Coaching and counselling

As a career counsellor your tasks may include:

• helping students develop career skills such as career self-management and lifelong learning
• developing networks and liaising with key internal stakeholders
• researching, developing, promoting and conducting group career development workshops and seminars on a range of career and employment-related topics
• researching, developing and designing a range of innovative digital or print-based resources to meet the needs of students, clients and stakeholders
• contacting external stakeholders, such as employers, alumni, community organisations or professional bodies to give informed advice to students across a range of disciplines.

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

• demonstrated high-level organisational skills and the ability to be self-motivated and proactive, to work independently or as a member of a small team
• ability to develop and implement tailored career education workshops, seminars and/or lectures
• ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds as well as members of the wider business community in a range of written, verbal and digital formats.

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

• tertiary degree and the completion of a relevant graduate certificate. This is consistent with the requirements of the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners
• relevant experience in the careers field, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

Career counsellors typically work in educational settings, including high schools, TAFE and universities. They also sometimes work within government departments such as Jobs Victoria, large organisations (generally in the private sector) and within recruitment agencies.

As a rehabilitation counsellor your tasks may include:

• proactively managing a portfolio of severely injured clients within a specialist team to achieve optimal client outcomes
• identifying barriers for clients to return to health and/or return to work and implementing strategies to overcome these
• developing holistic individualised plans and setting expectations
• presenting at various forums (e.g. court proceedings, conferences, seminars) to provide information, community education and specialist knowledge
• communicating effectively with key stakeholders
• visiting and meeting with clients, their families and treatment teams.

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

• an understanding of the Victorian Workers Compensation and ComCare legislation
• ability to conduct vocational assessments and develop return-to-work plans
• excellent written and negotiation skills
• strong time-management skills
• strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build long-lasting, profitable business relationships.

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

• registered psychologist or rehabilitation counsellor with accreditation
• counselling course or undergraduate units in counselling, including HPY210
• experience with the occupational rehabilitation sector
• experience in case management of injured workers and performing assessments
• experience volunteering with a community organisation
• Police Check.

There's a range of possible employers in this field both in the public and private sectors. One of the largest organisations is the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

As a telephone/digital counsellor your tasks may include:

• providing client-centred telephone and online counselling to individuals on a range of issues, including:
  • grief/trauma
  • depression/mental illness
  • alcohol and substance abuse
  • gambling/financial support
  • child protection
  • family/domestic violence
  • sexual assault
  • men's issues
  • issues relating to people who are gender/sexually diverse
• providing telephone counselling and online text chat services in crisis situations, for example, suicide intervention
• helping individuals access services
• assessing and referring callers
• working closely with other services to provide a holistic service to individuals
• participating in occupational health and safety processes
• working in a team environment.

The skills and experience that will help get you started in this role include:

• interpersonal skills such as active listening
• skills in referral – ascertaining what services a person needs and how they might get them
• ability to follow the policies, procedures and programs of the organisation
• excellent communication skills, including the ability to build relationships and gain trust
• high level of resilience and self-awareness.

For this role you'll need qualifications and requirements that include:

• qualifications in counselling, social work, psychology or relevant experience in the field
• Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling
• counselling course or undergraduate units in counselling, including HPY210
• experience volunteering with a community organisation
• Police Check.

There are a large number of providers which provide telephone and online counselling support.  This also includes specialist providers who can provide support related to specific issues. Examples include:

• 1800 RESPECT
• Gambler’s Help Victoria
• Lifeline
• Rainbow Door
• Yarning Safe and Strong.