Senior School Counsellor I Commencing Term 1, 2027

Cranbrook School; Sydney; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Cranbrook School is seeking a warm and experienced Senior School Counsellor to join the Student Wellbeing team in Bellevue Hill, NSW. This full-time role focuses on adolescent counselling, crisis response, and collaboration with staff, families and external professionals to support student wellbeing.

The Counsellor will provide individual and group sessions, contribute to resilience and mental health programs, and guide referrals while upholding child protection principles.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Counselling or Social Work.
• Current registration with the relevant professional body (AHPRA, ACA, PACFA or AASW).
• Demonstrated experience providing counselling and therapeutic support to adolescents and their families.
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to crisis situations, including risk of self-harm or suicide.
• Sound knowledge of child protection, mandatory reporting, confidentiality and ethical practice.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with students, parents and staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary wellbeing team.
• Commitment to the School’s values, ethos and pastoral care framework.
• A Master’s degree in Counselling or Psychology, or Level 3–4 registration with the ACA or PACFA is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a school setting, ideally an independent or boarding school, is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counselling for a range of mental health, emotional and family issues.
• Respond to referrals from parents and staff; respond to crisis situations with appropriate support for students and the School.
• Liaise with parents, staff and external professionals to ensure effective case management and referrals to external providers.
• Assist staff in developing and delivering programs addressing resilience, transition, social skills, stress management and mental health.
• Consult with teachers, House staff and Resident Tutors on recognising and responding to youth mental health and collaborate with Learning Support.

Skills

Crisis management

Interpersonal skills

Child protection knowledge

Adolescent counselling

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Counselling or Psychology

AHPRA/ACA/PACFA/AASW registration

Job description

Senior School Counsellor I Commencing Term 1, 2027

Cranbrook School is seeking a compassionate and highly skilled counsellor to join the Student Wellbeing team as Senior School Counsellor, commencing Term 1, 2027.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This is a full-time position based at the Senior School campus in Bellevue Hill.

The Senior School Counsellor provides adolescent counselling and wellbeing support to students at Cranbrook, working with staff, parents and external professionals to support students and families and to maximise their engagement and outcomes at School. The Counsellor also contributes to enacting the School’s pastoral care framework to promote the wellbeing of all students.

Key aspects of the role include providing individual and group counselling for a range of mental health, emotional and family issues; responding to referrals from parents and staff; and responding to crisis situations with appropriate support for the student and the School. The Counsellor liaises with parents, staff and external professionals to ensure effective case management, guides families in referrals to external providers, and provides advice on child protection matters.

The Counsellor also assists staff in developing and delivering programs addressing resilience, transition, social skills, stress management and mental health, using School-based data and current evidence-based research. They offer consultative advice to teachers, House staff and Resident Tutors on recognising and responding to youth mental health, and consult with Learning Support about student needs and progress.

Due to the nature of the role, reasonable additional hours may be required, including attendance at School events and responding to crisis situations outside normal business hours.

The role will be offered as a Full time, continuing appointment, reporting to the Head of Counselling, Senior School and the Director of Student Wellbeing.

ABOUT YOU

You are a warm, approachable and experienced counsellor, psychologist or social worker with a strong background in supporting adolescents and their families. You build trust quickly with students, parents and staff, and you respond calmly and professionally in crisis situations, including where there is a risk of self-harm or suicide.

You have sound knowledge of child protection, mandatory reporting, confidentiality and ethical practice, and you work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary wellbeing team. You are committed to ongoing professional development and to the School’s values, ethos and pastoral care framework.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Counselling or Social Work
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a Psychologist, or current registration or membership with a recognised professional body such as the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Demonstrated experience providing counselling and therapeutic support to adolescents and their families
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to crisis situations, including risk of self-harm or suicide
• Sound knowledge of child protection, mandatory reporting, confidentiality and ethical practice
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with students, parents and staff
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary wellbeing team
• Commitment to the School’s values, ethos and pastoral care framework
• A Master’s degree in Counselling or Psychology, or Level 3–4 registration with the ACA or Registered Clinical Counsellor status with PACFA, is highly desirable
• Experience working in a school setting, ideally an independent or boarding school, is highly desirable
• Experience designing and delivering group programs and workshops on wellbeing and mental health is desirable
• Knowledge of current evidence-based approaches to adolescent mental health is desirable
• Current Mental Health First Aid and first aid certification is desirable
• Experience working with boarding communities and families is desirable
• A firm commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• A demonstrated understanding of child safety and appropriate behaviours when engaging with children
• Current Working with Children Check (WWCC) – NSW, or willingness to obtain prior to commencement

CLOSING DATE: 4:00 PM on Monday, 16 November 2026

ABOUT CRANBROOK SCHOOL

Founded in 1918, Cranbrook School is a multi-campus Anglican independent day and boarding school for students in Pre-School to Year 12. In 2026, the School welcomed girls into Years 7 and 11, with full coeducation across the campus by 2029.

Guided by its enduring vision to be a world-class school that nurtures and enables every student to fulfil their potential and thrive, Cranbrook offers a values-led education enriched by academic excellence and extensive sporting and co-curricular opportunities. The School’s motto, esse quam videri – “to be, rather than to seem to be” – underpins its commitment to authenticity, character and service. This well-rounded educational approach provides an educational experience that celebrates each individual and prepares every Cranbrookian for a purposeful life of contribution within and beyond the School gates.

Overlooking Sydney Harbour and set on approximately 13 hectares in one of Sydney’s most prestigious eastern suburbs, the School currently educates over 1,800 students across four campuses: two Pre-Schools – St Michael’s and St Mark’s – a Junior School campus in Rose Bay, and the Senior School Campus in Bellevue Hill. The School’s two Boarding Houses provide care and accommodation for 75 students from Years 7 to 12.

Cranbrook School is a child safe organisation. We actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students and are committed to protecting our students from abuse and harm.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK AND WORKING RIGHTS

The successful applicant for this position will be required to hold a current NSW Working with Children Check clearance. Applicants must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or hold a visa with appropriate working rights.