DFSV Counsellor

As our Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV) Counsellor, you’ll work alongside women and families navigating the impacts of domestic, family, and sexual violence. Together, we help women and children find safety, reclaim agency, and take the first steps toward a life they define for themselves. 

This is a part-time role (19 hours per week) offers genuine flexibility with real purpose. Designed for an experienced counsellor who wants to contribute meaningfully without compromising their own sustainability.

Your opportunity to make an Impact: 

You’ll join our Counselling and DFV Crisis Team, a close-knit group of experienced practitioners, who show up for each other as much as we show up for their clients. 

You’ll deliver trauma-informed and survivor-centred face to face counselling, risk assessment, and crisis support to survivors. The role requires a deep commitment to human rights, gender equity, cultural safety, and the ongoing professional and ethical standards set by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. 

This part-time role of 19 hours per week offers hybrid working (face-to-face counselling sessions required) and flexible hours and is based in Western Sydney.  

You won’t do this work alone. We provide external clinical supervision with specialist DFSV expertise, a defined maximum of sessions per week that protects your capacity, and strong leadership in a certified Great Place to Work organisation. 

Making a difference daily: Your role 

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial intake assessments, risk screenings, and ongoing counselling sessions with survivors of DFSV. 

• Apply validated risk assessment tools (e.g., DVSAT) and develop individualised, actionable safety plans with survivors. 

• Deliver trauma-informed, evidence-based therapeutic modalities including Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, and/or Duluth Model approaches. 

• Provide immediate crisis intervention and emotional stabilisation for clients presenting in acute distress or danger. 

• Identify and connect survivors with specialist services (legal aid, housing, financial counselling, health, police, and immigration support) through warm referrals and collaborative handovers. 

• Fulfil mandatory reporting obligations under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW). 

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential client records in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements. 

• Bring cultural safety to every client interaction, with particular care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, CALD, and LGBTQIA+ clients. 

• Participate in regular clinical supervision, team case review, and sector-relevant professional development. 

What you’ll bring to the role: 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor or postgraduation qualification in Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related human services field (essential) 

• Current membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) at Level 2 or above, or equivalent professional registration (AASW or AHPRA) (essential) 

• Training in validated risk assessment tools such as the Domestic Violence Safety Assessment Tool (DVSAT) (desirable) 

• Additional postgraduate qualification in counselling, social work, or a DFSV-specific field (desirable) 

Skills and Experience: 

• Demonstrated experience providing counselling to individuals affected by trauma, domestic violence, or complex psychosocial needs. 

• Sound knowledge of DFSV dynamics, including the gendered drivers and impacts of violence. 

• Experience conducting risk assessments and developing safety plans with survivors, including children and young people. 

• Ability to work effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities. 

• Experience with CALD communities and/or LGBTQIA+ clients (desirable) 

• Experience within a specialist DFSV service, refuge, or crisis setting (desirable) 

• Established self-care practices and a genuine commitment to reflective practice, because doing this work well means looking after yourself. 

Mandatory Licenses: 

• Unrestricted NSW Driver Licence. 

• Valid Working with Children Check (WWCC). 

• National Police Check (conducted in final part of recruitment process). 

As we are an organisation that supports and services women and children, to be female is a genuine requirement for the position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.  

Life at DVSM: 

Domestic Violence NSW Service Management (DVSM) is a registered charity which aims to prevent and support recovery from Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and homelessness.  

Our vision is a world where women, families and communities live free from violence, have equal rights, opportunities, and the freedom to reach their potential.   

Our values aren’t a checklist. They’re how we show up every day. 

• Person Centred – We listen and embrace diversity to support our clients to define and achieve their own goals. 

• Excellence – We exceed expectations and bring professionalism and evidence-based practice to every program and service we deliver. 

• Respect – We stay open-minded and non-judgmental, in every interaction. 

• Integrity – We are ethical, transparent, and accountable – to our communities and to each other. 

What DVSM offers you: 

• Work that fits your life – We offer genuine flexibility in how you structure your hours, because we know that great work happens when your role works for you. 

• Specialist clinical supervision – Access to an external supervisor with specialist DFSV expertise, so the support you receive matches the complexity and depth of the work you do. 

• A certified Great Place to Work – We hold Great Place to Work® certification across multiple years, backed by strong leadership and a culture we’ve built together over time. 

• Not-for-profit salary packaging – Reduce your tax and increase your take-home pay through NFP salary packaging. We’ll connect you with everything you need to get started. 

• Time to genuinely recharge – Monthly wellbeing leave, plus up to five additional leave days each financial year you complete with us. Both are pro-rata for part-time hours. 

• Grow with purpose – A dedicated learning management system, an annual Learning and Development budget, structured goal-setting, and both internal and external professional supervision. Your growth is part of how we grow together. 

For more information about who we are and what we do, please visit our website www.dvnswsm.org.au.  

If this role resonates with your purpose and expertise, we strongly encourage your application. Please submit your latest CV and a Cover Letter. 

Write your cover letter in your own voice. It should reflect your genuine passion and detail the specific experience and qualities you’ll bring to this role.