Student Wellbeing Counsellor

Location: North West Region | Sunbury

Job type: Part time / From 28/01/2025 - 27/01/2032

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1437293

**Selection Criteria**:
**SC1. **Qualification in social work, counselling, psychology or relevant community health or welfare field.

**SC2.** Understanding of the common approaches, policies, programs and research relating to student wellbeing.

**SC3.** Ability to facilitate and collectively implement programs and procedures that address the social and emotional learning needs of students within the school community.

**SC4.** Ability to provide confidential, tailored and appropriate individual support to students and staff, including one on one and small group counselling and referral to external agencies as required. As well as providing advice and support to school leaders and staff on wellbeing matters.

**SC5. **Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills and high level interpersonal skills including the capacity to construct positive relationships with staff, external agencies and parents as required.

**Role**:
This is a part time role of 6.5 hours per day over 3 days per week (days negotiable).

Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with mínimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

**Responsibilities**:
The duties of a school counsellor include counselling students whose behaviour, school progress or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance; consulting with parents, teachers and other school personnel to determine the cause of the problems and to implement solutions in order to maximise their wellbeing and engagement in learning. They may be required to support families with referrals to external services for medical, psychiatric and other testing that might disclose the cause of difficulties.

As well as attending to those duties required within this ES range, the role includes the following key accountabilities:

- Excellent time management and organisational skills to effectively perform all duties.
- Provide short term counselling for students dealing with emotional, social and behavioural issues/concerns.
- Advise Wellbeing Team members and teachers of strategies that will assist and support students with their learning.
- Be familiar with social service agencies in the community so that students and their families can be connected to the appropriate services.
- Manage crisis situations as they arise.

**Who May Apply**:
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

**EEO AND OHS Commitment**:
**Child Safe Standards**:
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of