Female Aboriginal Counselor

NSW Health; Sydney; On-site; AUD 132,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

NSW Health is seeking a culturally responsive counsellor to support Aboriginal young people in a specialist therapeutic service. The role focuses on delivering counselling, cultural guidance, and community engagement within a multidisciplinary team at Cumberland Hospital.

This Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander position requires strong cultural expertise, clinical supervision, and collaboration with Aboriginal communities and health services across regions.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or counselling deemed appropriate.
• Registered with or eligible for membership of the relevant professional body.
• Demonstrated cultural expertise and accreditation where required.
• Ability to engage Aboriginal young people and families with sensitivity.

Responsibilities

• Provide counselling and therapeutic interventions for young people and families.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments with cultural context.
• Provide cultural consultation to clinicians and services.
• Develop and deliver community engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
• Collaborate with government and non-government agencies.

Skills

Counselling

Cultural guidance

Community engagement

Trauma-informed care

Team collaboration

Education

Social Work / Psychology / Counselling degree

Job description

Provide culturally responsive therapeutic counselling to young people

Strengthen connections with Aboriginal communities across regions

Lead cultural advocacy within specialist treatment services

Deliver culturally safe counselling and community engagement for Aboriginal young people in a specialist therapeutic service.

Employment Type:PermanentFull Time
Position Classification:Counsellor Level 4, Sexual Assault Worker Level 4 & Social Worker Level 4
Remuneration:$131,585 - $134,775 per annum
Hours Per Week:38 (Job Share may be considered for part time hours)
Location:Cumberland Hospital

Where you'll be working
New Street Sydney West and North (SWAN) is a specialist community-based service for young people aged 10–17 who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours.

• Based within WSLHD with services across NSLHD, NBMLHD and CCLHD
• Reports to Clinical Coordinator and Senior Clinician
• Works within a small therapeutic multidisciplinary team
• Engages with Aboriginal Health and community services
• Participates in Aboriginal Clinicians Network and community advisory groups

What you'll be doing
You will provide counselling, cultural guidance and community engagement within a specialist therapeutic program.

• Deliver counselling and therapeutic interventions for young people and families
• Conduct culturally informed psychosocial assessments
• Provide cultural consultation to clinicians and services
• Develop and deliver community engagement and capacity building initiatives
• Collaborate with government and non-government agencies

1. This is an Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Position. Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identification as being Aboriginal and being accepted in the community as such. Exemption is claimed under Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. In this role, being a female is also a genuine occupational qualification as authorised by Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, NSW.

2. Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or counselling deemed appropriate by employer or completion in in the ECAV pathway, and registered with or eligible for membership of the relevant professional body and demonstrated cultural expertise.

3. Accreditation or willingness to undertake accreditation with the Child Sex Offender Counsellor Accreditation Scheme administered by the NSW Children’s Guardian.

4. Demonstrated ability to create connections, engagement and collaboration to affect outcomes with an understanding of trauma, child sexual abuse and the principles of family focussed intervention with the ability to engage with children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours and with their families.

5. Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills in combination with a demonstrated ability to work as part of a small therapeutic team.

6. Demonstrated ability to provide culturally responsive counselling services to individuals, and their families and an understanding of the legal and policy framework in NSW relevant to New Street.

7. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing clinical and cultural supervision and professional development including experience providing clinical or cultural supervision and / or consultation

Requisition ID: REQ697153
Applications Close: 22nd October 2026

This is an Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Identified position. Please see essential criteria. An applicant's race is a genuine occupational qualification for this role and is authorised under Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, NSW. Please include some information about your Aboriginal Australian / Torres Strait Islander identity in the cover letter of your application. If offered an interview you can expand on this information at the interview itself in response to questions from an Aboriginal panel member.

Being Female is a genuine occupational qualification for this position as described under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 (NSW).

People with disabilities who meet the selection criteria are encouraged to apply; and where required, WSLHD will implement reasonable adjustment consistent with industry standard.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles in NSW Health organisations. For more information, please visit https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/ .

Please note: To be eligible for permanent appointment to a position in NSW Health, you must have an Australian citizenship or permanent Australian residency.