing and academic success.

You will work with students, academic staff and wellbeing teams to create a mentally healthy learning environment and contribute to improvement initiatives across the university.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in Psychology, Social Work or related discipline, or progress towards postgraduate qualifications with extensive experience.
• Registration as a Psychologist with AHPRA or membership of AASW.
• Experience providing evidence-based mental health assessment, risk assessment and short-term counselling.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based mental health assessments, referrals and short-term counselling interventions.
• Manage range of student mental health presentations, including complex and risk-related concerns.
• Collaborate with students, staff and multidisciplinary teams to provide coordinated support.
• Develop and deliver wellbeing initiatives and mental health promotion activities.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and clinical record management.

Skills

Mental health assessment

Risk assessment

Counselling

Stakeholder engagement

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in Psychology or Social Work

AHPRA registration or AASW membership

Tools

Clinical record management

Job description

Working within a student-centred and trauma‑informed framework, you will provide accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive mental health support to a diverse student community. You will deliver evidence‑based assessment, referral and short‑term counselling interventions that promote student wellbeing, enhance mental health literacy, and support positive academic outcomes.

Working collaboratively with students, academic and professional staff, and multidisciplinary wellbeing teams, you will contribute to a mentally healthy learning environment and support continuous improvement initiatives across the University.

As a Counsellor, you will:

• Deliver evidence‑based mental health assessments, referrals and short‑term counselling interventions to support student wellbeing and success.
• Manage a range of student mental health presentations, including complex and risk‑related concerns, using a student‑centred and trauma‑informed approach.
• Collaborate with students, academic staff and multidisciplinary wellbeing teams to provide coordinated support and improve student outcomes.
• Develop and deliver wellbeing initiatives, workshops and mental health promotion activities that strengthen mental health literacy across the University.
• Contribute to service excellence through continuous improvement activities, critical incident response, clinical record management, and the provision of specialist mental health advice and consultation.

To be successful, you will have:

• Postgraduate qualifications in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline, or progress towards postgraduate qualifications with extensive relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.
• Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW).
• Demonstrated experience providing evidence‑based mental health assessment, risk assessment and short‑term counselling interventions.
• An understanding of the higher education environment and the wellbeing challenges faced by diverse student populations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience contributing to service improvement initiatives and delivering high‑quality, client‑centred wellbeing services.

Applications for this position close on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Benefits for working with us!

At Deakin, we offer more than just a job - we offer a lifestyle. Across our campuses in Geelong, Melbourne, and regional Victoria, you’ll find everything you need to thrive: on‑site childcare, gyms, medical centres, cafes, accessible public transport, and convenient parking. Enjoy flexible working arrangements that support your work‑life balance, generous leave entitlements including extended parental leave and the option to purchase additional time off, plus a wide range of staff discounts on travel and more. Our health and wellbeing services, ongoing professional development opportunities, and inclusive, supportive culture make Deakin a place where you can grow - whether you're working remotely or immersed in the vibrant energy of campus life.

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.

Pre‑employment safety and suitability checks:

In accordance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender‑based Violence, appointment to this role is subject to successful completion of relevant pre‑employment checks, including Working With Children Checks and candidate gender‑based violence declarations.

Candidates may be asked to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender‑based Violence, or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender‑based Violence during the course of their previous employment, or otherwise in a legal process. A declaration is not required from individuals who have experienced gender‑based violence. A ‘Yes’ response does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment, and any information provided will be treated confidentially and considered only for relevance to the role and the University’s safety obligations.