Family Therapist

The Family Therapist will provide family therapy to parents/guardians that are referred to the Community Hub. The Community Hub is designed to offer families a central point of access to a range of therapeutic supports. The objective of this role is to identify parent/guardian needs in the school community and provide therapy, support or referral to services as and when required, in consultation with the Senior Social Worker and Principal.

About Us:

At MacKillop Education, we are more than just a school—we are a safe, supportive community dedicated to helping children and young people who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education. Having operated for over 10 years, our schools specialise in providing expert, professional support to our students who struggle in mainstream settings. Our passionate and dedicated staff, trained in trauma-informed practices, are at the heart of our success, making a real difference in our students' lives.

Want to learn more? Take a look: MacKillop Education 

About our offer:

• Generous salary (in line with Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022) and leave entitlements.
• Salary packaging – we can help you to maximize your salary packaging up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Paid Training that is industry specific including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary and Cultural Awareness training.
• Fitness Passport - which is a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to you and your family. For a fraction of the price of a regular gym membership.
• Employee Assistance Program- Free access to a wide range of options with all aspects of life such as social, financial, physical, mental health by providing counselling and coaching supporting relating both to your circumstance, even including health advice from qualified nutritionists.
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop's work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence-supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.

We have 1 x fixed-term, part time (0.6EFT) opportunity available based in Whittington, VIC within our MacKillop Education Program. This position is funded until January 2027.

 *PLEASE NOTE EMAIL APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED*

About the role:

An exciting new opportunity to be the first Family Therapist at MacKillop Education. The Family Therapist will provide family therapy to parents/guardians that are referred to the Community Hub. The Community Hub is designed to offer families a central point of access to a range of therapeutic supports.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelors qualification in Social Work or Psychology/ Aboriginal Health Worker / Community Welfare Worker or Master of Counselling. 
• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families.
• Clinical experience working with families/ children and young people strongly preferred.
• Proven highly developed interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and excellent engagement skills.
• A track record of working collaboratively and the demonstrated capacity to negotiate and liaise with internal and external stakeholders including, DCJ, other agencies and the community.
• Evidence of a holistic understanding of the complexity of the child protection system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• The ability to work independently, as well as contribute to a team.
• The ability to offer flexibility to work when the families are available to meet.

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For a full listing please view Position Description. 

Our offer:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – free and confidential counselling, coaching and emotional support for work and personal challenges
• Generous Salary Packaging up to $18,500 (helps increase your take home pay)
• Ongoing Career Development, Education and Training 
• Click HERE to find out more about becoming a member of the MacKillop Family Services team and what further support we have to offer our employees.

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver's Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check;
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles)

For more information, please contact Skye Staude at

It is our goal that MacKillop Family Services continues to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person's ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible.