Counsellor

Job No: 16504

Location: Canberra, ACT

Closing Date: 26 Mar 2010 ACDT

About the Organisation

Inanna Inc., is involved in a dynamic service delivery model built on values such as caring, respect, and sharing. Based in Narrabundah, ACT, the organisation participates in broader social development of issues affecting people who experience homelessness, are living with mental health issues, violence and the effects of trauma.

Inanna strives to engage and reconnect people with the hopes and dreams they have for their lives providing support, information, resources and opportunities to be other than the problems their lives are shaped and overwhelmed by. Inanna team members provide a community of concern that seeks social justice outcomes for the people that ask for the organisation's assistance.

Amongst its range of services, Inanna provides crisis services to women and/or families in distress, and is the Australian Capital Territory's only Indigenous Crisis Accommodation Service, ISAS (Indigenous Supported Accommodation Service).

About the Opportunities

Due to expansion, Inanna Inc. has an opportunity for a Counsellor to join their team in Canberra, ACT.

This is a Part Time role (12 month contract with possibility of extension) in which you will work 24-32 hours per week.

Within this highly varied role, you will provide high quality counselling services to a wide range of people affected by trauma, homelessness and recurrent crises, on an individual and group basis.

Reporting to the Coordinator of the Inanna Inc. Counselling Centre, your more specific responsibilities will include:

• Offering high quality counselling services to individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and including young people and adults;
• Contributing to ongoing planning, implementation and evaluation of programs to ensure services are effective and relevant for clients;
• Providing timely information and referral as required to ensure prospective clients have access to appropriate services;
• Maintaining a well resourced, clean and welcoming environment for clients and colleagues; and
  
• Working collaboratively with other agencies working towards the same objectives as Inanna Inc. Counselling Centre.

This role requires an applicant with demonstrated experience in counselling people whose lives are affected by the complexity of trauma, homelessness, racism, refugee experience and/or recurrent crises. You will need tertiary qualifications or other relevant training in Counselling or Social/Human Services. It is desirable you have eligibility for membership of CAPACAR or a similar professional counselling association.

Inanna is seeking people who are genuinely committed to enhancing the quality of life of children, adults and families. You will need to be willing to engage with Narrative and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy ideas, and have a commitment to reflecting on your own work practices and participating in ongoing service improvement. Successful candidates will also be required to obtain a clearance from the Australian Federal Police and clearance to work with children and vulnerable people.

Applicants will need to work effectively in a team and/or independently, and will have the flexibility to deal with changing circumstances in a community agency. You will be able to use a computer for word processing and maintain a computerised data collection system.

Inanna offers attractive remuneration $55,205 - $59,754 (pro rata), negotiable based on qualifications and skills. In addition to this, general salary sacrifice packaging of up to $16,050 will significantly increase your take home pay.

Inanna offers a supportive and friendly team culture, and recognises the importance of a healthy work/life balance and supports family friendly practices within the workplace.