Student Counsellor

About the business

Arethusa College is an independent, co-educational school catering for students from Years 7 to 12. Arethusa College provides an alternative approach to education for students where previous schooling in a mainstream setting has not been successful due to social, emotional, physical, educational, familial, or situational difficulties. The College believes that engagement in education has the potential to empower marginalised students.

Arethusa’s holistic programs aim to re-engage and support students who are experiencing a wide range of risks, challenges, and difficulties, aiming to establish a pathway to their employment. By providing flexible learning environments, with targeted and diverse curriculum programs, Arethusa College strives to support and develop its students, both physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and academically. All programs are underpinned by quality pedagogy, targeted literacy, and numeracy development, 21st Century skills, design thinking and the development of responsible, global citizenship.

Arethusa College offers students a ‘fresh start’ and an alternative approach to education, seeking to develop each student’s core knowledge and skills; as well as guiding them to develop and achieve both personal and career goals. The College provides supportive and educational programs to assist students’ social, emotional, and physical health.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Student Counsellor with experience in trauma-informed practice to provide support to students in a Special Assistance School at our Forest Lake Campus. The role involves offering individual and group counselling, assessing student needs, collaborating with staff and parents, and promoting mental health awareness within the school. 

The Student Counsellor will also provide crisis support in conjunction with the team, maintain accurate records, and apply trauma-informed approaches to support students’ emotional and psychological well-being.

The role requires working closely with the campus team to ensure the best outcomes for all students. The Student Counsellor will need good counselling and interpersonal skills, be able to build trust within the school and broader community as well as maintain high levels of confidentiality. 

Vision and Values

The Student Counsellor plays an integral role in building community support around students and their families based in a shared understanding of the vision and values of the College.

The College is committed to creating a community where: 

• We believe in our students (everyday), until they can believe in themselves and then believe in others.
• We expect of our students, and we raise the bar, until they can expect of themselves and step towards the exciting possibilities that surround them.
• We celebrate our students as they grow, until they can celebrate their lives and their journey and then be a part of celebrating those around them.
• There is unconditional positive regard expressed for all members of the College community such that students, staff, families, and carers are treated with respect and fairness. The opportunity for lifelong learning is valued as key for building positive futures.
• Students are developed intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually in ways that allow them to become active and contributing members of their communities.

Personal qualities, social and interpersonal skills

The role of Student Counsellor requires a skill set that includes emotional intelligence, empathy, resilience, and a commitment to personal wellbeing.

The Student Counsellor is required to/be:

• Organised, well prepared and forward thinking.
• Highly adaptable and willing to be solution focused on approaches to problem-solving.
• Able to deal with conflict in proactive and supportive ways.
• An effective communicator, able to listen to the needs of others, and seek out a clear plan forward.
• Effective at negotiating solutions while best supporting the needs of all members of the team and students
• Able to adapt communication effectively with a wide range of people (staff, students, external stakeholders, other agencies)
• Able to think clearly and quickly when problem-solving, being both analytical and creative in offering solutions.
• An advocate for the needs of students and families, ensuring that the best possible outcomes are sought for all members of the College community.
• A team player who can bring together collaborative campus-based teams.
• Able to earn the trust of staff, peers, and students through honesty, open communication, fairness, predictability, and the ability to admit mistakes and take responsibility for them.
• Demonstrates high level of knowledge and clinical skills obtained through relevant tertiary and postgraduate education.
• Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development relevant to the key responsibilities of the role as approved by the Principal.
• Ensure that the College initiatives and values are integrated into practice and policies.

Areas of Responsibility

The Student Counsellor is required to:

• Compile and securely store accurate data, notes and communication relating to students.
• Facilitate support for students with specific social, emotional, and educational needs through school-based interventions.
• Provide appropriate general advice to teachers regarding the impact that a student’s situation may have upon their learning and suggest strategies to promote the student’s wellbeing and prevent disengagement, particularly primary prevention, and early intervention.
• Develop, maintain, and apply College policies related to student care and wellbeing.
• Contribute clinical advice to external professionals to ensure best practice outcomes for individual students.
• Network with professionals externally to ensure quality of service.
• Report any cases of harm, or suspicion of harm to the campus Principal and act in accordance with policy.
• Implement, monitor, and evaluate risk management strategies to ensure child safety in school environments.
• Diligently fulfil the requirements of the College’s Child Protection Policy and practices.
• Maintain professional standards 
• Undertake regular Supervision (own or College provided)

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor of Counselling and registration with a professional body (ACA).
• At least 2 years of experience, ideally in a school or special education setting, with a focus on trauma-informed practice.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills.
• Ability to support students with diverse needs, including those affected by trauma, mental health, and behavioural challenges.
• A Working with Children Paid Blue Card or willing to acquire one prior to commencing.

Join a passionate team committed to supporting students’ well-being and development in a collaborative and dynamic environment, with an emphasis on trauma-informed care.

Include a copy of a Paid Blue Card, detailed resume and brief cover letter with your application.