Counsellor/Advocate

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Position Details
Reference Number 25403
Position Title Counsellor/Advocate
Employment Type Ongoing Part Time, Casual
Service Allied Health & Clinical Support Services
Location Parkville
Salary $86,731.00 to $99,700.00
Position Summary

• Part time casual and ongoing roles, with varying shifts
• Parkville location with multiple public transport options
• $86,731 - $99,700 base (pro rata for part time) + super + salary packaging + 5 weeks annual leave
• Generous penalty rates

The Royal Women’s Hospital is one of Australia’s oldest and most distinguished tertiary hospitals dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of women and newborns, offering specialised services within maternity, neonatal and women’s health. Our goal is to be the best place to work, learn and contribute, and to provide exceptional experiences for our patients and consumers.
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line
The Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) provides a state wide after-hours telephone crisis service to people of all genders and sexualities impacted by sexual assault (including providing support to trans and gender diverse people and non-binary people and communities). SACL provides immediate crisis care coordination to victims/survivors of recent sexual assault, telephone crisis counselling support and advocacy, information and referral to victim/survivors of recent and past sexual assault. SACL also provides support and information for non-offending family and friends, and professional consultation and debriefing to on call Counsellor/Advocates from Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA’s) Counsellor/Advocates and other professionals across Victoria.
From June, we will also be undergoing an exciting transformation in the way we work; we will be expanding our service to include greater flexibility and offering work from home options.
About the role
Your duties will include the following:

• To provide telephone crisis response support to survivors of past and recent sexual assault based on a clearly articulated intersectional feminist, rights advocacy, violence and trauma informed practice framework
• To co-ordinate the personnel involved in the provision of immediate crisis care responses to survivors of recent sexual assault (including CASAs, emergency/medical and police/legal systems)
• To provide consultation and debriefing to CASA Counsellor/Advocates delivering crisis care responses across the state after hours
• Provide secondary consultation to health and other professional practitioners

You’ll have the opportunity to be part of a highly engaged team passionate about providing a supportive and inclusive service to victim survivors. Not only will you be surrounded by dedicated colleagues who hold great pride in their work, but you'll also be part of the broader hospital and access all our excellent staff benefits!
About you
To be successful within this role you'll bring with you:

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work or a related health qualification (essential)
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), OR relevant professional body
• Demonstrated crisis counselling experience and specialist knowledge and skills in supporting survivors of sexual assault and violence
• An understanding of and commitment to the provision of a service based on an intersectional feminist, rights advocacy, violence and trauma informed practice framework

You will also be available to participate in a roster covering evenings, overnights and weekend shifts, as well as a roster providing on-call backup. Our shifts are:

• 4.30/5.00pm to 10.30/11.00pm – weekdays and weekends
• 11.00pm to 9.00am – weekdays and weekends
• 8.00am to 4.00pm – weekends only

Our benefits
At the Women’s you will enjoy a culture that is collaborative, supportive and passionate about learning. We have a strong sense of purpose, and engage in meaningful work every day. We offer our people a range of rewarding benefits, including:
Up to $11,660 in salary packaging benefits, for living expenses, meals and holiday accommodation

• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted financial, lifestyle and health options, and a comprehensive wellbeing program
• Public transport options at our doorstep and end of journey facilities for cyclists
• Onsite breastfeeding rooms
• Mentoring, learning and career development opportunities
• 5 weeks annual leave (pro-rata) and 17.5% leave loading
• Generous penalty rates

Inclusion and belonging
The Women’s celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people who are linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, and people of any age to apply for our roles. We are committed to gender equity principles, and our people have an awareness of and sensitive approach to violence against women and family violence matters. We are proudly Breastfeeding Association accredited.
Join us!
If you feel this role is right for you we warmly invite you to apply, and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, a Working with Children Check and three COVID-19 vaccinations, and may include a range of additional vaccinations including influenza, as required by the Department of Health.
If you need assistance or require any adjustments to fully participate in the application or interview process, you are welcome to reach out to the contact person listed. We acknowledge that not all applicants will meet the full list of selection criteria outlined, and wherever possible we will consider applications where relevant experience can apply.
Selection Criteria Essential: Are you eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or other relevant professional body?
Essential: Do you have excellent understanding of theory, policy and practice issues around sexual assault and violence?
Essential: Capacity to provide high-quality crisis care and follow up services for victim/survivors of sexual assault?
Contact Person Kelly Harper
Contact Number (03) 8345 3021
Contact Email kelly.harper@thewomens.org.au
Alternate Contact Person Chloe Lonsdale
Alternate Contact Number (03) 8345 3021
Alternate Contact Email chloe.lonsdale@thewomens.org.au
Closing Date 21/03/2024
Position Description SACL Counsellor Advocate PD permanent 2023.pdf
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Please note that this position will close at 11:45pm on the closing date.
Please ensure your application is added before this time as we do not accept late applications.