Regional Outreach Counselor at Startts in Coffs Harbor

Job Title: Regional Outreach Counselor/Project Officer (Coffs Harbor)

Work Type: Contract Full-Time up to 24 months

Position No. OR13-02

Location: Coffs Harbor

Salary: This will depend on qualifications, experience and position requirements.

The Role

• Primary duties will be to identify traumatized people in refugee communities in Coffs Harbor and northern NSW
• Providing short to medium term counseling and referral service to refugee families, children and adolescents.
• Provide support services to refugees both newly arrived and established, whose experience of torture and trauma is affecting settlement and other areas of their lives.
• Provide a psycho-social and psychological assessment and referral service to refugee families, children and adolescents in accordance with PASTT contractual and other service delivery requirements.
• Undertake training in use of the Refugee Comprehensive Assessment Tool (R-CAT) and utilize this tool when conducting assessments with refugee families, children and adolescents.
• Support refugee families to develop a clear understanding of the issues which may affect them and their children, and to understand what services are available to them.
• Develop and implement case plans in conjunction with refugee clients that will assist them to overcome psycho-social settlement difficulties, to manage their traumatic and psychological symptoms and to access relevant community resources.
• Provide short to medium term counseling (an average of 8 sessions) to those newly arrived refugees whose experience of torture and trauma is affecting settlement and identify those requiring longer term support or specific interventions
• Provide short to medium term counseling (an average of 8 sessions) to those newly arrived refugees whose experience of torture and trauma is affecting settlement and identify those requiring longer term support or specific interventions.
• Liaise with HSS Case Coordinators in relation to the health and settlement needs of newly arrived refugees and facilitate their referral to mainstream health service providers, the Refugee Health Clinic, and/or relevant settlement services as determined by client need.
• Provide counseling for clients that have been resident in Australia for more than twelve months and for clients exited from HSS on the basis of assessments conducted.
• Promote assessment and counseling services through an information strategy including community information sessions, printed information in community languages and community radio. This includes translation of relevant information regarding STARTTS services where appropriate.
• Introduce newly arrived and more established refugees to other STARTTS’ programs specifically designed to assist people with their settlement process in Australia where these are available (such as the Families in Cultural Transition and residential programmes).
• Ensure that a minimum counseling workload consistent with contractual obligations, service goals and financial accountability requirements are maintained
• Prepare and implement an annual work-plan outlining goals to be achieved
• Participate in team meetings, staff meetings and other meetings relevant to duties as required.
• Participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of services provided

The successful applicant will be part of a multicultural and multi-disciplinary team.

Skills Required

• Ideally you will possess tertiary qualifications in health, counseling, behavioural or social sciences.
• You will be an experienced and highly motivated person with demonstrated experience in assessment and counseling in a cross-cultural context.

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in health, counseling, behavioural or social sciences
• Demonstrated assessment and counseling experience in a cross-cultural context.
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting refugees in particular resettlement issues, and the effects of torture on individuals, young people, families, and communities
• Relevant group work and training skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the cultures and health needs of refugee communities in Coffs Harbor and Northern NSW.
• Knowledge and experience in community development, community liaison and advocacy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Current NSW Driver’s License

How to apply;

Fill out the “STARTTS Application for Employment Form“

Write a Statement against the Selection Criteria outlining how you meet the selection criteria (see the guide “How to apply for a job at STARTTS“)

 Update your Curriculum Vitae

Send ALL of the above 3 documents to STARTTS by email or post. If you do not send all 3 documents you may not be considered for the position. A cover letter is optional.

Email: STARTTS.jobs@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

(Make sure you include your name and the ad reference number in the subject line) Or

Post HR Officer

STARTTS

PO Box 203

Fairfield NSW 2165

Note: Do not fax your application. If you do not send all 3 documents as required you may not be considered for the position.

Deadline: 29/11/2013