Aboriginal Psychological Treatment Service Worker

About the role- Therapeutic Counsellor

The Therapeutic Counsellor within the Aboriginal Psychological Treatment Service (APTS) will provide culturally informed mental health interventions at the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Hub and within the community. The role works as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver comprehensive culturally appropriate and safe mental health care.

Key priorities aim to improve access for Aboriginal people and their families by:

• Providing respectful and informed mental health interventions that allow clients flexibility to reengage at any time.
• Assertive followup.
• Outreach approaches that allow clients to choose their preferred environment (convenient comfortable culturally safe) for therapeutic services.
• Drawing on community acceptance strong cultural knowledge interpersonal and advocacy skills service system knowledge networks and clinical/carecoordination capability.

• Develop trust and confidence through culturally attuned assessments that include deep listening respect for the clients story and traumainformed practice.
• Work collaboratively with SEWB team members and MDAS programs to support client wellbeing and recovery.
• Advocate on behalf of clients with community agencies and support them to navigate service systems.
• Provide assertive followup to ensure clients remain supported without overriding their wishes.

• Apply strong understanding of Aboriginal mental health concepts especially the importance of connections to culture community family Country kinship and spirituality.
• Recognise the impacts of trauma and intergenerational trauma on individuals and communities.
• Provide counselling Yarning to individuals families and community members using empathy reflective listening questioning summarising and nonjudgmental approaches.
• Support clients dealing with grief loss trauma and selfharm in a culturally appropriate manner.

• Foster and maintain relationships with external agencies to support positive client outcomes.
• Participate in relevant forums meetings and training to ensure bestpractice models are embedded within MDAS.
• Collaborate internally to ensure streamlined intake assessment and referral processes.
• Promote client selfmanagement through education and empowerment.
• Provide secondary consultations to internal and external professionals.

• Collect relevant data monitor KPIs and submit monthly reports demonstrating progress against SEWB outcomes.
• Participate in program evaluations with funding and accreditation bodies.
• Actively engage in formal supervision.
• Escalate concerns that may pose unacceptable risk to clients or families.
• Maintain accurate and compliant documentation and records.

• Support values that respect historical and contemporary Aboriginal cultures and recognise the special connection Aboriginal people have with the State.
• Comply with all Quality Risk OHS laws policies safe work practices and contribute to improvement activities.
• Monitor and improve the quality and safety of care and services.
• Participate in internal and external audit processes.

• Experience delivering mental health assessments case formulation (including risk assessment) and referral using a steppedcare approach.
• Ability to rolemodel holistic client care.
• Ability to work efficiently maintain service quality and remain clientfocused.
• Ability to build strong and trusting client relationships.

• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal society culture and community issues.
• Ability to identify community needs negotiate appropriately and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

• Demonstrated skills in counselling (individual and group) informed by Aboriginal perspectives of health and wellbeing.
• Ability to liaise with staff and external agencies for client care referrals and followup.
• Experience with assertive outreach approaches grounded in Aboriginal health concepts.
• Ability to provide clientdriven support across short medium and longterm interventions.

• Ability to work autonomously with strong problemsolving and decisionmaking capability.
• Strong organisational skills to meet deadlines while maintaining service quality.

• Commitment to delivering services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and willingness to learn about other cultures to improve relationships and service effectiveness.

(Added after Key Selection Criteria as requested)

Demonstrates respect understanding and integration of Aboriginal cultural values practices and knowledge into all aspects of work.

Works effectively with community colleagues and external agencies to support positive outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Delivers compassionate traumainformed flexible and responsive services grounded in client needs and preferences.

Acts ethically maintains professional standards and demonstrates responsibility in service delivery documentation and decisionmaking.

Engages in ongoing learning reflection and quality improvement to enhance client care and organisational performance.

• Certificate IV in Mental Health (mandatory).

• Current Drivers Licence
• Current Employee Working with Children Check (Victoria).
• Current National Police Check

MDAS is a child-safe organisation committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children. Employment is subject to satisfactory police and Working with Children checks.