Counsellor Advocate (Werribee)

WestCASA is a community based not for profit sexual assault, family violence and trauma counselling service operating in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne for over 30 years. WestCASA provides counselling, crisis response, advocacy, education, and training and is located in the Multi-Disciplinary Centre (MDC) in Werribee with outposts to Footscray, Melton, and the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC, a women’s prison) in Ravenhall.

WestCASA is a partner with the Gatehouse Centre, Victoria Police (Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team – SOCIT and the Westgate Family Violence Unit), IPC Health, Women’s Health West, and Child Protection in the Multi-Disciplinary Centre (MDC) in the City of Wyndham.

WestCASA receives funding to deliver sexual assault and family violence support services from the Victoria State Government. WestCASA aims to provide a service that facilitates the recovery and healing for women, men, diverse gender folk and young people over the age of 12 years who have experienced sexual assault, family violence and other trauma using an empowering, respectful, and culturally sensitive therapeutic approach.

Reporting to the Area Lead this role provides support and trauma counselling to women, men, diverse gender people and young people (aged 12 years and over) who have experienced sexual violence and related family violence trauma either recently or in the past, and support and psychoeducation to non-offending partners, family and friends.

Our Counsellor Advocates develop and maintain professional and community based networks and links, providing targeted training and education to our community and contributions to our professional networks.

(The successful incumbent will have Post-graduate qualifications in either Master of Social Work or Master of Counselling or equivalent and familiarity with the relevant risk assessment protocols and redress schemes.)

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team and be pivotal in providing this valuable service supporting some of the most vulnerable in our community.

For further information contact: Elisa Buggy, CEO: Ph 03 9216 0411

Submit applications to: info@westcasa.org.au using the subject line: Counsellor Advocate (VAADA).  

Applications close 5PM AEST 12 August 2022.

Qualifications
Post-graduate qualifications in either Master of Social Work or Master of Counselling or equivalent

Knowledge and experience

1. Familiarity with the Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Risk Management
   Framework, MARAM, the Child Safety and Family Violence Information Sharing
   Schemes and the Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional
   child sexual abuse.
2. Commitment to and understanding of the vision, mission and aims of WestCASA (as
   attached).
3. Capability to practice in ways that support cultural, racial and gender sensitivity in
   service delivery.
4. An advanced understanding of the gendered and structural nature of sexual violence
   and family violence.
5. Solid experience in delivering crisis counselling services, telephone/telehealth or face
   to face intake support/counselling or programs.
6. Experience and skills in delivering trauma focussed counselling for clients.
7. Sound skills in risk assessment of family violence and sexual violence, working
   knowledge of MARAM framework.
8. Relevant formal qualifications such as social work or psychology.
9. Clinical skills and experience in: -
   1. (counselling and crisis intervention with individuals and families),
   2. (clinical engagement with adolescents, men & women, nonbinary and
      trans communities),
   3. (working with complex PTSD and other challenging presentation),
   4. (provision of community education and training)
10. Demonstrated ability to manage complex and demanding work both for yourself and
    in others.
11. Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and confidential records and prepare
    professional reports.