Senior Counsellor

• Full time, 76 hours per fortnight located in Armadale
• Fixed Term until 30/06/2026
• Salary $49.28 p/hr 
• Salary packaging benefits (find out more here on what this means) 
• Working Monday to Friday.
• Discounts with a major health insurance provider.  
• We offer employees and their family members access to a confidential, and professional counselling service.  

Other benefits    

• Knowing you are making a real difference in your community and being part of a team that celebrates your successes and supports you during challenges.   

HOPE has been a provider of community services in Western Australia for over 120 years, providing much needed support for people in the areas of alcohol and other drugs, mental health, justice and family and domestic violence.   

About the Opportunity 

The Senior FDSV Counsellor will co-locate with the Southeast FDV Healing Service and will receive referrals across Hope Community Services Metro Region and external stakeholders.

Hope Community Services in partnership with Yorgum Healing Services has been awarded a contract to establish and operate the Armadale Family and Domestic Violence Hub with a number of other specialist service partners including:

• Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services
• Ngala
• Women’s Legal Service WA
• Aboriginal Legal Services of WA
• Marmun Mia-Mia
• 360 Health + Community
• Ruah Community Services.

The Southeast FDV Healing Service, provides victim-survivors with access to services and supports in a single, accessible location, as well as providing off-site services for men who use violence and young people. The service model will see the creation of a multicultural and multidisciplinary team, while adopting a trauma informed, culturally competent approach: while the various hub team members will be employed by one of the nine service partners, they will work within the cohesive FDV Hub team culture under the leadership of the FDV Manager, to provide support to women and children who are experiencing family violence and men who use violence.

Requirements of the Role: 

Counselling and Support:

• Provide individual, counselling to clients affected by family and domestic violence.
• Develop and implement evidence based therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of each client.
• Work within allocated portfolios, taking on focus areas such as intake & assessment, Child Safety, Health, outreach to designated locations, LGBTQIA+, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, etc. This will differ between sites.

Case Management:

• Manage a caseload of clients, ensuring regular follow-up and consistent support.
• Maintain detailed records of client interactions, treatment plans, and progress notes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling interventions and adjust plans as needed.

Leadership and Supervision:

• Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and support to other staff within the FDV Hub.
• Facilitate professional development opportunities and training sessions for staff.
• Lead case conferences and multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss and coordinate care.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Work closely with the FDV Hub team including Senior Safety Advocates, Safety Advocates, Lawyers, and other staff, to provide integrated services.
• Liaise with external agencies, such as schools, healthcare providers, and community services, to ensure holistic support for clients.
• Participate in community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about family and domestic violence.

Crisis Intervention:

• Provide immediate therapeutic support and intervention in crisis situations involving clients.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of clients during critical incidents and develop safety plans as needed.

About you:

• Hold relevant tertiary degree; qualifications in Community Services, diploma, or certificate.
• Minimum of two years working in the Community Services sector providing support to people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing family, domestic and/or sexual violence; or
• Have lived experience or cultural expertise to perform at this level.
• Demonstrated experience in Strong experience and skills in risk assessment, trauma informed practice, safety planning, crisis support, DFV counselling, system advocacy and case management
• Well developed interpersonal and communication skills, including being an active team member.
• Understanding of the impact of family and domestic violence on the individual and families.

Desirable criteria:

• Professional membership such as ACA, PACFA or APHRA or eligible for membership.
• A working knowledge of Safe and Together, National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, WA Woman and Children’s Family and Domestic Counselling and Support Program, Common Risk Assessment and Rick Management Framework (CRARMF) and other relevant legislation, practice standards, national and statewide strategies to reduce violence against women.
• Passion for supporting all persons who have experienced family and domestic violence.
• Ability to advocate while maintaining positive relationships with both stakeholders and colleagues.
• Willingness to engage in honest, transparent, reflective and accountable practice.
• Ability to connect the role to organisational goals, FDV Hub framework and community needs.
• Values that match uphold organisational values and strategic plan.

Appointments will be subject to Australian residency/visa, satisfactory National Police check (within 3 months), Working With Children card, Current C or A class driver's license, and suitable work referees.

Our Culture  

Hope strives to provide a safe workplace and promotes progressive policies that prioritise the health, safety and unique needs of our team. Hope’s ambition is to be an employer of choice by supporting staff to grow, learn, innovate and achieve their potential. We invest in developing our people to sustain the workforce built on ‘growing our own’. 

Find out more about Hope on our  website. 

If you need support to submit your application, please email hr@hopecs.org.au  

Your benefits  

Knowing you are making a real difference in your community and being in a team that celebrates your successes and supports you during challenges. 

Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay).   

Discounts with a major health insurance provider. 

We offer employees and their family members access to a confidential, and professional counselling service.

What to expect next  

If your application is shortlisted, you will receive a phone call to discuss your skill further and may be invited to attend an interview either online or in person at our local office/Hub.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOPE acknowledges and welcomes diversity in all its forms amongst staff and clients, including culture, language, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex variations, religion, and socio-economic and relationship status.