• Work within a friendly and supportive team environment
• Salary packaging arrangements that can increase your take-home pay
• Convenient Woolloongabba location close to public transport, parking, and some

Spinal Life Australia is a non-profit organisation that provides expert knowledge, specialist therapies and tailored supports for people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities. We're the largest provider of support services to people living with spinal cord injury in Australia.

As a result of the excellent participant outcomes achieved by our small team of one, we are currently looking for an exceptional Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor to join the Back2Work Project - an innovative early intervention vocational rehabilitation program for people with newly acquired spinal cord injuries. This is a fixed term part-time contract, working 3.5 days/week (flexibility around days), until Feb 2020.

What will I do?

In this person-centred, relationship-focussed role, you will be working at the forefront of change, with the potential to influence the future of early intervention vocational rehabilitation services in Australia. On a day to day basis, you will be responsible for delivering vocational counselling, return to work and employment-related support to people with a newly acquired spinal cord injury.

You will be working between the Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU) at Princess Alexandra Hospital and our office at Woolloongabba, under the direction of the Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor (SVRC).

You will provide exceptional levels of support to our newly injured participants, who are highly motivated to return to work or study, yet face significant and complex barriers. This unique role is about “meeting people where they’re at” - positively promoting the benefits of a timely return to work or study, but recognising and respecting that everyone will progress this at a different rate after a spinal cord injury. Some people just want some assurance that work is possible, even if it’s 5 years away – and that’s ok.

You will also be engaging with staff and management of the SIU and Transitional Rehabilitation Program, family members, researchers, employers, insurers and community based providers to increase awareness about the benefits of return to work after a catastrophic injury, contribute to the continued development of a positive culture about early return to work within the clinical treatment setting, and increase post-injury employment outcomes for Back2Work participants.

What's needed to be successful?

We are looking for someone with a real passion to make a difference, who possesses the following:

• Most importantly, a positive attitude, great communication skills, and an ability to inspire people about the possibilities of work
• Post-graduate qualification in Rehabilitation Counselling;
• Registered with, or eligible for full professional registration with RCAA;
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working with people with spinal cord injury or significant physical disability in an employment, vocational rehabilitation or related setting;
• Exceptional ability to quickly develop relationships and rapport with a wide range of stakeholders including people with a catastrophic injury, their families, employers, hospital staff and management, and other allied health professionals;
• Strong skills in vocational counselling and assessment, problem solving and a broad knowledge of support systems around return to work and study;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a very small team;
• Demonstrated ability to proactively practice self-care strategies to ensure personal emotional safety

Why do I want to work at Spinal Life Australia?

This is your opportunity to make a significant and lasting difference – in our team, in our organisation, the national service landscape – and most importantly, in our clients' lives. By doing a great job, you'll ensure that our clients receive the support they need in an appropriate timeframe to help them live the life that they choose.

Apply now and you'll also enjoy all the benefits of working with Spinal Life Australia, including:

• Ongoing training and development - we say it because we actually do it.
• Salary packaging arrangements that can increase your take-home pay.
• Convenient Woolloongabba location close to public transport, parking, and some really good coffee shops!