Counselling and Mental Health Trainer and Assessor

About the role

The Counselling & Mental Health Assessor is responsible for conducting high-quality, competency-based assessments across IAP's counselling and mental health qualifications. The role ensures that student evidence is evaluated strictly against unit of competency requirements, training package guidelines, and the 2025 Standards for RTOs. This position focuses entirely on judging competency, providing constructive feedback, and participating in validation activities to ensure students graduate competent, ethical, and work-ready.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct competency-based assessments in accordance with the Principles of Assessment (fairness, flexibility, validity, reliability) and the Rules of Evidence (validity, sufficiency, authenticity, currency).

• Evaluate student evidence across allocated counselling and mental health units using diverse tools, including role plays, simulations, case studies, and written submissions.

• Make definitive competency judgements against unit requirements and training package benchmarks.

• Provide written and verbal feedback on assessment outcomes that is timely, constructive, and comprehensive.

• Apply reasonable adjustments where required, ensuring consistency with the relevant training product guidelines and student equity principles.

• Maintain meticulous assessment evidence within IAP's Learning Management System (LMS) for the mandatory retention period (a minimum of two years for student work completed on or after 1 July 2025).

• Participate in validation and moderation activities according to IAP's scheduled timeline, ensuring assessment tools and judgements remain valid, reliable, and compliant with the 2025 Standards.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of assessment tools, mapping templates, and marking guides by documenting issues and recommending adjustments in IAP's CI Register.

• Comply with the 2025 Standards for RTOs (Outcome Standards, Compliance Standards, and Credential Policy), the Privacy Act 1988, and the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011.

About you

• CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling (higher) (essential)

• Current professional registration with PACFA, ACA, or equivalent body with active status (essential)

• Demonstrated current industry skills and knowledge in counselling or mental health practice (essential)

• TAE40116 or TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or assessor-specific credentials recognised under the 2025 Credential Policy) (essential)

• Evidence of ongoing professional development in VET assessment and validation practice (essential)

• Minimum two years' experience conducting accredited competency-based assessments in counselling (essential)

• National Police Check (within 12 months) (essential)

• Right to work in Australia (essential)

• Bachelor or postgraduate qualification in Counselling (desirable)

• Experience with the CHC Community Services Training Package, specifically counselling and mental health qualifications (desirable)

About us

IAP is a Registered Training Organisation operating under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and is regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) against the 2025 Standards for RTOs. The position works within IAP's quality framework: the Outcome Standards, the Compliance Standards, and the Credential Policy, together with the relevant training package requirements and IAP's policies and procedures.