Senior Child Counsellor

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, young people and families
• Part time (0.6 FTE) fixed term 12-month opportunity with a NFP organisation based in Mitcham
• $110k - $114 (pro rata) + Super + Salary Packaging, phone, and tablet provided

The Australian Childhood Foundation is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting children and young people to recover from the impacts of abuse, neglect, and family violence. We provide specialist therapeutic services, advocacy, and education programs underpinned by the latest research in neuroscience, attachment, and trauma. Our work is driven by a commitment to creating safe, supportive environments where every child can thrive.

About the program
The Australian Childhood Foundation has a strong reputation for delivery of therapeutic services, professional training and secondary consultation built upon up-to-date evidence based theoretical frameworks including the neurobiology of trauma, attachment and relational theories and child development. This theoretical framework provides the foundation upon which all elements of care and therapeutic support are provided by the Foundation’s Therapeutic Services.

The Pathways to Resilience Program focuses on addressing the impacts of family violence to ensure that children, young people and families are safe, heal from their experiences of violence and develop resilience into the future. This program is delivered in partnership between ACF, Uniting and EACH in Southern Melbourne.

This role will work across both the Family Violence Therapeutic Intervention (FVTI) component and the Adolescent Violence in the Home (Walking Together) component of the Pathways to Resilience South program.

About the opportunity
ACF currently has an exciting vacancy for a 0.6 EFT Social Worker/Psychologist, for a 12-month fixed-term period. Within the program, the Senior Child Counsellor position is employed and managed by ACF. This role provides assessment, counselling and group programs to address the impacts of family violence for children, young people and their parents/carers. The role also has a clinical leadership focus with regard to the development and implementation of appropriate therapeutic support for children and young people within their particular care setting, including out of home care, and works closely with professionals and carers to develop trauma-informed therapeutic approaches to support children and young people healing from family violence.

About you - Key Selection Criteria:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direct service in the clinical assessment and support of children, young people and families.
• Highly developed ability to provide secondary consultation and advice to clinicians and other professionals.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage in an area of challenging and complex practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma, attachment and neurobiology frameworks and theories.
• Substantial experience in the area of child abuse and/or in working with traumatised children and young people, particularly in the context of family violence related trauma.
• Substantial experience in working with young people experiencing complex issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively.
• A sophisticated understanding of the complexity of the service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• A sound understanding of MARAM, CISS and FVISS.
• A current Victorian driver’s licence.
• A current Working with Children check.

What we offer

• Salary Packaging: Maximise your take-home pay with generous packaging options of up to $15,899 per year.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to confidential counselling and wellbeing support services for you and your immediate family.
• National Professional Community: Collaborate and connect with a passionate network of professionals working to make a difference in children’s lives across the country.
• Guided Supervision: Regular individual and group supervision for clinical guidance.
• Values-Driven Work: Be part of a child-safe, trauma-informed organisation that puts children’s and young people’s needs and voices at the centre of everything we do.
• Impact and Purpose: Contribute to innovative programs that create meaningful change for children, young people and families across Australia.

To Apply:
Interested in this new opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and young people?

Please click APPLY and attach a copy of your current resume along with a cover letter, addressing each of the Key Selection Criteria.
For a copy of the position description, please contact Human Resources at hr@childhood.org.au

Applications will close by 29 August 2025, unless a suitable candidate is appointed earlier.

Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

ACF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Members of the LGBITQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.