Manager, Counselling & Safety

- The actions we take today impact all our tomorrows
- Flexible, inclusive work environment with generous remuneration and benefits
- Location choices suited to the Australian coastal lifestyle on the east coast

Southern Cross University is a dynamic, ambitious institution focused on its purpose of changing lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. Our game changing Southern Cross Model brings a deeper learning experience, improving individual student outcomes, quality of life and a better way to learn. Our world-ranked research is driving positive impact for our communities, environment and economy.

Working at Southern Cross University combines a rare combination of being surrounded by ambitious students, dedicated colleagues and an environment of stunning natural beauty. We are leaders in our communities in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast and pride ourselves on helping shape a better tomorrow.

The Manager, Student Wellbeing & Safety coordinates and leads the services that provide mental health (Counselling) services and student incident response support.  The Manager Student Wellbeing and Safety provides clinical and operational management regarding the provision of services that promote psychological safety, resiliency, mental health wellbeing, and the support programs and resources that reduce the risk of psychological harm and enhances student safety.  Your core responsibilities will include:

• Lead and supervise the Student Safety and Wellbeing Team, ensuring a high-performing skilled workforce to meet service objectives
• Provide clinical oversight, guidance and consultancy of psychological and student safety matters including student crisis and incident response, risk assessment, wellbeing checks, therapeutic intervention, and referral pathways. Including taking a key role in the assessment and management of student critical incidents and providing expert advice, and support to relevant stakeholders and students.
• Manage the clinical and operational requirements such as case management record systems, reporting requirements, service evaluation, budgets and ensuring alignment with strategic goals and financial forecasts.
• Lead and implement a continuous improvement framework to ensure the delivery of quality and timely counselling services and other wellbeing & safety initiatives, programs, events and projects in consultation with key stakeholders to reflect best practice and the current higher education sector priorities.
• Provide direct support to students, managing a small caseload and offering support as part of a holistic wellbeing service.

You will be a compassionate leader with expertise in operational improvement, change management, and a strong ability to foster a positive organisational culture.  More specifically, you will have:

• Tertiary qualification in counselling, psychology, social work, or welfare services, with significant experience in a higher education environment or relevant field.
• Full registration as a Psychologist or Social Worker with AHPRA or Australian Association of Social Workers.
• Proven leadership skills with a strong ability to organise, prioritise, and manage competing demands effectively.
• Demonstrated experience in case management, counselling or wellbeing roles with experience in managing complex psychosocial issues, behaviour management, crisis intervention, risk assessment and managing a demanding caseload.
• Strong project management experience, from initiation to completion, with advance skills in data analysis, reporting, and a commitment to cultural diversity and workplace equity.

Desirable:

• Hold board approved registration to supervise psychology students on placement based within SCU Counselling Services.

Our staff benefit from flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work models, generous parental and carer’s leave provisions, wellbeing initiatives, employee assistance programs and professional learning opportunities. This position is:

• Full-time continuing (permanent)
• Located at either Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Gold Coast, QLD 4225, or Lismore, NSW 2480. Generous relocation support available.
• HEW 8. The base salary ranges from $116,672 - $128,651 per annum, plus 17% employer’s contribution to superannuation. The total remuneration package is up to $150,521.

Find out more about working at SCU by visiting Why Work at SCU.

Applicants must apply online and attach a CV and cover letter responding to the selection criteria within the position description by the closing date. Information to support you prepare your application is available on our website. If you experience difficulties applying online or need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting [email protected].  

Job applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident or currently hold a visa with ongoing work rights in Australia. Employer visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

To view the full position advertisement and details of the application process, please click on the APPLY button where you will be redirected to the Southern Cross University website.

Closing Date: 11.30pm AEDT, 5 January 2025

Southern Cross University is committed to ensuring that the University reflects the rich diversity across the region in which the University’s campuses are located.

The University encourages applications from people of all ages, women, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, people living with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who are LGBTQI+.

We encourage applications from people with disability and will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.

Use the position description link below to access further information about the selection criteria for this role. You will need to submit complete responses to the selection criteria with your application, including providing examples where relevant. Please prepare these and submit each response when prompted in your online application submission.