Counsellor Advocate

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• Support victim survivors of sexual assault through trauma-informed therapeutic counselling and advocacy.  
• Fixed-term parental leave cover, October 2026 – February 2028 
• Part time, 22.8 hours per week
• Heidelberg Repatriation Campus, with some work across our Mill Park site. 

Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

About the Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault 

The Northern Centre Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) is one of 19 specialist sexual assault services across Victoria, providing trauma-informed care to victim survivors and their family and friends. Northern CASA is a department of Austin Health, the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

NCASA provides counselling, advocacy, therapeutic group work and 24-hour crisis responses to acute sexual assault, as well as a range of community awareness, education, prevention and consultation programs. NCASA supports adults and young people aged 12 years and over who have experienced sexual assault, along with their non-offending family members and supporters. 

About the role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist sexual assault service delivering therapeutic counselling, advocacy and crisis support to adults and young people affected by sexual violence. 

As a Counsellor Advocate, you will provide medium-term trauma-focused counselling, advocacy and support to victim survivors and their families. You will work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure coordinated care and support recovery through an intersectional feminist, rights-based and trauma-informed framework. 

There are also opportunities to participate in the After-Hours Crisis Care roster, facilitate therapeutic groups, contribute to professional training and support prevention and respectful relationships initiatives within schools and the broader community. 

You will be joining a passionate and highly skilled team committed to advancing the rights and recovery of victim survivors through intersectional feminist, rights-based and trauma-informed practice.  

A regular day will see you:   

• Provide trauma-informed therapeutic counselling to victim survivors of sexual assault. 
• Undertake psychosocial and risk assessments to inform intervention and support planning. 
• Deliver advocacy, psychoeducation and support to victim survivors and their non-offending family members. 
• Provide crisis intervention and crisis care responses. 
• Collaborate with health, justice, mental health and community service providers. 
• Participate in supervision, reflective practice and clinical consultation. 
• Contribute to therapeutic groups, community education and prevention initiatives. 
• Maintain high-quality clinical records and documentation. 

About you 

You are an experienced clinician with a strong commitment to supporting victim survivors and promoting social justice. You understand the impacts of sexual violence and complex trauma and bring warmth, professionalism and sound clinical judgement to your practice. You are confident undertaking assessments, managing risk, and making sound clinical decisions in complex situations. 

You enjoy working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment and are passionate about delivering meaningful, person-centred support that helps people move towards recovery and healing. 

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you:

• Qualification in Social Work (eligible for AASW membership) or Psychology (AHPRA registration). 
• At least five years' post-qualification experience in sexual assault, family violence, mental health, crisis intervention or other trauma-focused services. 
• Expertise and experience in therapeutic counselling, advocacy and psychosocial assessments. 
• Understanding of feminist, intersectional and trauma-informed practice. 
• Knowledge of family violence frameworks and MARAM. 
• Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills. 
• Effective organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities. 
• Current Working with Children Check and National Police Check. 

Our benefits 

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including: 

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation. 
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. 
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options. 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities. 

Work with us! 

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures. 

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date. 

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. Austin Health is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with Child Safe Standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Caroline Whitehouse, NCASA Manager, caroline.whitehouse@austin.org.au  

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details. 

Application closing date: Sunday 27 September 2026