Counsellor – Remote

Lifeline Direct (LLD) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeline Australia, focusing on supporting the development and ongoing implementation of suicide prevention and community wellbeing programs. Our specialised services operate nationally via a telehealth model.

At Lifeline Direct, we're committed to delivering high-quality crisis support, counselling and community services that lead us to our strategy of an Australia that is free of suicide. The Counsellor STS (Specialist Targeted Services) role supports consumers by providing professional, specialist telephone and digital counselling, and providing information and referrals to consumers of On the Line Australia services.

The role will contribute to the following key areas (but not limited to):

• Provide professional counselling to consumers of Specialist Targeted Services.
• Provide relevant and appropriate referrals and information to consumers.
• Engage and support consumers by making assessments, working with the consumer and communicating options for ongoing support.
• Identifying consumers or third parties at high risk, consulting with the Clinical Manager as required.
• Collection of consumer demographic data.
• Undertake professional development.
• Contribute to a positive high performing culture.

Successful candidates will need to be:

• Prepared to work rotating roster, weekends, afternoon shifts and overnight shifts.
• Enthusiastic, adaptable to change, open to constructive feedback and have established self-care practices.
• Confident with technology and able to work with phone and live chat-based counselling.
• Understanding this is a 6-month contract with the opportunity to extend or be made permanent.

What you bring to the role:

• A tertiary degree (of minimum three-year duration) in a relevant discipline (Social Work, Welfare Studies, Psychology or Counselling).
• A minimum of 456 hours of counselling experience, demonstrating the ability to work in a strengths-based, brief solution-focused framework.
• A high level of resilience to work in an environment exposed to high risk, including presentations of suicide, domestic/family violence, anxiety, depression.
• Ability to work in a high performing culture, demonstrating a high level of counselling within a set framework and KPIs.
• An enthusiastic and positive nature that can work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Awareness of self and engage in good self-care practices.
• Commitment to professional development and openness to feedback and coaching.
• High level of computer literacy with the ability to pick up new programs and systems quickly.
• Current Working with Children Check (for paid employment).

Working at Home Requirements:

• A safe and quiet workspace.
• Stable and good quality internet connection.
• Strong IT skills and proficiency in telephony-based systems.

Salary and benefits:

• $53.43 per hour base rate (plus superannuation) + penalty rates.
• 5 weeks annual leave with annual leave loading (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• Access to clinical supervision, debriefing and EAP.
• Working from home Salary Packaging options.