Counsellor

About the Role

📍 Midthong Muru Gunyah | Bomaderry NSW

💲Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award | Level 5  

🕒 Full Time | 35 hours per week

Waminda is seeking a passionate and experienced Counsellor to join our Miyanga Mirriral Nanga-Mai Gunyah Team within Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Residential Rehabilitation Program.

The Counsellor is responsible for delivering high-quality, culturally safe and trauma-informed counselling and rehabilitation support to women accessing Waminda’s residential AOD service. The role supports individuals, families and groups experiencing alcohol and other drug use, social and emotional wellbeing challenges, and complex life circumstances that impact recovery and wellbeing.

Working within Waminda’s values and service model, this role provides ethical, client-centred and strengths-based counselling that promotes safety, dignity, empowerment and self-determination. The Counsellor works collaboratively with clients, staff and partner agencies to support holistic rehabilitation pathways grounded in Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will:

• Client Support & Counselling: deliver trauma-informed counselling (individual, family, and group), including crisis support, while assessing client needs across AOD, wellbeing, and other complex issues
• Care Planning & RecoverySupport: develop and review individual care and rehabilitation plans, supporting clients’ recovery goals including education, training and employment
• Advocacy & Collaboration: advocate for clients and coordinate care with internal teams, external services, community, and Elder to strengthen support networks
• Program Delivery & Practice Approach: facilitate group programs and apply culturally safe, strengths-based, and decolonising practices grounded in Aboriginal ways of working.
• Compliance & Continuous Improvement: maintain accurate records, meet compliance requirements, and contribute to service improvement, training and professional development.

What We’re Looking For

• Identify as a Female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person (genuine occupational requirement)
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work or related social science discipline (minimum Diploma level)
• Current NSW or ACT Driver’s Licence
• Current Working with Children Check and National Criminal Record Check (or willingness to obtain)
• Current First Aid and CPR certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Demonstrated experience providing counselling, crisis intervention, group work and case management in complex trauma contexts
• Experience supporting women affected by alcohol and other drugs, domestic, family and sexual violence, and systemic disadvantage
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based and culturally safe practice frameworks
• Experience working within integrated service delivery models and multidisciplinary teams
• Strong written communication skills, including case notes, reports and client documentation
• High-level computer literacy, including Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn new systems.

What We Offer

At Waminda, we value our people and recognise the importance of supporting both personal wellbeing and professional growth. We offer above-award remuneration, generous salary packaging options, paid wellbeing leave, and access to ongoing professional development opportunities. You will be supported through clinical and cultural supervision, reflective practice and opportunities to strengthen your skills within a culturally safe and values-driven organisation.

Most importantly, you will be part of a dedicated team working within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that is committed to healing, empowerment and self-determination for Aboriginal women, children, families and communities.

Why Join Waminda

Waminda is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation led by community and grounded in culture. We deliver holistic, culturally safe and strengths-based services that support Aboriginal women and families to heal, grow and thrive.

When you join Waminda, you become part of a values-driven organisation that is guided by respect, integrity, collaboration and cultural safety. Every role contributes to improving outcomes for community, and every staff member plays an important role in walking alongside women on their healing journeys.

As a Counsellor within the Residential Alcohol and Other Drugs Rehabilitation Program, you will support women to achieve recovery, stability and empowerment. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering meaningful, culturally safe, and trauma-informed care that strengthens connection, wellbeing and self-determination for Aboriginal women, families and communities.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via Employment Hero, including your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role.

Applications for this position will be assessed on an ongoing basis.

If you would like further information on this position, please reach out to peopleandculture@waminda.org.au.