School Counsellor - Finley High School

.

School counsellors are an essential part of the department’s School Counselling Service.
They provide counselling and psychological assessment of students to complement and enhance the work of teachers to strengthen student learning and wellbeing outcomes, and they help families understand and manage their children’s learning and mental health needs. This is a truly collegiate role offering unique challenges and opportunities – both in your professional development and your ability to make an impact on the lives of children and young people. 
The successful candidate will be based at Finley High School and provided with opportunities to work across the lifespan with both primary and High School aged students. Working as a School Counsellor in a NSW public school will enable you to engage with a diversity of students (and school communities) like no other child and adolescent psychologist role can. This is a chance to use your skills to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people at a time in their lives when it matters most.
School counsellors receive regular, individual professional supervision with the Senior Psychologist Education and participate in group and peer supervision as a member of the broader district school counselling team. You will most likely be collaborating with a number of school communities and colleagues, as well as outside agencies, with the opportunity to use and expand the full range of your skills and expertise as part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team.
School counsellors are provided with regular opportunities to participate in continuing professional development and the NSW Department of Education will support you to complete or maintain your registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Other benefits include school holiday leave, travel allowances and health and wellbeing benefits such as our Fitness Passport program. The department will also cover your indemnity insurance as a psychologist.

Finley High School is a comprehensive, co-educational High School located in the South-West of the Riverina. The school has an enrolment of 320 students including 7% Aboriginal students. It caters for the educational needs of four towns: Finley, Tocumwal, Berrigan, Jerilderie and the rural community of Blighty. The school is able to effectively cater for all students in a supportive and inclusive environment. There is a strong support structure with three support classes that are integrated within the mainstream school. Wellbeing is a major area identified within the community and the school has developed a Wellbeing Hub which includes a Head Teacher Wellbeing and a Student Support Officer. The school consistently achieves sound results in the Higher School Certificate across a broad range of subjects as well as outstanding results in sport, agriculture and the performing and creative arts. The school is very well supported by an active P & C and has fostered strong partnerships across our four communities, our local primary schools and community organisations. For more information, please visit the school website Finley High School.

• Experience in counselling using evidence-based interventions with a demonstrated understanding of the mental health needs of children and young people.
• Experience in the psychological assessment of children and young people, including case formulation and report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with key stakeholders to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of children and young people including students from diverse backgrounds and needs.

• An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.
• Be a registered or provisionally registered psychologist, or eligible for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
• Ability and willingness to travel between worksites.