Counsellor Advocate

Reference Number
- 64959
- Employment Type
- Full Time Ongoing
- Entity
- Monash Health
- Department
- SECASA
- Location
- SECASA Dandenong, Cranbourne Centre
- Position Summary
- Evidence-based training to be a competent trauma counsellor
- Work with a supportive and experienced team of trauma counsellors
- Cranbourne and Dandenong locations

**Working in Healthcare has never been more important or meaningful.**

**Our Journey**

The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SECASA), is a program of Monash Health and has the responsibility in the Southern Region of the Department of Families Fairness and Housing to:

- Develop and provide effective services to adult victim/survivors and associated people affected by sexual assault and family violence
- Develop and provide effective services for adolescents exhibiting sexually harmful behaviours
- Provide public education and professional training on sexual assault and anti-violence issues
- Social planning and processes related to reducing societal violence

This role is permanent full-time ongoing and working days are Monday to Friday, based at our Dandenong and Cranbourne Offices.

**A Day in the Life**

As a Grade 2 Counsellor/Advocate you will provide high quality trauma focused counselling and therapeutic interventions, driven by frameworks of intersectionality, gender equality, anti-oppression, and a human rights-based approach. This position requires a truly collaborative approach, working with clients, their families and key agencies, within the scope of current legislation and professional guidelines. Key purpose of this role includes:

- To provide counselling and therapeutic interventions to adults who have experienced sexual assault and/or family violence
- To undertake evidence-based and trauma focused assessments, case formulation, goal setting, counselling, advocacy, group work and crisis response
- To work collaboratively with the client and key agencies to advocate for, assess and respond to identified risk
- To contribute to the After Hours rosters

**What you bring**:

- Demonstrated clinical experience working with and responding to complex trauma related to sexual assault and/or family violence
- Crisis intervention skills necessary for supporting people who have experienced sexual assault and/or family violence
- Collaboratively work with other professionals and agencies to enhance wellbeing and safety for clients

**What you need**:
**Social Work**

Formal qualification in Social Work and eligibility for AASW:

- An Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) accredited bachelor’s degree or entry level master’s degree of Social Work that provides eligibility for membership of the AASW
- Written evidence of eligibility of AASW membership for overseas qualifications
- Minimum of two years’ experience as a qualified Social Worker

**In Return**

SECASA has a strong emphasis on clinician well-being with flexible work hours, monthly ADO, 5 weeks annual leave per year. In addiction SECASA has a committed in-house wellbeing team with monthly social activities planned. As part of SECASA's commitment to you SECASA ensures all employed receive $500 and 5 days of Professional Development leave per year. In addition to this SECASA as the largest sexual assault service in Victoria also offers a comprehensive induction to the service, specific trauma focused training to ensure you feel equipped to complete the role, such training includes TF-CBT, CPT and EMDR. As the largest sexual assault service in Victoria SECASA is leading the way in providing evidenced based therapeutic treatment to victim/survivors of sexual assault and family violence and has a strong research portfolio ensuring we remain at the forefront of trauma treatment. In addition to this, you will also:

- Be part of a highly committed compassionate team
- Be part of a service that values you and all you bring to the counsellor/advocate role.
- Work in a team with a diverse range of experience for you to draw upon
- Receive evidence based training providing you with the skills to be a competent counsellor in this specialist field
- Be part of an expanding service with multiple projects focusing on improving service delivery and improving the client experience
- Work with a team where social work values are evident in daily practice
- For a confidential discussion and to explore the opportunity further, please call Amanda Fillingham Manager on 0407 325 458_

**Monash Health is a great place to work**

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits including:

- salary packaging options that increase your take-home pay
- a comprehensive Health and Wellbeing program
- free vaccinations
- private health insurance at discounted rates
- health imaging services
- + more

Monash Health is Victoria’s largest public health service and proudly provides healthcare to one quarter of Melbourne’s population, across the entire lifespan from newborn and children, to adu