Counsellor Advocate

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• Make a meaningful impact supporting victim survivors of sexual assault at their first point of contact with NCASA. 
• Permanent 30.4 per week opportunity. 
• Heidelberg Repatriation Campus Ivanhoe 

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 

As an Intake Clinician, you will be the first point of contact for many people seeking support from NCASA, ensuring they receive a compassionate, trauma-informed and clinically appropriate response. 

You will provide intake, assessment, triage, crisis intervention and brief therapeutic support to victim survivors and their non-offending family members. Working alongside experienced Counsellor Advocates and external stakeholders, you will help determine the most appropriate support pathway and facilitate timely access to services. 

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:   

• Conduct intake, triage and comprehensive psychosocial assessments. 
• Provide crisis counselling, advocacy, psychoeducation and safety planning. 
• Respond to recent sexual assault presentations and support coordinated crisis responses. 
• Assess risk and develop appropriate care pathways for victim survivors. 
• Liaise with police, hospitals, mental health services, family violence services and other key stakeholders. 
• Provide specialist consultation and advice to professionals and partner agencies. 
• Participate in reflective practice, supervision and ongoing professional development. 
• Contribute to service improvement, evaluation and development activities. 

About you 

You are a skilled and compassionate clinician who is committed to supporting victim survivors through a trauma-informed and feminist framework. You are confident undertaking assessments, managing risk, and making sound clinical decisions in complex situations. 

You thrive in a collaborative team environment, have excellent communication skills, and are passionate about ensuring victim survivors receive equitable and responsive support. 

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 three years' post-qualification experience in sexual assault, family violence, mental health, crisis intervention or another trauma-focused setting. 
• Experience conducting psychosocial assessments, risk assessments and clinical triage. 
• Strong crisis intervention and clinical decision-making skills. 
• Knowledge of trauma, sexual assault and family violence frameworks, including MARAM. 
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills. 
• 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