Telecounsellor

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service; Melbourne; Remote; AUD 34,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options available

Professional development and ongoing/2

Flexible remote working arrangement

Job summary

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service – Preston VIC seeks a casual Yarning Safe & Strong Tele-Counsellor to provide culturally safe telephone counselling for Aboriginal individuals and families. You will deliver trauma-informed support, crisis intervention, referrals and client-centred counselling to promote wellbeing.

Join VAHS with a focus on trauma-informed practice, collaboration with Aboriginal and mainstream services, and commitment to culturally safe, client-centred care.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health or related discipline.
• Experience in counselling, mental health or social & emotional wellbeing.
• Understanding of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally safe telephone counselling and support services.
• Respond to crisis situations and facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Develop client-centred and family-focused interventions and goals.
• Maintain accurate client records and reporting requirements.
• Liaise with Aboriginal and mainstream services to support outcomes.
• Participate in supervision and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Counselling

Crisis response

Trauma-informed practice

Remote work capability

Education

Counselling/Social Work/Psychology degree

Job description

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service – Preston VIC

• Professional development and supervision
• Flexible remote working arrangement

Casual
Location: Remote

• Salary packaging options available
• Professional development and supervision
• Flexible remote working arrangement

About the Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was established in 1973 to address the specific health needs of Victorian Aboriginal people, families and communities.

As a community-controlled organisation, VAHS is committed to self-determination, cultural integrity and delivering high-quality, culturally safe services.

With more than 350 staff across clinics in Fitzroy, Preston, South Morang and St Albans, VAHS provides comprehensive health, wellbeing and community services to Aboriginal people across Victoria.

VAHS is a child safe organisation and recruits staff in accordance with the Child Safe Standards Victoria.

About the Opportunity

The Yarning Safe & Strong Tele-Counsellor provides culturally safe telephone counselling and support to Aboriginal individuals and families experiencing social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) related concerns.

Working as part of the Yarning Safe & Strong helpline, you will deliver trauma-informed support, crisis intervention, referrals and client-centred counselling to support positive wellbeing outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide culturally safe telephone counselling and support services.
• Respond to crisis situations and facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Develop client-centred and family-focused interventions and therapeutic goals.
• Maintain accurate client records and reporting requirements.
• Liaise with Aboriginal and mainstream services to support client outcomes.
• Participate in supervision, professional development and continuous improvement activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Community Services or a related discipline.
• Relevant counselling, mental health or social and emotional wellbeing experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health principles.
• Trauma-informed and culturally safe practice capability.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and crisis response skills.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
• Victorian Working with Children Check.
• National Police Check.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Right to work in Australia.

Important Information

Applications close at 9:00pm on Sunday, 22 November 2026.

We do not offer sponsorship at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. If you have indicated that you require sponsorship on your application form, unfortunately your application will not be considered.

This is not an Aboriginal identified position, however, preference may be given to persons of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander descent (as permitted under The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010 s12: “A person may take a special measure for the purpose of promoting or realizing substantive equality for members of a group with a particular attribute”.