1800RESPECT Specialist Counsellor

54 reasons has been delivering the federally-funded 1800RESPECT service since 2022, and is proud to be working collaboratively with Telstra Health. We’re looking for passionate, dedicated telephone counsellors who will share our values of trauma-informed, child-centred domestic and family violence practice. 

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.  

A place where your purpose matters. Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.

With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers, advocating with them so that children develop, learn, and are connected, safe and confident. Our people are proudly local, reflective of the communities we serve - in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities.

It takes all types of personalities and talents to drive our organisation– yours included. We value a healthy work-life balance and ensure our people feel connected to each other and our impact. Learn from inspiring people and grow from a connection to our strong local and global networks. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose. 

A place to make a difference: 

Here you’re empowered to make a difference in children’s lives by learning, sharing and collaborating to find new ways to solve problems. 

In these part time max-term 6 month roles, with strong potential for extension, based remotely working from home, you’ll work as part of the 24/7 national 1800RESPECT telephone counselling service, providing specialised trauma counselling services to those whose lives have been impacted by domestic and family, sexual assault, and/or workplace sexual harassment.

Hours for these roles are flexible – we’re open to 3-4 shifts (generally 7.5-10 hours each) per week, though you must work a minimum of 6 shifts per fortnight. Shifts are negotiated across a 24/7 roster, based on the requirements of a national roster which is structured around demand for support, your preferences, and the preferences of other Counsellors.

You will make an impact by:

• Providing short term specialist therapeutic counselling support, psycho education, and referrals
• Establishing caller safety, building rapport and identifying best pathways for support
• Working within a national framework based on knowledge of best practice principles

A place to feel valued:

Your deep expertise in counselling or social work, and your high levels of resilience and excellent self-care practices, are invaluable. We recognise your contribution and provide you the support to ensure you can bring your best, knowing here you have the space and opportunity to grow.

This role requires:

• A tertiary qualification (of minimum 3 years duration) in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, or relevant field
• Minimum 3 years counselling experience, preferably including support for people impacted by DFV and SA (telephone counselling advantageous)
• Eligibility for professional membership of ACA, PACFA, AASW or AHPRA
• Understanding of federal and state-based legislation including child protection legislation relevant to service delivery
• Strong IT skills to work across online phone systems 
• Willingness to work shiftwork on a 24/7 roster, including overnight (at least once per fortnight) and on weekends

A place to belong: 

54 reasons is proudly part of Save the Children Australia. We are a learning organisation that invests in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 1100 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.

It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including: 

• Award rate salary ($52.10 per hour) plus penalty rates as applicable
• Full salary packaging benefits – use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you!
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program 
• Celebrate and feel supported in your diversity. We have a highly inclusive culture and diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve, allowing you to bring your whole self to work (if that’s what you want!).

Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits. 

Does this sound like the place for you? 

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below. 

Your cover letter should address all following screening questions:

• Do you hold, or are you eligible to hold, professional membership with any of the following governing bodies? ACA, PACFA, AASW or AHPRA? If yes, please provide a copy of your membership as part of your application.
• Do you have a current positive Working with Children’s Check?
• How many hours per fortnight are you seeking ideally?
• Can you please describe your availability across a 24/7 roster? Please be specific about requirements, e.g. which days/times you are definitely not available, which days/times would you prefer
• Do you live in an area with a 4G network?

Position Description – Specialist Counsellor 1800RESPECT

For more information about this position, please contact Deb Feltus on people.culture@savethechildren.org.com - Applications or for more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page.  

Applications close Sunday 28^th June 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they come in, so don’t delay in applying!

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs. 

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. You can read about the Scheme and our commitment to Safeguarding here. 

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.

If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact people.culture@savethechildren.org.au for further support.