Mental Health Counsellor

Your Opportunity:

Australian Unity is proud and excited to be partnering with Beyond Blue to deliver their 24/7 omnichannel brief counselling and advice service to all Australians in need.

Working from home, you will provide brief phone and webchat counselling to our service users who typically present with mental health concerns, require support for complex life situations, or require crisis or emergency support. Despite Beyond Blue not being a crisis service, there will be some element of mental health crisis and emergency support in this role. 

We have Permanent Part-Time contracts (24 to 28.5 hours / weekly) available over our Overnight shift. The hours are varied falling between 5 pm to 8 am (AEST) across the week and regular weekend work is mandatory.

Available shift options with flexible start and finish times (work from home)

Option 1: Sat/Wed/Thu/Fri – 6 hrs per shift (24 hrs/week), starts 5 pm–7 pm, finishes 1 am–3 am.
Option 2: Sun/Mon/Tue – 9.5 hrs per shift (28.5 hrs/week), starts 8 pm–10 pm, finishes 6 am–8 am.
Option 3: Sat/Thu/Fri – 9.5 hrs per shift (28.5 hrs/week), starts 8 pm–10 pm, finishes 6 am–8 am.

About you:

You are a resilient health professional who is confident with mental health risk triage, assessment, and risk management within fast paced environments. Experienced to manage high call volumes and chats discussing complex mental health symptoms and life circumstances with the ability to offer counselling, strategies, and information to anyone who feels the need to reach out for support. 

• Excellent micro counselling skills
• Empathic, warm, compassionate and have good understanding and practice of self-care
• Registered or eligible to register with ONE of the following professional bodies:
  • AHPRA (as a mental health Registered Nurse, Provisional Psychologist with external supervision support or full registration as a psychologist)
  • PACFA - Minimum Provisional (working towards full registration)
  • ACA – Minimum level 2
  • AASW / AMHSW – Full Membership
• Minimum 2-years work experience post relevant qualification or minimum 10 years mental health registered nursing experience
• Experience working overnights is mandatory
• Self-motivated with good digital literacy, strong administration and time management skills
• A professional with ability to listen and rapidly build trust with people in their environment
• Team player with an openness to support, learn and engage in continuous professional development 

You will be supported by a 5 week induction program. This comprehensive skills-based training program is structured to support your growth as a BBSS Counsellor. Our aim is to help you develop your mental health support skills.

This is a Remote, Work from Home Opportunity and you could be based anywhere within Australia.

You will be provided with relevant technology equipment to support you with your WFH setup however will be required to have the following:

• Private room/space which can be used for your home office set up
• Reliable/stable internet connection
• Demonstrated IT skills and proficiency in telephony-based systems where you are comfortable navigating multiple software, digital note taking and counselling and support simultaneously.

CVs sent via email will not be reviewed. To be included in the selection process, please submit a formal application by clicking APPLY. Applications will close once vacancies have been filled.

Contact Pallvi on PaChauhan@australianunity,com.au for any role related queries. 

Australian Unity is an Equal Opportunity employer and we encourage applications from all members of the community, including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and, mature aged people. To view our Reconciliation Action Plan, please click https://www.australianunity.com.au/about-us/reconciliation-action-plan