Student Counsellor

**Student Counsellor - Ongoing, Part Time (2 days per week)**

AFTRS is the national screen and broadcast school - the only Australian education institution to consistently make _The Hollywood Reporter_‘s prestigious annual list of the top film schools in the world. Working hand-in-hand with the screen and broadcast industries, AFTRS is a global centre of excellence that delivers the highest level of screen and audio education, training and research across Australia.

We are seeking a committed and compassionate Student Counsellor to join the Student Centre team to support all students to engage successfully with their learning experience at AFTRS. This role provides individual and group counselling on matters affecting their education and progression, as well as identify and oversee solutions to complex student-related issues and concerns.

Working with the Student Engagement Manager, the Student Counsellor ensures appropriate and accessible guidance and support. You will provide expert advice to the Head of Student Centre by identifying and reporting on broad trends and concerns relevant to students; and, identifying possible risks to student wellbeing and safety at the school. This position will also answer questions, provide information and school-wide communications to students and build a safe, creatively vibrant culture at AFTRS.

**About the role**:

- **As the Student Counsellor at AFTRS, you will**:_
- Provide individual and group counselling to students on a range of issues affecting educational engagement and progress.
- Provide advice to staff about student issues.
- Develop and liaise with a network of appropriate educational, health and community agencies for the referral of students and to maintain specialist knowledge.
- Foster and promote a learning environment of wellbeing and safety for AFTRS students including the management of ongoing student initiatives, such as the Safe Conversation Network; identification of student-facing risks and mitigation strategies and strategic benchmarking and research.
- Be a primary point of contact for students.
- Provide consistent, structured and professional support and guidance to AFTRS students in accordance with appropriate internal and external standards; including but not limited to Special Consideration and Reasonable Adjustments.
- Develop and deliver academic, welfare and pastoral support programs for students that is targeted and effective and that student-facing risks are identified, and mitigation strategies are implemented. Including but not limited to:
**i. **Consultancy to academic staff on pastoral care.

**ii.** Identifying and reporting/recommending to management on broad trends, issues and concerns relevant to students, educational programs and/or the School.

**iii.** Working with People and Culture to design and conduct staff development programs in specialist areas as appropriate such as mental health first aid (as appropriate).
- Contribute to division’s preparedness and capacity to respond to student incidents, especially critical incidents according to HESF (2015)(see Standard 2.3.5) and to anticipate issues through risk identification and mitigation (see Standard 6.2.1e), and to implement preventative actions.
- Support the administration and implementation of reasonable adjustments and Learning Access Plans to ensure compliance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005, including liaising with key stakeholders regarding classroom accommodations, curriculum and/ or infrastructure accommodations and changes.
- Develop and run support and enhancement programs for students, facilitating individual or group information sessions on educational, vocational and financial issues.
- Undertake and assist in updating the student record and other systems as part of team.
- Contribute to student-facing administrative processes across the academic year, including enrolments, change of status, orientation and graduation.
- In collaboration with the Student Engagement Manager and Head of Student Centre, facilitate student facing-wellbeing, community and information programs including (but not limited to) Orientation Week, Peer Support Program, Safe Conversation Officer Program and Graduation.

**About you - you have**:

- Qualified as a mental health clinician, and registered with an appropriate governing body (e.g.,

**i. **Psychologist, registered with the Psychology Board of Australia

**ii.** Accredited Social Worker, registered with the AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers)

**iii. **Counsellor or Psychotherapist, registered with PACFA or ACA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Association of Australia).
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role with regular and direct contact with students.
- Successful track record of instigating student wellbeing and support initiatives.
- Highly motivated and outcome focused and able to act proactively and with sound judgement in a quality assurance and compliance enviro