"Counsellor (Indigenous Health & Wellbeing)"

Swinburne Health Services | In partnership with the Moondani Toombadool Centre

• Full-time, fixed-term position (until March 2027) at our Hawthorn campus
• HEW 7 salary + 17% super and staff benefits

This is a Targeted position and an affirmative measure therefore only open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage in accordance with an exemption granted under section 12 of the Vic – Equal Opportunity Act 2010. This is a recruitment strategy to increase Aboriginal workforce.

About the Role

At Swinburne University of Technology, we are committed to creating a culturally safe, respectful and welcoming space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We recognise the strength, resilience and knowledge held within the world’s oldest continuing cultures, and we are proud to stand alongside Mob as students pursue their study goals while staying strong in culture and community.

We are seeking a dedicated and culturally responsive Counsellor (Indigenous Health & Wellbeing) to join the Swinburne Health Services team, working in close and respectful partnership with the Moondani Toombadool Centre. This role is about walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, offering holistic, strengths-based social and emotional wellbeing support that honours culture, kinship, family and community connections.

As part of a multidisciplinary wellbeing team, you will:

• Provide culturally safe, trauma-informed counselling and social and emotional wellbeing support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across all campuses and Swinburne Online.
• Undertake comprehensive wellbeing and risk assessments, providing timely and culturally responsive crisis support where needed.
• Deliver holistic psychosocial support that recognises the importance of culture, Country, family and community in healing and wellbeing.
• Support students to connect with internal and external services, including culturally appropriate supports, to ensure strong and positive care experiences.
• Work closely with Indigenous Student Services, the Health Promotions team and the broader Health & Wellbeing team to strengthen belonging, connection and student success.
• Partner with the Health Promotions team to co-design and deliver preventative wellbeing initiatives and student events that build resilience, cultural pride and mental health literacy.
• Join and support Moondani Toombadool Centre on-Country student events, contributing to opportunities for cultural connection, shared learning and community strengthening.
• Provide cultural insight and guidance to colleagues to help grow culturally safe and responsive practice across the University.

This is more than a counselling role — it is an opportunity to build trusted relationships, walk alongside Mob through their university journey, and support students to stay strong in mind, culture and community while achieving their aspirations.

If you are committed to culturally safe practice, equity in education and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that this position requires flexibility to support service delivery between 8:00am – 6:00pm.

About You

You are a compassionate and experienced mental health professional who brings cultural humility, strong clinical capability and a deep commitment to community engagement.

You will have:

• Experience providing mental health care including assessment, triage, crisis response and therapeutic interventions.
• Sound knowledge of Victorian and national legislation governing practice (including the Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic)).
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Understanding of systems such as Centrelink, the National Redress Scheme and the NDIS, and awareness of the needs of students from rural and regional areas, ABSTUDY recipients, care leavers, students living with disability and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
• Experience working in tertiary education or with young adults (desirable).
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence working autonomously while contributing collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to quality improvement, community participation and culturally safe practice.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Nursing, Psychology, Master of Counselling, or a related field with at least four years’ subsequent experience (or an equivalent combination of experience and training).
• Current registration or membership with one of the following:
• AHPRA (as a Mental Health Nurse or Psychologist)
• AASW (full membership)
• PACFA (full clinical membership) or ACA (minimum Level 3)
• Eligibility for a Medicare Provider Number (Accredited Mental Health Social Worker or Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist).
• Mental Health First Aid, and current First Aid and CPR certification.

About Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

Our Ad Astra strategy is the cornerstone of Swinburne’s bold ambition to lead globally in technology-driven education and research. This strategy positions us to create transformative solutions, empower learners, and partner with industry to thrive in an ever-changing world.

What We Offer You!

• Work your way with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options and generous parental leave to support a balanced lifestyle. 
• Exclusive staff discounts, including discounted Medibank health insurance, 50% off Swinburne courses and other partner offers.
• Swinburne offers 17% super and salary packaging options, including car leasing and extra super contributions.

Want to learn more? Head over to our benefits page!

To Apply

Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and your suitability for this position.

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@swin.edu.au

Applications Close: Sunday 22 March 2026, at 11.00pm

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Special Measures

At Swinburne, we are deeply invested in dismantling systemic barriers and developing a culturally safe, empowering, and inclusive environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are respected, inspired, and celebrated. We recognise and value Indigenous knowledges, leadership, and ways of being as integral to our university’s strength and future. We are committed to building genuine trust with community and ensuring that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are supported to maintain and deepen their cultural and community connections as part of their professional growth and leadership journey at Swinburne.

We celebrate our diverse culture and the strength this brings to our workforce. We are committed to our Indigenous Employment Strategy and are therefore seeking to increase the representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples within the University, where traditionally they have been under-represented. Specifically, the Department of Nursing would like to grow the Indigenous workforce to further enhance the capability within these disciplines.

Pursuant to a Special Measure under Section 12 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), we will therefore only consider applications from suitably qualified Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates for this position.

To find out more about our Indigenous Employment Strategy please visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/about/our-university/indigenous-matters/reconciliation-action-plan/

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact DCR@swin.edu.au or call +61 3 9214 3550.

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquiries about the role can be sent to the Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@swin.edu.au (general enquiries will not be answered by phone).

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes.

As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.

#LI-SW

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