Senior Counsellor - Therapeutic Counselling

ABOUT LAUREL HOUSE

Laurel House provides a range of trauma-informed, evidence based, therapeutic services to victim-survivors of sexual assault, their families and supporters. 

We also develop and deliver a broad range of programs to adults, young people and children including the provision of therapeutic face-to-face counselling at our centres located at Launceston, Devonport and Burnie and through outreach locations across the North and North West Tasmania. Laurel House is partnering with the Tasmanian Government in the delivery of the North and North West Arch centres (multidisciplinary centres) for victim-survivors of sexual harm. 

Laurel House delivers the PAST (Prevention, Assessment, Support and Treatment) Program for children and young people (aged 17 years and under) who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours in North and North West Tasmania. Our team also provides community education and other capacity building programs focused on the prevention of sexual harm and on supporting parents, carers and service providers to better respond to disclosures of sexual violence. See our team here: https://www.laurelhouse.org.au/our-organisation/team

YOUR NEW ROLE

This unique opportunity presents following one of our long serving Senior Counsellor's decision to relocate to the mainland.  This role will see you leading Laurel House's medium to long-term support services including counselling, advocacy and case management for victim-survivors, their families and supporters, and others affected by sexual harm across the North of Tasmania. The Senior Counsellor - Therapeutic Services role, is a permanent fulltime role (minimum 0.8FTE may be negotiated), working as part of the therapeutic services team, starting in January 2025. The Senior Counsellor - Therapeutic Services will work collaboratively with the Therapeutic Services Manager and other Senior Counsellors to provide professional supervision and incidental briefing and support to Counsellors at Laurel House, and to ensure victim-survivors and other clients have a positive experience at Laurel House.

You will report directly to the Therapeutic Services Manager, and have access to both internal and external supervision, generous professional development budgets and the support of our highly skilled team.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?

• Experienced in leading practice and evidence of understanding, skills and experience in the provision of clinical supervision and staff support. 
• Clinical experience including the delivery of specialist trauma counselling and trauma-informed care.
• An understanding of sexual violence through an intersectional feminist approach.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills, with experience working with diverse communities or lived experience of diversity.
• Knowledgeable in Tasmanian and Federal legislation/regulation and national quality standards pertaining to sexual assault, family violence, child safety and wellbeing and related legislation.
• Qualifications in counselling, psychology or social work, or related allied health qualification, with eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association (APS, AASW or PACFA), or related allied health qualification.  

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

As a valued member of the Laurel House team, you will be supported in your role. We offer: 

• A challenging and rewarding role, working alongside a range of stakeholders to create meaningful change.
• Flexible working conditions.
• Competitive salary ranging between $115,062 to $119,864 per annum (exclusive of superannuation), plus salary packaging provisions.
• Paid Parental Leave as per Laurel House Policy.
• The opportunity to extend your skills and knowledge through generous training budget and regular professional supervision (both internal and paid external).

As a Public Benevolent Institution, Laurel House employees receive tax-effective salary packaging opportunities including $15,899 each year tax free.  This means you can increase the value of your take-home pay. 

LAUREL HOUSE’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY 

Laurel House values the expertise, lived experience and cultural wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQA+, migrant, culturally and linguistically diverse, people with disability and those who have experienced sexual and family violence. Applicants from these groups are strongly encouraged to apply, as are people with parenting or caring responsibilities.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE  

Laurel House is a Child and Youth Safe Organisation.  We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and have systems to protect children and young people from abuse. We take all allegations and concerns very seriously and respond to them consistently in line with our policies and procedures. We actively work to listen to and empower children and to providing an inclusive and safe environment for all children and young people. In particular, we are committed to promoting cultural safety and to ensuring that the diverse needs of children and young people are met. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Please refer to our website www.laurelhouse.org.au for an overview of our services and a copy of the position description (under Our organisation - Career opportunities).

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Contact Kerri Collins (Therapeutic Services Manager) at kerri.collins@laurelhouse.org.au or 03 6431 9711; or Claire Tonks (Operations Manager) at claire.tonks@laurelhouse.org.au or 036334 2740.

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