• ACON Health provides services to people living with (PLHIV), affected by or at risk of HIV, and to sexuality and gender diverse people in NSW that are aged 18 or over.
• ACON’s regional services are responsible for the delivery of ACON’s programs and services in regional NSW, with a focus on Health Promotion, Mental Health Services, and Needle Syringe Program operations and Harm Reduction.
• We are looking for an experienced Team Leader and Counsellor to manage our Client Services team and provide Counselling and Care Coordination to clients.

What’s Services does the Client Services Team provide?

The ACON Northern Rivers Client Services Team is a small team of 3-4 staff who cover the region from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie and provide:

• Up to 12 free one-hour counselling sessions over a period of up to 6 months, with no MBS mental health treatment plans required. Counselling is provided with a short-term solution focused framework where clients are encouraged to identify 1-3 goals.
• Care coordination of up to 6 months, depending on needs, to help people; access relevant healthcare and support services, increase their ability to manage their care and reduce social isolation.

Both of these services are offered via telehealth or from the ACON Northern Rivers office.

Ok, so what’s the role?

The main responsibilities are:

• The line supervision and support of ACON’s funded counselling services, and care coordination team to ensure the highest quality counselling support to PLHIV, and to sexuality and gender diverse people.
• Supporting ACON’s Pride Counselling service, a fee-for-service counselling program that provides service through Medicare and as a specialist Employee Assistance Program where applicable.
• Managing a counselling/care coordination caseload using a short-term, solution-focused counselling approach to clients presenting with a range of mental health needs relating to HIV, gender and sexuality, mental health and substance support as well as ageing and domestic and family violence.

Who are we looking for?

Someone with:

• Tertiary qualifications and registration with the relevant professional body in psychology, social work or occupational therapy.

• Minimum of five years’ experience in mental health service delivery, preferably within the context of LGBTQ+ mental health, suicide prevention, trans mental health, domestic and family violence and/or substance support.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, including building strong team cultures, managing clinical risks, and line supervising teams in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated skills in a number of the following short-term solution-focused interventions; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solutions Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Positive Behavioural approaches.
• Understanding of and commitment to ACON’s communities, particularly people living with or affected by HIV.

What else can we tell you?

ACON provides a colourful, nurturing, and fun workplace. Our employees and volunteers are the foundation for our ongoing effectiveness and for our capacity to deliver innovative community engagement and health promotion programs and initiatives for our communities.

To support the successful candidate in their new role at ACON we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Generous learning and development opportunities.
• Potential for tailored mentoring opportunities.
• Supportive working environment with a knowledgeable and friendly team.

What’s the remuneration and working details?:

Salary: $106,723 (Gross per-annum, PLUS Superannuation and Leave Loading).

Location: ACON’s Northern Rivers Office situated in Bundjalung / Lismore.

Hours: Permanent Full-Time (70 hours per fortnight), ongoing contract.

We offer flexible working arrangements and a generous array of entitlements often above the National Employment Standards (NES) including:

• Salary Packaging up to $35,000 gross up value (i.e., currently up to $15,900 Expenses + $2,650 Meals, tax free).
• Generous pro-rata leave entitlements – including up to an extra week of paid leave for full time employees to be taken during our Christmas and New Year’s shutdown period.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to a comprehensive counselling service free to employees.

How can I find out more details and apply?

If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our team and help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. By joining us, you will be part of a mission to create a healthier and more inclusive community.

We’d love someone who has experience already in this area but people at all levels of experience are absolutely welcome to apply. We highly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who are trans and gender diverse, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of all genders to apply.

For more information on the role, please contact Brad Bower, Regional Manager Northern Rivers, via email at [email protected] using the subject line: Team Leader, Client Services - Northern Rivers enquiry via EthicalJobs or (02) 6622 1555.

If this sounds like the position and organisation you’ve been looking for, find out how to apply at www.acon.org.au/jobs.

All applications must include:

1. Your completed ACON Employment Application Form – with all the details filled in where requested;
2. Your Cover Letter outlining how you meet the Selection Criteria (max. 3 pages); and
3. Your Resume (max. 3 pages).

We are grounded in the belief that diversity is our strength, our differentiator, and at the core of who we are and what we do. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we encourage applications from people living with HIV, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTQ people from culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds, and LGBTQ people of colour.

www.acon.org.au