Child and Family Counsellsor

• Make a lasting impact on children and families in Western Sydney
• Deliver evidence-based counselling in a supportive multidisciplinary team
• Professional development, supervision and community-focused practice

Support, empower and transform young lives through assessment, counselling and family-centred care in a dynamic community health setting.

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (up to 15 July 2027)
Position Classification: Counsellor Level 1 / 2, Psychologist, Social Worker Level 1 / 2
Remuneration: Dependent on Qualifications
Hours Per Week: 38
Location: Merrylands Community Health Centre

Where you'll be working
Join the Child and Family Health Service at Merrylands Community Health Centre, part of Western Sydney Local Health District's Integrated and Community Health Services. Our team is dedicated to supporting the health, wellbeing and development of children, adolescents and families through a person and family-centred model of care.

Working alongside experienced clinicians from diverse disciplines, you will be part of a collaborative and inclusive environment that values cultural responsiveness, innovation and continuous learning while delivering meaningful outcomes for the local community.

In this role, you will:

• Work within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team committed to integrated care.
• Support children, young people and families from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Benefit from ongoing supervision, professional development and opportunities to contribute to student learning.
• Participate in quality improvement, research and health promotion initiatives.
• Help strengthen community wellbeing through partnerships with families, schools and key stakeholders.

What you'll be doing
As a Child and Family Counsellor, you will provide high-quality assessment, counselling and therapeutic intervention services for children, adolescents and their families experiencing behavioural, emotional and developmental concerns. You will play a vital role in supporting positive outcomes through evidence-informed practice and family-focused care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct triage, assessment and therapeutic interventions, developing treatment plans aligned with client needs and service priorities.
• Deliver individual and family counselling, group programs and parenting support using evidence-informed approaches.
• Collaborate with families, caregivers and multidisciplinary professionals to develop and review tailored care plans and treatment goals.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation, outcome measures and case records while managing an active caseload.
• Contribute to community education, health promotion, quality improvement and service development initiatives.

This role offers the opportunity to work with children and families experiencing complex presentations, including trauma, domestic and family violence, child protection concerns and other significant psychosocial challenges.

Ready to make a difference every day?
Bring your passion for helping children and families thrive and join a team committed to delivering exceptional care close to home. Apply now and help create healthier futures for the communities of Western Sydney while building a rewarding and meaningful career with NSW Health.

How to Apply
Apply online by submitting your resume and addressing the criteria listed below by providing examples that demonstrate your ability before the closing date.
 

Essential Criteria:

• License: Current Drivers Licence valid within Australia

• Qualification/ Registration: Tertiary qualifications in Social Work and eligibility for membership of Australia Association of Social Workers or Counsellors who hold a minimum 3 year bachelor degree in counselling or related field, or other qualification deemed equivalent by the employer, as defined within the NSW Health Service Health Professionals Award. Current Full Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA);  

Selection Criteria:

1. Demonstrated experience in psychosocial assessment and intervention (individual, family and group) with children, adolescents and their families/carers.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of child development, attachment and trauma informed care and application in child and family clinical settings.
3. Experience in and/or knowledge of systemic approaches to provision of parenting interventions and family focused therapies.
4. Demonstrated understanding of the dynamics and effects of abuse, neglect and domestic violence and best practise when working with children experiencing child protection issues.
5. Effective interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and work with families from differing socioeconomic and /or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to achieve client outcomes and goals.
6. High level of written clinical documentation skills with demonstrated competency in using computer based applications including electronic health records.
7. Demonstrated excellent time management and organisation skills to provide timely and appropriate services and meet workload expectations.
8. Current Drivers Licence valid within NSW/Australia

Requisition ID: REQ687060
Applications Close: 22 September 2026

Need more information?

• Discover more about the application process.

• Review the detailed Position Description for insights into role requirements and criteria.  

• Explore the selection process, employment checks, outcomes and notifications.

• For inquiries about the role, contact Natalie Durbidge on natalie.durbidge@health.nsw.gov.au