• Full time position (1.0FTE), contract till 30 June 2027, subject to further funding
• SCHADS 6
• Do you want the opportunity to work for justice, choice and self-determination for people who have experienced complex trauma?
• First Nations, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents and people with lived experience are encouraged to apply
• DS is committed to child safety and to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation in line with Victorian Child Safe Standards.  The safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people is central to our work. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in the best interests of children and young people. All staff are required to participate in a thorough recruitment and screening process, including holding a current Victorian Working with Children Check and completing a National Police Check

Drummond Street provides (DS) intersectional, complex trauma-informed and healing and/or recovery-oriented services. Sitting under the umbrella of our Complex Trauma Service, our free, independent Redress Support Service (RSS) is for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and their families and loved ones. We support survivors to safely complete their application to the National Redress Scheme (NRS) and provide the free counselling offered as part of their successful outcome. We also support applicants to the Victorian Redress Scheme for Historical Institutional Abuse (VRS). 

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Complex Trauma Practitioner to become part of the team on a full-time contract basis until the 30 June 2027. This is a hybrid role, with 1-day WFH.

Reporting to the Manager, Complex Trauma, you will play a key role in helping survivors write and submit their applications to the NRS and VRS. You will be part of a transdisciplinary complex trauma-informed team known for its delivery of high quality, client-led counselling, case work and advocacy services. 

The Senior Complex Trauma Practitioner supports the Manager, Complex Trauma to provide highquality clinical leadership, day-to-day line management, supervision and complex traumainformed counselling with an intersectional lens. The role focuses primarily on survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who are considering engaging, or have engaged, with the National Redress Scheme (NRS). A key KPI being the promotion of the NRS to survivors from culturally and linguistically diverse communities with a targeted engagement plan. A secondary focus is support for people eligible for other redress schemes and Complex Trauma Service counselling.

This role is based in Carlton, with occasional travel in metropolitan Melbourne and to regional Victoria required. 

About You

You are a skilled senior practitioner with complex trauma experience and some experience in case work. You are looking to become part of a team committed to social justice and intersectionality. You can share and build knowledge to support complex trauma responsive practice that centres the voice of survivors who may also be people with disabilities, who have experiences of trauma due to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

About Drummond Street Services

Drummond Street is a not-for-profit, non-denominational agency that has over 130 years in the development and delivery of innovative services that strengthen families and communities. We havea strong focus on evidence-based/informed practice and across the prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery spectrum of universal and targeted support. We supported survivors to tell their story to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and continue to support survivors to seek justice through the National Redress Scheme and our Redress Counselling and Psychological Care Service).

Following years of sustained advocacy by people with disabilities, in 2019 the Commonwealth Government established the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Drummond Street supported people with disabilities to share their experiences to inform Australian governments, institutions and the wider community on how to prevent, and better protect, people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in the future.

Our Complex Trauma Service provides state-wide, complex trauma informed counselling, case workand advocacy services. These are accessible, client-focused and meet the needs of people of survivors, their families, carers, support workers and advocates. The Complex Trauma Service offers a model of support and advocacy that is flexible, compassionate, respectful, empowering and holisticwith the aim of addressing individual client needs and undertaking systematic advocacy.

Our employment policy assertively engages people experiencing access barriers, marginalisation and/or discrimination, prioritising First Nations people, people of colour, and/or those identifying as LGBTIQA+, with a specific focus on public housing residents.

Key Selection Criteria: 

Essential 

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health) PLUS additional training and experience related to delivery of evidence-based complex-trauma informed counselling services.
• Current professional accreditation (AASW, PACFA, AHPRA or equivalent).
• Minimum five years’ experience in counselling and/or mental health.
• At least two years’ experience providing clinical supervision.
• Demonstrated experience supporting survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.
• Demonstrated knowledge of complex trauma and healing and recovery approaches to intervention
• Demonstrated experience with providing interventions that support individuals and families with multiple and complex needs such as experiencing barriers to the NDIS, or DSP, complex communication, mental health, family violence and drug and alcohol issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, affirming and intersectional practice.
• Must be available to work Tuesday 11-7pm.

Please review the position description attached below which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria.

Highly Desirable

• Experience working within the criminal justice system.
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and health promotion.
• Current Australian driver’s licence.

Application process

• To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' 
• Applications close at midnight on the closing date
• All applications will be directed to our careers portal – Senior Complex Trauma Practitioner
• All applicants must include a resume with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position to be considered.
• Applicants shortlisted for an interview will be required to provide evidence of their qualifications during the interview process 

Please contact Vicki Khouri, Program Manager, on 03 9663 6733 or [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Complex Trauma Practitioner enquiry via EthicalJobs to discuss your application. Suitable applicants that apply before the closing date will be offered an interview.

DS supports a flexible and productive work environment through its Hybrid Work Model. Where operationally viable and in line with role requirements, eligible employees may have the opportunity to work remotely on a structured basis. Eligibility for hybrid work is subject to the conditions outlined in DS’s Hybrid Work Model Policy and is not automatically granted.