Lead Clinical Counsellor

Avondale University is seeking applications for a Lead Clinical Counsellor, to join the Well-being Centre on the Lake Macquarie campus on a part-time 30 hours per week, on a contract through to end of 2025. Hours may be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Be part of the transformation.

This important role is responsible for supporting students and staff by providing expert confidential counselling services. You will be responsible for contributing to the improvement of well-being of the students and staff at Avondale.

What will you do?

Some of the main duties will include:

• Contribute to strategic planning and the development of counselling services, programs and initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of students and staff.
• Manage and utilise the record management, filing and reporting systems to maintain records, manage documentation, co-ordinate workflow and collate reports, meeting deadlines with a high level of accuracy and compliance.
• Manage and co-ordinate workflow of Well-being Centre counselling staff.
• Provide workplace supervision to internship counselling placements and contribute to developing, assessing and providing feedback while ensuring a high level of care to clients.
• Clinical counselling to be offered and provided in a caring empathic manner that supports Avondale’s commitment to the pastoral care and well-being of all students and staff.
• To assist with providing triage and crisis intervention as needed, including liaison with Avondale campus security personnel, local area Mental Health providers, and internal and external service providers.

About you

To be successful in the Lead Clinical Counsellor role, you will be a highly motivated individual with great interpersonal skills and the ability to listen and communicate effectively and support Avondale’s students and staff.

Essential criteria

• Appropriate qualifications in clinical counselling or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training preferably in a higher education environment or comparable clinical setting.
• Demonstrated competence in counselling and group work with an understanding of counselling frameworks relevant to tertiary students. As well as competence in providing consultancy services to students and staff in pastoral and management roles to assist them in dealing with distressed and/or unwell students.
• Highly developed planning and organisational skills, with experience establishing priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and co-operatively in a team environment and foster a culture of focussed customer service and continuous improvement.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population of staff and students and to show competence in dealing with more complex cases presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a counselling team and to provide contributions to policies and processes.
• A current Working With Children Check card is required.
• Support the mission, values, and ethos of Avondale

Other Job Related Information

• Counsellor must seek external supervision on a monthly basis for personal and clinical supervision of Avondale casework with a competent supervisor at Avondale’s expense.
• Maintain professional registration, provide evidence of current registration annually and notify Supervisor of any changes to registration when they occur.
• Travel to Avondale’s Sydney campus at Wahroonga may be required.
• There may be a requirement to work additional hours from time to time.
• There may be peak periods of work during which taking of leave may be restricted.

Why work at Avondale?

• Values driven organisation.
• Compressed working week with half day Friday’s.
• Heavily discounted further study options.
• Discounted school fees for attendance at Adventist schools.
• Free access to Avondale Libraries.
• Café on Lake Macquarie Campus.
• Free access to onsite ovals, tennis courts, squash courts and Auditorium on Lake Macquarie campus during opening hours.

Please visit www.avondale.edu.au/employment for the full job description and details of this position. For further information about the role, please email Avondale University’s People and Culture Manager at [email protected].

Email your application to [email protected], including:

• A resume (four-page maximum)
• A statement addressing the selection criteria
• Contact details of three referees

Salary: Avondale Higher Education Worker Level 8 $53.85 – $62.13 per hour, plus superannuation.

Please note that we will be conducting interviews as applications come in, so please do not delay in submitting your application. Avondale also reserves the right to close applications early and appoint if a suitable candidate is found.

Applications close 27 March 2025

Applicants must have the right to work in Australia. Avondale is an equal opportunity employer and reserves the right to make a delayed appointment, not appoint, or appoint by invitation.