• 0.2 FTE

The Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) (MIC) is seeking an experienced counsellor to provide counselling for women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are at risk of, have experienced or are experiencing family violence residing in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The counsellor is also required to facilitate two therapeutic group programs annually for CALD women.

The program aims to support women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to make informed choices that ensure their safety and that of their children.

Background

MIC provides support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds residing in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The region covers the Local Government Areas of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges. The MIC is governed by a Board of Directors.

The MIC’s objectives are:

• Provide poverty support and emergency relief programs to migrant families and individuals suffering financial crisis, destitution, misfortune, helplessness and sickness
• Deliver post arrival services relevant to new migrants and refugees in the Eastern Melbourne Region (the region) to ensure effective local settlement and orientation
• Enhance direct provision of settlement services to migrants in the region
• Provide a primary focus for settlement planning, coordination and delivery in the region, with the objective of ensuring effective and culturally sensitive service provision to migrants by mainstream agencies
• Enhance existing links with and between a range of service providing agencies in the region
• Identify service gaps and/or shortfalls in relation to migrants by mainstream agencies within the region and provide advice and assistance related to appropriate service delivery in the development of new, alternative or additional services for migrants to bridge gaps and shortfalls
• Assess duplication of service within all areas of migrant settlement and to facilitate an effective network grid for the minimisation of duplicate services
• Investigate technology-based solutions for the provision of information on services available within the region to the wider community
• Carry on any other activity, which in the opinion of the majority of the Board of Directors would comprise the spirit and intent of the Board

Position Context

Funded by the Victorian Government, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), the Specialist Family Violence Counselling Program provides one to one counselling services and therapeutic group programs for women from CALD backgrounds who have experienced are experiencing or who are at risk of experiencing family violence.

The Specialist Family Violence Counselling service aims to empower women, assist understanding of the gendered nature of violence and its impact and support women to recognise that responsibility for violence lies with the perpetrator. The counselling will support women to recognise their strengths and resources and enable exploration of strategies to ensure safety including that of any children.

The groups will provide support and educational programs that are time-limited to address the impact of violence and provide an educational component on its causes, complexity and consequences with a focus on the women’s and children’s safety.

The MIC works within the MARAM framework and the successful candidate will be required to understand and follow the framework, including completing MARAM training.

The objectives of the program are:

• To support women and children from CALD backgrounds who risk being unsafe in the family environment helping them to identify and pursue options to protect their safety.
• To assist women and children from a CALD background to recover from experiences of family violence, helping them to identify and pursue opportunities for positive and lasting change.
• To reduce isolation and improve social networks for women and children from a CALD background who have experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing family violence.

Key Performance Areas

• Provide non-directive, and non-judgemental one to one counselling to women from CALD backgrounds who have experienced. Are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing family violence.
• Provide referral, information and advocacy for clients to access other support services where appropriate.
• Develop and facilitate support and educational programs through groupwork for CALD women.
• Liaise and network with other agencies and professionals involved in the delivery of support services for women who are experiencing, at risk of or have experienced family violence.
• Actively participate in worker’s meetings, evaluation sessions and planning sessions, as scheduled.
• Participate in annual organisational self-assessment requirements.
• Comply with funding body expectations, and undertake varied administrative duties as required.

Key Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work or Psychology (or equivalent) with counselling training and experience in working with women who at risk of, are experiencing or have experienced family violence.
• Demonstrated experience or a willingness to deliver counselling services to people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and in particular those from a refugee background.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of issues affecting women from a CALD background who are experiencing, at risk of or have experienced family violence.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering counselling and therapeutic group programs to meet the needs of women who are experiencing, at risk of or who have experienced family violence.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining effective partnerships across both the government and community sectors.
• Demonstrated completion of MARAM training (or willingness to undertake training)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management skill.

Position dimensions

• Position reports to the Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) Manager.
• Position is located in Box Hill.
• A three-month probation period applies.
• An individual employment contract including the hours of work will be negotiated with the successful applicant. Normal hours of work are 7.5 hours per week with time in lieu provision for work outside normal hours.
• Salary sacrifice options are available after three months’ probation.
• Recreation leave is for 4 weeks per year, sick leave for 10 days cumulative (pro rata).

For more information about the role, please contact Jessica Bishop at MIC on 9285 4888.