Job Vacancies

We are a small team, and occasionally we have job vacancies arise. Currently following position is available:

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Child & Youth Counsellor

Kids & Young People Safe & Strong Van Program

Classification: SCHADS Award Level 6.3 – 7.2 depending on qualifications, experience and demonstrated therapeutic capability.

Employment Type: Flexible employment arrangements (part-time to full-time)

Location: ACT-wide outreach and community-based service delivery

Reports To: Program Manager / Clinical Lead

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Beryl Women Inc. is seeking applications from suitably qualified Child & Youth Counsellors to join the Kids & Young People Safe & Strong Van Program.

Flexible employment arrangements are available. Hours will be negotiated with the successful applicant(s) and may range from part-time through to full-time depending on experience, availability and organisational requirements.

These roles are designated for women in accordance with relevant exemptions under anti-discrimination legislation due to the nature of the service and client group.

Beryl is committed to strengthening culturally safe therapeutic support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families. As part of this recruitment, we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, with an identified role available to support this commitment.

Successful applicant(s) will work within the same therapeutic team and share the core responsibilities outlined in this Position Description.

ABOUT BERYL WOMEN INC.

Beryl Women Inc. provides specialist domestic and family violence services to women, children and young people across the ACT. Our work is grounded in intersectional feminist principles, social justice, reconciliation and cultural safety.

We are committed to creating environments where women, children and young people feel safe, respected, empowered and heard.

Our organisational values are:

• Respect
• Equality
• Diversity
• Integrity
• Compassion

Beryl is committed to strengthening culturally safe therapeutic support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families. As part of this recruitment, we are actively seeking applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women for an identified role within the program.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Kids & Young People Safe & Strong Van Program is an innovative mobile therapeutic outreach service supporting children, young people and families impacted by domestic and family violence.

The program provides flexible, trauma-informed therapeutic support in environments that feel safer, more accessible and less clinical than traditional office-based services. Sessions generally take place within our therapeutic van, which travels to children’s homes, refuges, schools and other outreach locations across the ACT.

The program works from a child-centred, youth-informed, relational, feminist and culturally responsive framework, recognising that healing occurs through safety, connection, regulation, culture, play, creativity and repeated experiences of attuned support. Therapeutic approaches vary according to age, developmental stage and individual preference, ranging from play-based and sensory interventions for younger children through to creative, expressive and conversational approaches with older children and young people.

While the primary focus is therapeutic work with children and young people aged 4–18 years, the program also recognises the important role caregivers and families play in children’s recovery. Practitioners work systemically where appropriate, supporting parent-child relationships, caregiver capacity and family wellbeing.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Child & Youth Counsellor provides developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by domestic and family violence.

Working within Beryl’s mobile outreach model, the role focuses on building safe therapeutic relationships, supporting emotional regulation, resilience and recovery, and adapting interventions to meet each child’s developmental stage, culture, strengths, interests and individual needs.

The successful applicant will enjoy working creatively, relationally and flexibly with children and young people, while collaborating with caregivers, colleagues and partner organisations to strengthen safety, connection and wellbeing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE

• Provide trauma-informed therapeutic support to children and young people impacted by domestic and family violence
• Deliver flexible outreach-based therapeutic support within the therapeutic van, which travels to schools, refuges, community settings and other safe locations across the ACT
• Utilise developmentally appropriate therapeutic approaches that may include:

o Play-based therapy and child-centred play approaches

o Creative and expressive therapies

o Sensory and regulation-based interventions

o Narrative and strengths-based approaches

o Attachment and relational approaches

o Psychoeducation, coaching and emotional regulation strategies

o Conversational, walk-and-talk, drive-and-talk and other engagement approaches suited to adolescents and young people

• Support children and young people to develop emotional safety, regulation, connection, resilience and self-expression
• Work collaboratively with caregivers to strengthen parent-child relationships and support regulation and safety within the family system
• Adapt interventions responsively to the individual needs, developmental stage, neurodiversity, culture and lived experiences of each child, young person and family
• Recognise when additional specialist or clinical intervention may be required and contribute to referral planning collaboratively with families and partner services

TRAUMA, SAFETY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICE

• Work within trauma-informed and domestic and family violence-informed frameworks
• Understand the impacts of violence, coercive control, trauma, attachment disruption and homelessness on children and young people
• Identify, assess and respond to safety concerns and risks affecting children, young people and families
• Participate in safety assessment and planning in collaboration with Beryl staff, caregivers and external supports
• Maintain awareness of child protection responsibilities, mandatory reporting requirements and relevant legislation
• Work in ways that prioritise emotional, cultural and physical safety for children, young people and families

CULTURAL SAFETY AND FEMINIST PRACTICE

• Work from a culturally responsive, intersectional feminist framework
• Demonstrate understanding of intergenerational trauma, systemic disadvantage and the impacts of colonisation
• Uphold Beryl’s Cultural Safety Charter and support self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities
• Recognise and respond respectfully to the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse families, LGBTQIA+ children and young people, and families with differing structures and identities
• Support children, young people and families in ways that honour voice, choice, dignity and agency

Beryl Women Inc. recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing frameworks, relational practices and ways of working with community may differ from mainstream therapeutic models and these approaches are deeply valued. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers are encouraged to work with community in culturally appropriate ways.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION

• Participate in community events, outreach activities and community engagement initiatives where appropriate
• Support referral pathways and collaborative service responses for children, young people and families
• Contribute to development of therapeutic resources, group programs and community education initiatives
• Participate in reflective discussions, case consultations and team-based therapeutic planning

DOCUMENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

• Maintain professional case notes, records and reporting requirements
• Participate in clinical supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development
• Demonstrate professional boundaries, ethical practice and psychologically safe workplace behaviour
• Contribute to ongoing program evaluation, learning and development

ADDITIONAL ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to conduct outreach work across the ACT
• Confidence or willingness to learn to drive a delivery-sized therapeutic van (standard Class C licence only required). Beryl will provide a professional driving lesson and orientation to support staff confidence and safety when operating the van
• Ability to work independently while remaining connected within a reflective and collaborative team environment

ESSENTIAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Relevant tertiary qualification in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or another related human services discipline.
2. Current membership, registration, accreditation, or eligibility for membership with an appropriate professional body relevant to the applicant’s discipline (for example PACFA, ACA, AASW or AHPRA).
3. Demonstrated experience providing therapeutic support to children and/or young people.
4. Demonstrated understanding of child and adolescent development and the impacts of trauma, attachment disruption and domestic and family violence on children, young people and families.
5. Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed, child-centred, relational and developmentally responsive practice.
6. Demonstrated ability to build safe, respectful and engaging therapeutic relationships with children, young people, caregivers and families.
7. Demonstrated ability to identify, assess and respond appropriately to safety concerns affecting children, young people and families.
8. Understanding of the gendered nature of violence against women and children, and the impacts of domestic and family violence on child development, wellbeing and relationships.
9. Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing positively within a collaborative outreach team.
10. Strong communication, documentation, organisational and reflective practice skills, with a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional learning and development.
11. Demonstrated commitment to culturally safe, inclusive and anti-oppressive practice.
12. Current Working With Vulnerable People Registration (or ability to obtain prior to commencement).
13. Current Driver Licence and willingness to drive the therapeutic van following orientation and training.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

Experience, training or a strong interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Child-led play therapy
• Creative, expressive, sensory or arts-based therapeutic approaches
• Narrative, attachment-based or relational therapies
• Parent-child relational work
• Family or systemic counselling
• Domestic and family violence practice
• Outreach, school-based or community-based therapeutic practice
• Neurodiversity-affirming practice
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities
• Building respectful partnerships with community services and working in culturally responsive ways
• Engaging children and young people who may not thrive in traditional office or clinic settings

Beryl is committed to developing specialist therapeutic practice. While experience in play therapy and creative therapeutic approaches is highly valued, we recognise there are many pathways into effective child and youth counselling. Professional development, mentoring and support will be provided to the successful applicants to build specialist skills in therapeutic practice with children.

Applicants do not need to meet every desirable criterion to apply. If you have experience working with children and young people and are passionate about developing your therapeutic practice, we encourage you to submit an application.

SALARY AND CONDITIONS

• SCHADS Award Level 6.3–7.2 dependent on qualifications, experience and demonstrated therapeutic capability.
• Flexible employment arrangements with hours negotiated according to organisational requirements and successful applicant availability.
• Generous salary packaging.
• Flexible and family-conscious workplace.
• Professional development and training
• Clinical supervision and reflective practice

WHAT WE OFFER

At Beryl Women Inc. we recognise that this work is meaningful, relational and emotionally demanding. We are committed to creating a workplace culture that values reflection, sustainability, creativity and staff wellbeing.

We offer:

• Warm, supportive and values-driven team culture
• Flexibility and autonomy within a trusted professional role
• Opportunities to help shape an innovative and growing therapeutic outreach program
• Regular clinical supervision, reflective practice and professional support
• Professional development to build specialist skills
• The opportunity to work creatively and relationally rather than within rigid clinical models
• Meaningful work supporting children, young people and families recovering from domestic and family violence
• An organisation committed to cultural safety, feminism, social justice and community connection

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Beryl Women Inc. values diversity and is committed to creating a culturally safe, inclusive and welcoming workplace. We encourage applications from women with diverse backgrounds and experiences, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

To apply email van@beryl.org.au with current CV and 2 page maximum cover letter. For an informal discussion about the position feel free to call Donna on 0428 685 249