Farmgate Counsellor

Rashi Joshi; Albury City; Hybrid; AUD 79,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Financial 12% superannuation

Salary packaging and novated leasing

Annual leave with 17.5% leave loading

Relocation considerations

Welcome Experience Program

Work-Life Balance

Flexible work options (hybrid)

Paid maternity and parental leave

Generous leave options including long,

Health & Wellbeing

Fitness Passport

Staff Wellbeing & Support Service

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

NSW Health MLHD seeks a Farmgate Counsellor to provide strengths-based counselling to individuals, families and farming communities affected by drought. You will deliver resilience-building support, advocacy, and referrals to relevant services to improve wellbeing and community connections.

The role emphasizes collaboration with local stakeholders, education, outreach, and holistic care, with travel across the region and flexible hours where applicable.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in counselling, psychology, social work, nursing with professional peak body membership.
• Strong counselling skills and resilience-building approaches.
• Understanding of rural and farming community challenges and drought impact on wellbeing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Highly organized with strong administrative skills and ability to travel across the region.

Responsibilities

• Provide strengths-based counselling and emotional support to individuals, families and rural communities affected by drought.
• Engage with farming communities to build trusted relationships and identify those in significant stress.
• Deliver community education, mental health promotion, and outreach programs.
• Coordinate referrals and connections to health, welfare, financial and community services for holistic care.
• Develop partnerships with community organisations while maintaining accurate client records.

Skills

Counselling

Therapeutic support

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Administration

Travel

Education

Counselling/Psychology/Social Work/Nursing degree

Professional peak body membership

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Farmgate Counsellor

Make a real difference in the lives of people living and working in rural communities. As a Farmgate Counsellor, you'll provide compassionate, strengths-based support to individuals, families and farming communities impacted by drought and rural hardship, helping them build resilience, improve wellbeing and stay connected to the support they need.

Our benefits:

• Financial 12% superannuation
• Salary packaging and novated leasing
• Annual leave with 17.5% leave loading (for full-time and part-time staff)
• Relocation considerations
• Access to the Welcome Experience Program
• Work-Life Balance
• Flexible work options, including hybrid and varied hours (depending on the role)
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Generous leave options including long service and carers leave
• Health & Wellbeing
• Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport
• Free and confidential support for staff and their families via our Staff Wellbeing and Support Service (EAP)
• Wellbeing programs that promote mental health, resilience and balance

Employment type: Permanent Full / Part Time or Casual opportunities

Location: Albury/Deniliquin

Salary: $79,419.00 - $122,465.00 per annum, pro rata (+ super +17.5% leave loading where applicable)

Hours per week: up to 38

Position classification: Psychologist, Social Worker, Sexual Assault Worker, Counsellor (with PACFA)

Requisition ID: REQ689899

About the role

The Drought Relief - Farm Gate Counsellor supports individuals, families and rural farming communities experiencing significant stress due to drought, providing strengths-based counselling, resilience-building support, advocacy and referrals to appropriate services. The position works closely with local communities and stakeholders to improve mental wellbeing, strengthen community connections, and ensure people affected by drought can access the support they need.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Provide strengths-based counselling, emotional support and practical assistance to individuals, families and rural communities affected by drought and rural adversity.
• Engage directly with farming communities, building trusted relationships and identifying people experiencing significant stress who may require support.
• Deliver community education, mental health promotion activities and outreach programs to improve wellbeing, resilience and awareness of available services.
• Coordinate referrals, advocacy and connections to health, welfare, financial and community support services to ensure holistic care.
• Develop strong partnerships with community organisations, stakeholders and health services while maintaining accurate client records and professional documentation

What We’re Looking For:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in counselling, psychology, social work, nursing with professional peak body membership and with the ability to provide high-quality therapeutic support.
• Strong counselling skills and experience using strengths-based, resilience-building and problem-solving approaches to support individuals and families experiencing adversity.
• An understanding of the challenges facing rural and farming communities, with knowledge of the impact drought can have on mental wellbeing, relationships and community resilience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across communities, agencies and service providers.
• Highly organised and self-motivated, with strong administrative skills, proficiency in Microsoft applications and the ability to travel independently across the region.

More information:

• 1) Download the?Position Description
• 2) Find out more about?applying?for this position.

For role related queries or questions contact Sharlene Brown on??for a confidential chat.

Applications close:?1 October 2026

This is a NSW Health Category A position which requires immunisation and screening for certain diseases. The full list of requirements are outlined in?the?NSW Health OASV Policy

MLHD values diversity and is committed to building an inclusive workplace culture that reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from diverse community groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTI, people with a disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants can access recruitment application support through the Stepping Up initiative. NSW Health is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards.