Job description
Agency Department of Education and Training Work unit Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services
Job title Assistant Director School Counsellor Designation Senior Professional Officer 1
Job type Full time Duration Ongoing
Salary $132,408 - $147,919 Location Darwin
Position number 46034 RTF 351670 Closing 19/07/2026
Contact officer Maggie O’Sullivan, Director Client Services Programs on 0499 932 429 or [email protected]
About the agency www.education.nt.gov.au
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=351670
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss this
with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Primary objective
The Assistant Director School Counsellors manages a team of school counsellors providing a service to allocated government schools
across the Northern Territory. The position will coordinate and manage service delivery to schools to improve the wellbeing of students
through evidence-based interventions and will lead the team to establish strong school, family and community partnerships to maximise
student wellbeing and educational outcomes.
Context statement
Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services is part of Inclusion and Engagement Services, which provides differentiated support
services to reform inclusion and improve engagement and access to learning for children, students and communities. SWIPS provides advice,
guidance and support to clients and stakeholders to ensure all children and students are welcomed into an inclusive learning environment and
are able to engage effectively with education and learn to their full potential. Family Inclusive Practice is a key focus, fostering strong school,
family and community partnerships to enhance student wellbeing and success.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Manage a team of school counsellors across the Northern Territory and multiple school locations, including managing service
allocation, performance management, professional development and supervision requirements of the team.
2. Ensure service delivery is aligned with best practice standards, NTG frameworks and policies and other regional SWIPS service
delivery teams (using a common practice framework and service delivery model).
3. Develop and maintain close working relationships with school and system leaders to coordinate service planning and delivery to
ensure SWlPS services meet the demands of each school community.
4. Ensure the delivery of services is effectively monitored, measured and reported in accordance with departmental and NTG policies,
and relevant legislation, using data and insights to make decisions around differentiated support needs for service delivery
improvements.
Selection criteria
Essential
1. An approved social work qualification that meets the eligibility requirements with the Australian Association of Social Workers or
qualifications as a registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
2. Proven ability to lead and manage a team of school counsellors, and/or lead a team in the delivery of preventative, targeted and
individual practices, including complex case management and service delivery
3. Substantial working knowledge and understanding of current student wellbeing and counselling practices and trends nationally and
internationally, including the delivery of preventative, targeted and individual practices.
4. Exceptional collaborating and influencing skills, with the demonstrated ability to establish and sustain productive working
relationships across the region, and with other key internal and external stakeholders.
5. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse professional, cultural
and linguistic backgrounds, which includes ethnic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
6. Demonstrated initiative to improve service delivery, processes and programs, using data, to facilitate and drive improvement at a
system level, so as to maximise the wellbeing and educational outcomes of students.
7. Demonstrated ability to be innovative and champion new ways of working, including ability to manage complexity of multiple and
often competing task priorities.
Desirable
1. Membership with Australian Association of Social workers as an Accredited Supervisor or an Approved Supervisor with the Psychology
Board of Australia.
2. Experience working as a counsellor in a school setting, and/or with children and young people
Further information
Corporate conditions apply to this position. All applicants must hold a current Working with Children Notice (Ochre Card) from SAFE NT and
hold or be willing to obtain a current NT driver’s licence. The position is required to travel between schools and corporate offices in urban or
regional areas and visits may necessitate travel by four-wheel drive vehicle on unsealed roads or light aircraft and include overnight stays of
up to four days. Four-wheel drive training will be provided by the NT Department of Education and Training.
