• Ongoing Part-Time

AFTRS is Australia's Screen and Broadcast School, established to fuel and empower Australian creativity and storytelling. AFTRS is consistently rated as one of the top film schools in the world.

We are looking for an experienced Counsellor to join the Student Experience team to support all students to engage successfully with their learning experience at AFTRS by providing individual and group counselling to students on matters affecting their education and progression. You will provide consistent, structured and professional support and guidance to students and staff on issues and concerns relevant. Also, to provide referral to appropriate services outside AFTRS. The role will ensure appropriate and accessible guidance and support, including the development and management of learning access plans, reasonable adjustments and learning contracts. Further, the position is responsible for identifying and overseeing solutions to complex student related issues and concerns.

The Counsellor will provide expert advice to the Head of Learning & Student Experience identifying and reporting on broad trends and concerns relevant to students; and, identifying possible risks to student wellbeing and safety at school. The position will contribute to the Student Experience team by answering questions, providing information and school-wide communications to students and building a safe, creatively vibrant culture at AFTRS.

As Counsellor you will be responsible for:

• Provide individual and group counselling to students on a range of issues affecting educational engagement and progress.
• Provide advice to staff about students.
• Develop and liaise with a network of appropriate educational, health and community agencies for the referral of students and to maintain specialist knowledge.
• Foster and promote a learning environment of wellbeing and safety for AFTRS students including the management of ongoing student initiatives, such as monthly student breakfast and the Safe Conversation Network; identification of student-facing risks and mitigation strategies and strategic benchmarking and research.
• Be a primary point of contact for students.
• Consistent, structured and professional support and guidance to AFTRS students in accordance with appropriate internal and external standards; including but not limited to Special Consideration.
• Develop and deliver academic, welfare and pastoral support programs for students that is targeted and effective and that student-facing risks identified, and mitigation strategies are implemented. Including but not limited to:
  • Consultancy to academic staff on pastoral care.
  • Identifying and reporting / recommending to management on broad trends, issues and concerns relevant to students, educational programs and/or the School.
  • Work with P&P to design and conduct staff development programs in specialist areas as appropriate such as student mental health first aid (as appropriate)
• Contribute to division's preparedness and capacity to respond to student incidents, especially critical incidents (Standard 2.3.5) and to anticipate issues through risk identification and mitigation (see Standard 6.2.1e), and to implement preventative actions.
• Management of reasonable adjustments and Learning Access Plans in order to ensure we meet accessibility obligations set out in the Disability Standards for Education 2005, including liaising with key stakeholder regarding curriculum or infrastructure accommodations and changes.
• Develop and run support and enhancement programs for students individual or group information sessions on educational, vocational and financial issues.
• Answer student-related enquiries on AFTRS courses as required - phone, email, front desk.
• Undertake and assist in updating the student record and other systems as part of team.
• Contribute to student-facing administrative processes across the academic year, including enrolments, change of status, orientation and graduation.
• Any other projects as requested by the Head of Learning & Student Experience.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• Qualified as a Psychologist and registered with the Psychology Board of Australia.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience in a similar role with regular and direct contact with students.
• Successful track record of instigating student wellbeing and support initiatives.
• Highly motivated and outcome focused and able to act proactively and with sound judgement in a quality assurance and compliance environment.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively manage a high workload and competing demands, to manage a cooperative and collaborative small team, and be willing to take a 'hands on' approach.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to build rapport with people from a wide range of backgrounds, provide clear, bench-marked, written reports and represent AFTRS in a range of professional situations.
• Successful completion of a Working with Children Check

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in education.
• Understanding of and passion for the arts and creative industries.

This position is open to all Australian citizens or Permanent Residents.

AFTRS is committed to building a richly diverse staff and faculty. AFTRS actively supports and appreciates workplace diversity and we strongly encourage and welcome applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from a wide range of backgrounds and people with a disability.

Please note, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check.

Salary: $94,077 - $102,996 (pro-rata), dependent on experience, plus excellent benefits package.

A Position Description is attached below.