Complex Trauma Practitioner

• Part time - 3 days PW
• Do you want the opportunity to work for justice, choice and self-determination for people who have experienced complex trauma?
• First Nations People, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply
• DSS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.
• Do you want the opportunity to work for justice, choice and self-determination for people who have experienced complex trauma?

Drummond Street Services provides intersectional, trauma informed and recovery oriented, Complex Trauma Services. Our high quality, confidential, free, independent support services are for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and the families and people with disabilities, their families and support workers.

Through our Redress Support Services, Restore - Victorian Redress Counselling Service and Your Way Through (for people impacted by the Disability Royal Commission), our Complex Trauma Services have a particular focus on supporting survivors safely to complete an application to the National Redress Scheme, to provide counselling offered as an outcome to their NRS application and/or supporting people affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

We assertively engage people experiencing access barriers, marginalisation and/or discrimination, prioritising First Nations people, people of colour, and/or those identifying as LGBTQI+, with a specific focus on public housing residents.

About the role

Drummond Street Services (DS) is seeking an experienced Complex Trauma Practitioner to join their service on a part-time contract basis until the 31 June 2024. This role will be based in Northern region (Carlton & Coburg locations), with occasional travel in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria required.

Reporting to the Senior Complex Trauma Practitioner, this role will see you collaborate with a trans-disciplinary trauma informed team to ensure delivery of high quality, client led counselling, case work and advocacy services.

You are a skilled counselling practitioner, experienced in case work, who is looking to become part of a team committed to social justice and intersectionality. You can share and build knowledge to support trauma responsive practice that centers the voice of survivors who are people with disabilities that have experiences of trauma due to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and also experience institutional child services

About Drummond Street Services

Drummond Street Services (DS) is a not-for-profit, non-denominational agency that has over 130 years in the development and delivery of innovative services that strengthen families and communities with a strong focus on evidence-based/informed practice and across the prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery spectrum of universal and targeted support. We supported survivors to tell their story to the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and continue to support survivors to seek justice through the National Redress Scheme and Restore-Victorian Redress Counselling Service.

Following years of sustained advocacy by people with disabilities, in 2019 the Commonwealth Government established the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Learnings from the Royal Commission will help to inform Australian governments, institutions and the wider community on how to prevent, and better protect, people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in the future.

The Services provide state-wide, trauma informed counselling, case work and advocacy services that are accessible, client-focused and meet the needs of people with disability and redress survivors, their families, carers, support workers and advocates. The service offers a model of support and advocacy that is flexible, compassionate, respectful, empowering and holistic with the aim of addressing individual client needs and undertaking systematic advocacy. The service centers a human rights model of disability and employs a number of staff who have disabilities and are also members of the LGBTIQA+ communities.

Selection Criteria

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (i.e., Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health) and along with other training and experience related to delivery of trauma informed counselling services for people who experience complex trauma, with a specific focus on people with disability and institutional child sexual abuse.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of delivering counselling and case work for people with disabilities, people who experience complex trauma and recovery approaches to intervention.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in the counselling, family services, the disability sector and/or mental health sectors
• History of working with people with disability in a manner which centres human rights and intersectionality.
• Demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment to collaborating with LGBTIQA+, First Nation, and people of colour in a way that is affirming.
• Demonstrated experience with providing interventions that support individuals and families with multiple and complex needs such as experiencing barriers to the NDIS, or DSP, complex communication, mental health, family violence and drug and alcohol issues.

Highly Desirable

• You identify as belonging to LGBTIQA+ communities, as well as other communities with whom ds assertively engages. Applicants who have a lived experience of disability are encouraged to apply. 
• Experience working with young people and children with disabilities.  

Application process

To discuss your application contact Vicki Khouri, Manager on 03 9663 6733 or vicki.khouri@ds.org.au using the subject line: Complex Trauma Practitioner enquiry via EthicalJobs.

All applicants must provide a resume and covering letter addressing the following:

• Your knowledge and experience of delivering counselling for people with disabilities, people who experience complex trauma and
• Your history of working alongside LGBTIQA+ staff and clients in a way that is affirming
• All applicants will be directed to our careers portal - Complex Trauma Practitioner

A position description is attached.