Counsellor Advocate

Overview

Join to apply for the Counsellor Advocate role at Foundation House Victoria (VFST Inc.).

Based in our Broadmeadows office, with free onsite parking. Salary of 100-115k + super + leave loading + salary packaging.

Rebuilding Shattered Lives - supporting refugees to recover from torture and other traumatic events

Your impact

Foundation House adopts a holistic and integrated approach to meeting the complex needs of our refugee background clients and their communities to ensure the application of trauma-informed principles and trauma focused interventions.

As a Counsellor Advocate, you will work with the Foundation House Trauma Recovery Framework to provide expert assessment and counselling, using a diverse range of developmentally appropriate psychosocial therapeutic interventions. These services address both the complex psychological impact of torture and trauma, along with addressing the many challenges our clients face in terms of the broader social and economic determinants of mental health.

Your role will also involve a range of advocacy including liaison and facilitated referrals with relevant health, community, education, and legal services.

The CA role

We look for Counsellor Advocates who are committed to advancing human rights and are passionate about supporting trauma recovery for refugee background individuals and families.

Regular supervision, guidance and professional development support is provided to assist you in undertaking your work as a Counsellor Advocate and to support high quality services to our clients.

Some Key Responsibilities Include

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with individuals and families to develop clear formulations and client-centred therapeutic goals.
• Conduct risk assessments and establish and implement risk management and safety plans where indicated.
• Provide developmentally appropriate trauma-informed and trauma-focused counselling and therapeutic interventions using a range of evidence-based modalities.
• Provide psychoeducation in individual, family and group settings.
• Identify critical issues clients experience that are affecting their sense of wellbeing, mental health and safety, and develop strategies for responding to those issues. This will include making referrals and undertaking advocacy with relevant health, community, education, legal services and government agencies.

As this Counsellor Advocate role involves working directly with Arabic speaking clients, fluency in Arabic will be highly regarded.

This role will be offered as a full time, ongoing position available in our Broadmeadows (Dallas) office.

What You Will Need To Successfully Apply

Positively respond to the below selection criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, counselling, or other related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in counselling, preferably in a similar trauma recovery context or another area of trauma-focused service provision.
• Demonstrated experience conducting psychosocial assessments and risk assessments of adults and families.
• Ability to write high quality professional psychosocial reports for a variety of key stakeholders, including legal and government bodies.
• Good understanding of how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems in Victoria to support the needs of clients and their families.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural context including working with interpreters.

In return

You'll be rewarded with:

• an attractive remuneration package of 100-115k plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options
• a role with true purpose to make a difference in people's lives
• a welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment
• access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.

About Foundation House

We are:

• a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently have approximately 250 staff across our six offices in Brunswick, Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood, Sunshine and Werribee, and we also provide services in partnership with other agencies in regional and rural Victoria
• values driven and committed to improving the life outcomes refugee background survivors
• an inclusive and equal opportunity employer
• a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We also actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.

How to apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter (maximum one to two pages) outlining why you are suitable for this role and how you meet the selection criteria as described above.

Refer to the position description on our website for detailed information about the role and more information about our hiring process.

Applications are due to close 1 October 2025. Please note, applications may be considered as they are received, and job ads may close early.

For enquiries, please contact Justin Curreen-Harris from our HR Team via jobs@foundationhouse.org.au or by phone on 03 9389 8985.

Appointment to the position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, Working with Children Check and Reference Check process. If you have lived for a continuous period of 12 months or more in another country within the last 10 years, an International Police Check from that country will also be required.

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate proof of the Right to Work in Australia.

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