Description

Specialised Family Violence Counsellor – Family and Relationship Counselling (FARS) Program

Full-time contract until 30/06/2027

The Family and Relationship Services (FARS) Program is funded by the Australian Governments Department of Social Services, with the expectation that CatholicCare Tasmania will also apply a fee-for-service policy to clients, in accordance with DSS Guidelines. CatholicCare Tasmania, as a Child Inclusive Agency, is committed to working in the best interests of children and young people.

The program aims to assist all families,couples, individuals and children, with priority given to those mostdisadvantaged or at risk. The program provides counselling, group work, mediation/support for separated families, specialised family violence interventions, family law counselling, and family relationship skills and education programs.

Summary of Role:

The Specialised Family Violence Counsellor delivers trauma-informed, safety-focused counselling within the FARS program to adults, young people and children impacted by family and domestic violence. The role includes comprehensive risk assessment, safety planning and therapeutic intervention, with the safety and wellbeing of children and victim-survivors central to all practice.

You will support individuals who have experienced family violence and, where appropriate, work with those who use or have used violence to promote behaviour change and accountability. This includes undertaking structured family violence risk assessments, developing and reviewing safety plans, and maintaining a strong focus on client and child safety in all interactions. Using evidence-informed approaches, you will respond to trauma and coercive control, support clients navigating separation where violence is present, and contribute to coordinated service responses.

In addition to specialist family violence work, you may provide short- to medium-term counselling across the lifespan to clients presenting with relationship difficulties, separation, parenting challenges and mild to moderate mental health concerns. This may include individual, couple and family counselling, parenting education, work with children and young people, and short-term counselling support for EAP clients.

All work is undertaken within child-inclusive frameworks and in accordance with legislative, organisational and funding requirements.

About You

• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of CatholicCare Tasmania as informed by the Archbishop’s Charter; and a broad understanding of the operation of the Catholic Church in Tasmania.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling or a related discipline, with eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body (desirable).
• Demonstrated specialist knowledge of family and domestic violence, including risk assessment, safety planning, coercive control and behaviour change practice, with a minimum of three years’ clinical experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of counselling theory and practice, including trauma-informed approaches, developmental theory, and family violence frameworks, with a strong understanding of issues affecting children, young people and families, including the intersections of family violence, mental health, substance use, and socio-economic disadvantage.
• Demonstrated experience and training in relationship and family counselling, which may include working with children individually.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, facilitating and evaluating group work programs.
• Demonstrated high-level verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, work independently, and contribute collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team. Strong organisational skills and resourcefulness are essential.

What We Offer:

• Salary packaging benefits to increase your take-home pay  
• Up to four bonus leave days per year  
• Be part of an organisation committed to compassion, service, and community well-being  
• Discounted Health Insurance options  
• Opportunities for professional development  
• Supportive, values-driven work environment  

• Deliver trauma-informed, safety-focused counselling to adults, young people and children impacted by family and domestic violence.
• Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and safety planning.
• Support individuals who have experienced family violence.
• Work with those who use or have used violence to promote behaviour change and accountability.
• Undertake structured family violence risk assessments.
• Develop and review safety plans.
• Maintain a strong focus on client and child safety in all interactions.
• Respond to trauma and coercive control using evidence-informed approaches.
• Support clients navigating separation where violence is present.
• Contribute to coordinated service responses.
• Provide short- to medium-term counselling across the lifespan for relationship difficulties, separation, parenting challenges, and mild to moderate mental health concerns.
• Conduct individual, couple, and family counselling.
• Deliver parenting education.
• Work with children and young people.
• Provide short-term counselling support for EAP clients.
• Undertake all work within child-inclusive frameworks and in accordance with legislative, organisational and funding requirements.

• Specialist knowledge of family and domestic violence, including risk assessment, safety planning, coercive control and behaviour change practice.
• Knowledge and understanding of counselling theory and practice, including trauma-informed approaches, developmental theory, and family violence frameworks.
• Strong understanding of issues affecting children, young people and families, including the intersections of family violence, mental health, substance use, and socio-economic disadvantage.
• Experience and training in relationship and family counselling.
• Experience in developing, facilitating and evaluating group work programs.
• High-level verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to contribute collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Resourcefulness.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership of a relevant professional body (desirable).
• Minimum of three years’ clinical experience.
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of CatholicCare Tasmania.
• Eligibility to work in Australia.
• Registration to Work with Vulnerable People.
• Valid Police Check.