MST Psychiatric Family Therapist

About the role:

The Victorian Family Preservation and Reunification Response (FPRR), is funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. It was co-designed with representatives from the child and family services sector and implemented in by MacKillop across 9 regions throughout Victoria, and other Victorian registered children and family service providers.

The FPRR team delivers an innovative wrap around service that provides intensive early intervention support families with 0–17-year-old children and young people. The model is an integrated and evidence-based/evidence-informed approach to support families to live together safely and decrease the risk of children and young people entering or re-entering care.

FPRR links, aligns, and builds on without duplicating existing child and family services within the broader service system, and delivers an enhanced continuum of care across the State. MacKillop is partnered with Monash University to evaluate outcomes and continuously enhance the FPRR evidence-base for Victorian child and family services (including Child Protection).

MacKillop has implemented the Evidence Based Model – Multisystemic Therapy –Psychiatric (MSTP) in the metro regions to focus on families with 9 – 17 year old young people. The psychiatric stream of MST integrates intensive mental health and substance abuse treatment with systemic family practice to provide clinical therapeutic support to young people and their families.

Psychiatric assessments and consultation are available to families one day per week. MST Services (USA) provides weekly telephone consultation with the team and supervisor. The consultation supports the team in case conceptualization, goal development, intervention strategies, and continuously reviewing progress.  MST-P is a community-based, family driven intervention with a focus of empowering caregivers. Therapists carry small caseloads so they can visit families up to three times per week.  In addition, team members are rostered to provide 24/7 crisis response to a family if needed

This is a Permanent Full-Time opportunity based in Preston, VIC within our FPR Response/ Clinical Services Program. The position reports to the MST Psych Supervisor.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• The role requires a Masters degree and work experience in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related subject area. Bachelors degree with 3 years experience considered. The role will at times require evening and weekend hours plus a rostered on-call schedule, therefore it is essential that the successful applicant's life circumstances allows some flexibility to undertake this role.
• Behavioral therapy targeting behavioral change in children at home and school.
• Trauma treatment for adults and children using exposure, cognitive therapies, and stress inoculation training.
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth's natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood).

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

For a full position listing, please click APPLY. The Position Description is available for review at the bottom of the page.

For more information, please contact:

Doliza Reyes-Bibbs at or on

Our offer:

• Hourly Rate of $60.27 to $62.79 as outlined in the SCHADS Award Level 7, dependent on qualification and experience.
• 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.
• Supportive Environment - Monthly supportive meetings with your direct manager.
• 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.

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver's Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Our Commitment:

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.

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.

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.