PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) supports parents and families during pregnancy and throughout the first year of parenthood.

Start in 2024! Join Australia's only National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline for individuals, their families, support people and health care professionals.

About the Role

The Telephone Counsellor will operate within PANDA’s helpline services providing direct clinical and counselling support to expecting and new parents experiencing perinatal mental health vulnerability or challenges. This role is part of an active multidisciplinary team of clinicians, counsellors and peer support workers and volunteers. The telephone counsellor will be expected to work within a set roster as per the helpline’s operating hours. PANDA’s operating hours are Monday to Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday 9am-4:30pm.

Counsellors at PANDA receive training, support and supervision by experienced team leaders. All staff at PANDA are also involved in other activities such as education and and resource development, projects and working groups.

Key Details

• Multiple permanent full-time and part-time roles commencing Feb 2024
• Work from home anywhere in Australia 
• Shift options include 9-5pm and 12-8pm Monday to Friday and 9-4:30 Saturday
• Preferred availability - evening and weekend shifts
• SCHADS Award level 5.1 - $47.50 per hour

Key Responsibilities

• Providing incoming and outgoing phone based clinical service delivery to expecting and new parents as well as their families and support people (including health professionals) Triage and brief assessment
• Counselling/ therapeutic intervention (single or multiple session)
• Psychoeducation
• Resource and information sharing
• Crisis intervention
• Service navigation and referral
• Risk assessment and intervention
• Secondary consultation
• Care Coordination
• Applying sound clinical judgement in all aspects of service delivery which is aligned with PANDA’s processes and policies, evidence-based frameworks and industry standards
• Adhering to individual and organisational workplans, targets and KPIs
• Recording and maintaining accurate client records, including data and case notes, using PANDA’s client record systems in a timely and accurate manner
• Utilising systems required in aspects of service delivery across all helpline services which include but not limited to, Service Record System (SRS), Salesforce, Microsoft Teams and Outlook, Genesys cloud-based phone system, and go1 Learning Hub

Key Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualification (AQF7-9) in Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Counselling, Mental Health Nursing or another mental health field.
• Eligibility for registration or membership of a professional body
  • AASW – Social worker or Mental Health Social Worker
  • AHPRA – Full registration as Psychologist (general, clinical, neuro), OT
  • ACMHN- Mental Health Nurse
  • PACFA – General/Clinical
  • ACA – Level 3 or above
• At least 2 years' experience in the provision of clinical services within the Australian mental health system including counselling, assessment of mental health presentations and risk, supporting people with complex needs, undertaking crisis interventions, care coordination and referral and intake
• Knowledge and experience with provision of services via telephone/internet

Benefits and Perks

• Generous Not for Profit Salary Packaging available  
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Penalty rates for Saturday shifts
• Portable Long Service Leave Benefits Scheme  
• Flexible working arrangements  
• Inclusive, supportive, friendly, and positive team culture  
• Access to a range of Professional Development 
• Access to Employee Assistance Program  
• Working in a rich learning environment among experts in the field of perinatal mental health

About PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) supports parents and families during pregnancy and throughout the first year of parenthood. PANDA operates Australia’s only National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline for individuals, their families, support people and health care professionals.

Our phone and online services provide access to counselling and information to support mental health and wellbeing, informed by evidence and the expertise of people with lived experience.

PANDA recognises that becoming a parent is a time of profound change in personal identity, family dynamics and relationship to self, baby and others. Our free services play an important role in assisting people becoming and being parents and supporting those around them during this transition.

We support all families, especially those facing barriers to support including language, location, discrimination, and people managing complex and ongoing mental health conditions. All our work is delivered through quality clinical and peer practice, evidence, and the expertise of the lived experience community.

A position description is attached.