About the role

This role involves acting as a warm, approachable first contact for students, ensuring a safe and inclusive experience. You will complete comprehensive intake, risk and safety assessments to support appropriate care planning, and respond to disclosures of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and other safety concerns by completing risk assessments, safety planning, coordinating referrals and providing follow-up. You will deliver individual brief interventions and small group work with students using evidence-based practices, and provide guidance and practical support to students in connecting with appropriate external services such as Medicare, Centrelink, GPs, and other wellbeing and community supports. You will advocate for students and work with and support teachers and key school staff in understanding student needs.

Key responsibilities

- Acting as a warm, approachable first contact for students, ensuring a safe and inclusive experience

- Completing comprehensive intake, risk and safety assessments to support appropriate care planning

- Responding to disclosures of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and other safety concerns, by completing risk assessments, safety planning, coordinating referrals and providing follow-up

- Delivering individual brief interventions and small group work with students using evidence-based practices

- Providing guidance and practical support to students in connecting with appropriate external services and advocating for students

- Developing workable strategies to support positive student engagement and well-being





- Assisting in mental health promotion and wellbeing across the school and supporting the development of social and emotional educational programs

- Maintaining clear, accurate and up-to-date qualified notes on all interactions

- Active participation in weekly Wellbeing Team meetings providing guidance and feedback on students, programs and administrative work

- Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment, contributing to team learning, shared decision-making, and positive client outcomes

About you

- Qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class with appropriate registration or membership

- Demonstrated direct counselling experience

- Evidence of registration with AHPRA, AASW (where applicable), or with ACA or PACFA (where applicable), and a copy of a testamur, certificate or transcript as evidence of appropriate qualification

- A current Working With Children Check

- Demonstrated experience supporting children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability, disadvantage, mental health and wellbeing challenges within school, youth or community settings

- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, including strong organisational, problem-solving, conflict resolution and prioritisation skills

- Highly developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff and external agencies

- Personal qualities of integrity, adaptability and resilience, with the ability to contribute positively to a collaborative and evolving school culture

📌 Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer (Red Cliffs)
🏢 Red Cliffs Secondary College
📍 Red Cliffs