Aboriginal Staff Counsellor (Social Worker Lvl 3, Counsellor Lvl 3, Psychologist) - Perm FT
Requisition ID: REQ688238
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time, 38 hours per week
Remuneration: Dependent on Qualification:
- Psychologist: $83,670.00 - $122,465.00 per annum
- Counsellor Level 3: $121,568.00 - $125,507.00 per annum
- Social Worker Level 3: $121,568.00 - $125,507.00 per annum
In addition to base salary, all roles attract 12% Superannuation + Salary Packaging + Flexible Working (subject to approval)
Location: SWSLHD District Role
Applications close: 20/09/2026
Contact: Alexandra Sepulveda - District Staff Wellbeing and Support Service Team Manager on 0488 317 728 | Alexandra.sepulveda@health.nsw.gov.au
Do you want to contribute to the health and wellbeing of your mob?
Achieve Something Great
Are you an Aboriginal counsellor, psychologist or social worker who wants to use your clinical expertise and cultural knowledge to make a real difference for our mob?
This is an opportunity to join SWSLHD's Staff Wellbeing & Support Service as an Aboriginal Staff Counsellor and help shape culturally safe, accessible and meaningful wellbeing support for our Aboriginal workforce.
You will have an opportunity to contribute to how SWSLHD supports the social and emotional wellbeing of its Aboriginal workforce, bring Aboriginal ways of knowing and being into staff wellbeing practice, and work alongside Aboriginal Health and Aboriginal Workforce colleagues to strengthen culturally safe support across the District.
What you'll do
- Provide confidential, culturally safe and trauma-informed short-to-medium term counselling and early intervention support to Aboriginal staff.
- Support staff experiencing personal, social, emotional or work-related challenges through face-to-face, telephone and online counselling.
- Apply Aboriginal concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, culture and connection, including when responding to critical incidents and traumatic events.
Work collaboratively with the Staff Wellbeing & Support Service, Aboriginal Health and Aboriginal Workforce teams to promote psychological safety, resilience, connection and staff wellbeing.
SWSLHD operates across the traditional lands of the Dharawal, Darug and Gundungurra peoples and works in partnership with local Aboriginal communities to deliver culturally responsive health care.
As an Aboriginal Staff Counsellor, you will be part of a broader Aboriginal workforce and community, working alongside Aboriginal Health teams and Aboriginal staff across the District.
We recognise that culturally responsive clinical work requires strong professional and cultural support. In this role you will have access to:
- Dedicated Aboriginal cultural clinical supervision to support cultural safe practice, cultural reflection and working effectively with Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing frameworks.
- Cultural strengths mapping and opportunities to connect with our Aboriginal Health and Workforce teams and Aboriginal Staff networks across the District.
- A supportive multidisciplinary Staff Wellbeing & Support Service team.
Are You the Right Fit?
Bring your clinical expertise, cultural knowledge and compassionate approach to make a genuine difference to Aboriginal staff wellbeing.
- Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person with strong cultural knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal communities.
- Hold recognised qualifications and registration or eligibility for registration as a Psychologist, Social Worker or Counsellor, as applicable to the position.
- Demonstrate experience providing counselling, therapeutic interventions or wellbeing support, with an understanding of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing and the impacts of intergenerational trauma.
- Communicate with empathy, maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries, and provide culturally safe and responsive support.
- Build respectful relationships and work collaboratively with colleagues to promote staff wellbeing and psychological safety.
Selection Criteria
To help us assess your suitability for the role, please tell us as much as you can about yourself in response to the questions below.
- In this role being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement. Tell us about your mob and connection to culture?
- Relevant qualification/ registration in one of the disciplines outlined in the position description.
- Describe your understanding of the impacts of intergenerational trauma and Aboriginal concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, and how you apply this knowledge in your practice.
- Describe your experience delivering culturally responsive counselling, therapeutic interventions and wellbeing support to Aboriginal clients and their families, including across a range of modalities such as face-to-face, telephone and online.
- Provide an example of your experience responding to a critical incident or traumatic event, including how you provided psychological first aid, counselling or other support to individuals and/or groups.
Applicants must possess an Australian C-Class driver's license (including P1 or P2). Those who hold a C class license (P1 or P2 included) from a state other than NSW must obtain a NSW C class (P1 or P2 included) license within three months of appointment. Learner's licenses are not permitted.
If you’d like more details, we’re here to help.
Position Information
Applicants will be assessed against the criteria in the Position Description.
How to Apply
Read our application guide and tips for improving your application.
Diversity, Culture & Inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to accessibility and a supportive recruitment experience. If you require adjustments or assistance during the application process, please contact SWSLHDJobs@health.nsw.gov.au
We value the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our workforce and are committed to fostering a respectful and welcoming environment. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, neurodivergent individuals, those from Refugee, multicultural and multifaith backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Aboriginal Workforce
For Aboriginal candidates who would like to talk to our Aboriginal Workforce Team, please contact SWSLHD-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au. Support is also available through the Stepping Up website.
More Than Just a Job – Why Work With Us?
Financial Perks
12% superannuation
Salary packaging and novated leasing via Smart Salary
Annual leave with 17.5% leave loading (for full-time and part-time staff)
One extra day off each month for full-time employees
Work-Life Balance
Flexible work options, including hybrid and varied hours (depending on the role)
Paid maternity and parental leave
Generous leave options like long service and carers leave
Grow Your Career
Access to learning opportunities through our dedicated Education and Organisational Development team, who support staff with training, workshops, and career development programs.
Health & Wellbeing
Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport
Free and confidential support for staff and their families via our Staff Wellbeing and Support Service (EAP)
Wellbeing programs that promote mental health, resilience, and balance
Additional Information
Vaccination Requirements
All staff must meet NSW Health’s vaccination and screening requirements before starting.
Child Safe Employment
South Western Sydney Local Health District is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.
#SWSLHDAboriginalWorkforce
Temporary Positions
For fixed-term or temporary contracts, there may be opportunities for ongoing permanent employment, subject to policy and organisational requirements.
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