Youth Counsellor (CSE024)

Good Shepherd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Gifted leave at Christmas & Easter

Entertainment benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Portable long service leave

Additional leave pathways

Job summary

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is seeking a Youth Counsellor to support young people aged 12–24 with mental health and wellbeing needs. The role uses trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches to deliver individual counselling and assist families and carers.

The position works within CAFS, delivering therapeutic and psychoeducational group programs, engaging with schools and community partners to promote resilience and positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in relevant field with eligibility for registration.
• Experience providing counselling/therapeutic support to youth.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and adolescent development.
• Strengths-based, person-centred, culturally safe approach.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with youth while maintaining boundaries.
• Understanding of intersectionality and inclusive practice.
• Experience collaborating with families, schools and services.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and group facilitation skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and documentation.
• Commitment to reflective practice and professional development.
• Current Working With Children Check and right to work in Australia.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed counselling to youth aged 12–24 with mental health or wellbeing challenges.
• Complete assessments and support intake/waitlist processes.
• Support families to strengthen capacity to respond to youth needs.
• Plan and evaluate group programs and workshops for youth and carers.
• Build relationships with schools and community partners to improve pathways of support.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve safe, client-centred outcomes.
• Maintain accurate client records and reporting per funding requirements.
• Participate in supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Apply culturally safe, rights-based approaches to service delivery.

Skills

Trauma-informed

Counselling skills

Group facilitation

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Professional boundaries

Cultural safety

Education

Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or related discipline

Eligibility for professional registration

Job description

• Salary packaging, gifted leave at Christmas and Easter

Role Purpose

The Youth Counsellor plays a vital role in supporting the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of young people aged 12 to 24 through the delivery of developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed counselling services. Working with young people experiencing mental health challenges, social isolation, discrimination, relationship difficulties and other wellbeing concerns, the role provides individual therapeutic support that promotes healing, safety, connection and positive outcomes.

Working within a collaborative and multidisciplinary team, the Youth Counsellor also contributes to family capacity building and the delivery of therapeutic and psychoeducational group programs for young people, parents and carers. Using strengths-based, person-centred and culturally safe approaches, the role helps young people and their support networks build insight, strengthen relationships and develop practical strategies that support long‑term wellbeing and resilience.

This position is delivered under the Community and Family Supports (CAFS) program and contributes to early intervention outcomes by supporting young people and families before challenges escalates, fostering recovery, inclusion and positive community connections.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate counselling to young people aged 12 to 24 experiencing mental health, wellbeing or relationship challenges.
• Complete assessments and contribute to intake and waitlist management to ensure timely access to support services.
• Support parents, carers and families to strengthen their capacity to respond to the needs of young people.
• Plan, facilitate and evaluate therapeutic and psychoeducational group programs, workshops and activities for young people and their support networks.
• Build strong relationships with schools, community organisations and referral partners to strengthen pathways and support for young people.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve safe, coordinated and client‑centred outcomes.
• Maintain accurate case notes, client records and reporting in line with organisational, legislative and funding requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development to maintain high‑quality service delivery.
• Apply strengths‑based, culturally safe and inclusive approaches that promote dignity, empowerment and wellbeing for young people and families.
• Uphold cultural sensitivity and adhere to ethical standards in all aspects of service delivery, ensuring respect for the diverse backgrounds and identities of clients and colleagues.

About you

• Tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or a related discipline, with eligibility for relevant professional registration.
• Experience providing counselling and therapeutic support to young people experiencing mental health, wellbeing or life challenges.
• Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed practice, adolescent development and complex trauma.
• A strengths‑based, person‑centred and culturally safe approach to working with young people and families.
• The ability to build trusting relationships with young people while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Strong understanding of intersectionality and inclusive practice, ensuring responsiveness to diverse cultural, gender, and sexual identities in service delivery.
• Experience working collaboratively with families, schools and community services to achieve positive outcomes.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and group facilitation skills.
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate documentation.
• A commitment to reflective practice, clinical supervision and continuous professional development.
• A current Working With Children Check, National Police Check and the right to work in Australia.
• Salary packaging – up to $15,900 in tax‑free pay per year, plus entertainment benefits up to $2,650
• 4 days gifted leave at Christmas and Easter (pro rata)
• Additional leave through purchase leave pathways
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• Eligible for participation in the portable long service leave program

About Us

Our 2023‑2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing. We aim to provide place‑based, people‑centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ) respects the dignity of all people, draws strength from, and celebrates the diversity of our community. At GSANZ, we strive for an inclusive culture where all identities feel safe and that they belong. We welcome and actively seek applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of all sexual orientations and gender expressions and identities, people with disability, and culturally and racially marginalised people. Each person’s individual decision regarding disclosure will be fully respected.

To view the position description, please visit https://hrdoc.goodshep.org.au/doc/Youth Counsellor PD.pdf

We recognise that applicants may hesitate to disclose their need for adjustments during recruitment due to concerns about discrimination. To address this, Good Shepherd asksall candidates about any required accommodations, with the intention of minimizing any sense of exclusion or discomfort associated with requesting adjustments.

Good Shepherd believes in genuine inclusive practice and employment and will therefore offer job customisation to meet the varying needs of diverse candidates.

Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.