Helpline Practitioner

About the role

As a Helpline Practitioner you will use your specialist knowledge to provide evidence-informed psychoeducation, support and advice to individuals contacting What’s ok? Australia, a new harmful sexual behaviour prevention service.

This service will be launched in 2026 to provide a national anonymous helpline and online early intervention service for young people who are concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts and  behaviours, as well as parents, carers, and professionals who are concerned about a young person’s problematic and harmful sexual behaviour.  Through a compassionate, non-judgmental, and evidence-informed approach, the service aims to promote safety, responsibility, healthy development, and early intervention to prevent harm.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the development and launch of an innovative national service. As the What’s Ok? Australia helpline is currently in its establishment phase and scheduled to launch in September 2026, successful applicants will have the opportunity to contribute to shaping service delivery, practice approaches, and resources that will support young people, families, carers, and professionals across Australia.This role will also maintain best practice and service quality by engaging in supervision, reflective practice, and professional development, while contributing to a supportive and collaborative team culture dedicated to innovation in offence prevention, and the protection of children.

The role will be based at our Richmond office and is flexible, up to 0.6 FTE (three days a week or equivalent), with some after-hours (after 5pm) work included.  

Competitive remuneration, plus salary packaging benefit, is offered together with ongoing professional and career development as well as opportunities for personal growth.

• An organisation that lives its values, through its day to day work
• A welcoming and supportive relational environment
• A comprehensive Induction and Orientation program
• Ongoing training and development related to your role
• Employee assistance program
• A competitive salary plus salary packaging benefits
• Generous leave

About you

This role will suit a candidate with the following skills and experience:

• Tertiary qualification/s and/or relevant experience in field in social work, psychology or the social sciences is essential.  

• Commitment to and demonstrated practice experience:
• With young people who are concerned about their own sexual thoughts and behaviours or have engaged in harmful sexual behaviours 

AND/OR   

• With children who are at risk of experiencing child sexual abuse and their families   

AND/OR  

• Working on a helpline managing difficult and challenging topics   

AND/OR  

• Other relevant fields (e.g., family violence).  

• Proven ability to apply psychological, social work, or behaviour change knowledge, approaches and evidence-based frameworks (e.g., trauma-informed practice, Good Lives Model) when working with young people to prevent or disrupt harmful sexual behaviour and improve practice outcomes.   

• Ability to assess and respond to risk, including safety planning and respond to questions and concerns related to relationships, consent, boundaries, and harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) in an age-appropriate and developmentally informed way  

• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to fulfil administrative requirements, including data entry and case note writing; as well as writing professional reports.

• Upload your resume and cover letter incorporating your responses to the Key Selection Criteria from the Position Description.

• For further information please contact Jackie Bateman, What’s ok? Australia Manager on 0459 448 ***.

Applications close 11 September 2026

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the closing date may be subject to change without notice.

Jesuit Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.

We strongly encourage applications from all community members including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, people with a disability, people of culturally diverse backgrounds and working parents.

Jesuit Social Services is a Child Safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.