Position Description: Cassowary Coast Domestic Family Violence Specialist Service Children's Counsellor Advocate ('Children's Counsellor Advocate')

About the role The Cassowary Coast Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Service is seeking a Children's Counsellor Advocate to support children and young people aged 4 to 18 who have experienced or been impacted by domestic and family violence. Based in Tully, this role provides child-centred, non-directive and trauma-informed counselling advocacy, helping children and young people feel safe, express their experiences and build recovery and resilience. The role also works collaboratively with safe parents or guardians, families, schools, internal teams and external agencies to promote positive outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

Key responsibilities

- Provide age-appropriate counselling, advocacy, activities and interventions for children and young people affected by domestic and family violence.

- Create a safe, culturally responsive and non-judgmental setting where children and young people can share what is important to them.

- Use child-centred, non-directive, trauma-informed and strengths-based practice frameworks.

- Support children and young people to express feelings, understand fears, emotions and behaviours, and develop strategies to manage the impacts of domestic and family violence.

- Assess domestic and family violence risk, safety and support needs before commencing counselling and advocacy.

- Complete intake and assessment processes, consent documentation, client registration forms, safety planning and relevant risk assessments, including self-harm and suicide prevention plans where required.

- Provide information, advice, support and referrals to safe parents, guardians and families, with a focus on the needs and safety of children and young people.

- Provide advocacy,



case management and support for children and young people affected by domestic and family violence, including engagement with schools across the Cassowary Coast.

- Support parenting capacity, the parent-child relationship and attachment where these have been affected by domestic and family violence.

- Recognise and respond to the impacts of trauma on neurobiology, brain development, recovery, resilience and post-traumatic growth.

- Provide culturally safe and responsive support to First Nations families, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, gender-diverse and LGBTIQA+ young people, and children and young people with disability.

- Maintain current knowledge of child safety reporting obligations, child-safe organisation principles, domestic and family violence risk and the intersection between domestic and family violence and child safety.

- Consult with the Clinical Governance Manager and refer clients to intensive family services and other specialist providers when required.

- Provide guidance, training and mentoring to colleagues regarding domestic and family violence impacts across the lifespan, risk in pregnancy and early intervention options.

- Maintain accurate and timely file notes and client records using electronic databases and file storage systems.

- Communicate and collaborate effectively with the Clinical Governance Manager, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Education, Queensland Health, Child Safety and other government and non-government organisations.

- Use Microsoft Office applications and platforms to support effective service delivery and administration.





What we're looking for

- A minimum three-year degree in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology or a similar discipline, or a related qualification supported by significant relevant experience.

- Experience working with people in high-risk domestic and family violence situations using individual trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches.

- Demonstrated ability to engage children and young people who may be hard to reach.

- Demonstrated ability to maintain personal safety and the safety of colleagues and clients by recognising and responding to indicators of risk.

- Knowledge of, or willingness to develop knowledge of, the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and the Child Protection Act 1999.

- Ability to use a range of tools to engage children and young people and deliver culturally appropriate individual and group counselling support.

- Experience working with complex issues including domestic and family violence, substance misuse, homelessness, mental health concerns, disability and intersecting support needs.

- Strong understanding of trauma-informed, child-centred, strengths-based and culturally safe practice.

- Play Therapy, Crossroads or domestic and family violence age-appropriate training and certification is highly desirable.

- Willingness to undertake relevant training and professional development.

- Strong communication, relationship-building, collaboration, assessment, documentation and referral skills.

If this sounds like you, and you're ready for a unique opportunity to support children impacted by DFV across teh Cassowary Coast, then please send your resume and cover letter to ***@tullysupportcentre.com.au

If you would like a copy of the Position Description, or have any questions, please call Tully Support Centre on (07) 40681 or email @tullysupportcentre.com.au

📌 Cassowary Coast Domestic Family Violence Specialist Service Counsellor Advocate (Tully)
🏢 Tully Support Centre
📍 Tully