Counsellor & Community Representative: WA Regional

Who is Rural Aid?

Rural Aid is Australia's most trusted rural charity. Founded in 2015 on the back of the very successful "Buy a Bale" drought fundraising campaign of 2013, Rural Aid continues to provide critical support to farmers and rural communities when they need it most.  More than 17,000 farmers ('Our Mates in the Bush'), have registered with Rural Aid, Australia wide.

Rural Aid's vision is that farming and rural communities are safeguarded and supported to ensure their sustainability before, during and after natural disasters. Rural Aid is only able to provide support to farmers via our many programs due to the donations and funding we receive directly from our generous community of supporters and partners.

At Rural Aid our values guide our behaviour and are the foundation for how we do business. We are:

• Empathetic & compassionate (in everything we do and everyone we deal with);
• Transparent & accountable (being open, honest and outcomes focused);
• Supported & empowered (to achieve community and personal growth);
• Ambitious & adaptable (in order to find solutions to new and diverse challenges);
• Commercially responsible (to ensure the long-term future of the charity); and,
• Compliance with our Code WH&S policies and procedures and contributing to and promoting a safe and healthy work environment is also paramount.

Our Opportunity: Regional WA Focus.

We are seeking professionally qualified, highly motivated and compassionate new team member(s) to join our well established and highly regarded National Mental Health & Wellbeing Team ('MHWB') in the important role of Counsellor / Community Representative ('CCR') - Regional WA.

Our goal will be to grow our small team of CCR's extending from in/around Geraldton district in the mid-west-west down to Esperance & surrounds in the south of the state. We would be delighted to hear from qualified applicants based in regional and/or rural communities that, by their respective location, facilitate convenient and efficient regular access to the farming & agricultural regions of WA.

Such townships may include (but not limited to) Mullewa, Mingenew, Morawa regions, further south to Kalannie, York, Merredin east of the capital and onwards down to Albany, Jerramungup and/or Ravensthorpe regions to the south-east towards Esperance on the coast.

This expanded network will play a key role in supporting Rural Aid's existing and highly coordinated efforts to support the primary producers / growers and sheep farmers of WA via a hybrid work-from-home & outreach (travel) deliverymodel over approximately the next 18+ months (to June 30th, 2027) by;

• Offering counselling support to farmers and farming families 'on-farm' where practicable, while building trust and rapport, listening to their story and exploring how they are coping at present, assessing their safety and those around them.
• Replicating our existing Rural Aid MHWB model in delivering impactful support to farmers and local regional communities by servicing multiple locations (and farms) across a designated 250km-300km radius.
• Identifying options for further support for farmers and facilitating access to relevant professional resources and referrals, when required.
• Dividing your time between providing counselling 'on farm' with rural primary producers, remotely & also travelling to rural communities, representing Rural Aid at community events, agricultural shows and social activities. (Vehicle provided).
• Assisting with the coordination of our operations in their respective local region(s), as our 'eyes and ears on the ground' to ensure local priorities are addressed and pressing needs are prioritised effectively.
• Representing Rural Aid and its full range of services to individual clients and in consultation with community stakeholders.
• Building a diverse network that facilitates our referral processes and further support to registered farmers and farming families.
• Contributing to Rural Aid's local Community Development initiatives / programs; and,
• Supporting disaster recovery responses with a focus on farming families, their wellbeing and sustainable recovery.

About You / Applicant Requirements

• Degree qualification in Counselling, Social Work or Psychology and holding current registration with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or your relevant professional (recognised) Registration Body.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of proven experience as a Registered Counsellor, ideally in rural or agricultural setting to ensure familiarity with the unique territory of these types of roles.
• An understanding of the following therapeutic approaches: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and experience in group facilitation with children and young people.
• Experience working in rural community-based organisations, existing knowledge of community development principals and also First Aid qualifications are all highly relevant and will be highly regarded; plus,
• Current valid Australian Driver's License and willingness to traverse the local outback region by road is essential (vehicle provided).

Benefits for the successful candidate:

This is a great opportunity to have a significant positive impact on the community & region in which you live.

• Significant variety, plenty of travel and a unique 'workplace'. We would welcome applications from suitable candidates currently based either within, around or adjacent to the regional WA locations listed above.
• This is a hybrid / work from home / outreach role with a requirement for planned regular regional travel (including overnight stays) to visit your clients, support disaster recovery, attend Community events, plus deliver group programs and training.
• Fully maintained Rural Aid 4WD vehicle will be provided for work purposes & limited personal use.
• As a registered Charity - we have salary sacrificing (or 'packaging') options available to our employees for fixed personal expenses (such as Mortgage, Utility bills etc.) to effectively increase your pre-tax earnings potential.

If this opportunity sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information on our organistion and the services Rural Aid provide to farmers & farming communities, please visit 

Please submit your application using the 'Apply Now' button, and include a resume, plus a brief cover-letter (1 page maximum) outlining your interest, most-relevant experience and why you would like to help 'Our Mates in the Bush'.

Please note: You will be required to undertake (or hold) a Working with Children Check (Blue Card) and also standard Police History Clearance Check to commence in this role.