Young Carer Art Therapist (Young Carer Wellbeing Hub)
Career Description
We’re Little Dreamers, Australia’s leading non-profit organisation working with Young Carers around the country.
A Young Carer is anyone under the age of 25 who currently provides, or intends to provide, care in their family for a parent or sibling who has a chronic illness, mental illness, disability or addiction.
Our team is made up of incredible humans working across VIC, NSW, QLD. We are humble, hungry, kind and work hard to reach our goals. We believe in a world where every single Young Carer is supported by someone or something by 2030. Sounds fun right?!
By joining the Dream Team, you will play an integral part in supporting young people who often miss out on having a childhood.
The Young Carer Wellbeing Hub
We are thrilled to announce the establishment of our Wellbeing Hub, an initiative designed to provide essential mental health support to Young Carers in our community. The Young Carer Wellbeing Hub has been designed to provide a safe, judgment-free environment to enable our community to receive therapeutic support across a range of services. With an emphasis on client-centred therapy, our clinicians are trained to provide specialised support for Young Carers, and to educate the wider community on the nuances of caring and its impact.
About the Role
As a Young Carer Art Therapist, you will be providing therapeutic support through the medium of creative arts for a vulnerable group of young people, who are experiencing a wide array of mental health challenges in addition to the impact of their caring role on their wellbeing. Each day will include delivering therapeutic sessions for Young Carers, both individual and group, and in-person and telehealth.
As a Young Carer Art Therapist you will provide client-centred therapeutic services that support emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of Young Carers through the use of creative arts. This role will engage Young Carers face to face, and complete intakes either over the phone, online or in-person. Art Therapists will also have the opportunity to develop group programs, work collaboratively within a team of mental health professionals and engage in personal and professional development such as receiving clinical supervision.
Core Responsibilities
Counselling Delivery (70%)
- Provide client centred therapeutic services to Young Carers using a variety of art materials and techniques to support therapeutic goals, including individual and group therapy;
- Conduct intake assessments to understand understand client’s needs, develop individualised treatment plans, determine and advise group allocation based on client’s goals, and evaluate the progress of therapy using art-based techniques and clinical assessments
- Assist in the development of ongoing group programs designed to employ young people with the necessary skills to support their emotional wellbeing through the medium of art
- Utilise a person-centred and therapeutic approach that puts the client and their needs and preferences at the centre of all practice, and empowers the Young Carer to make decisions and take action where necessary;
- Utilise a flexible application of clinical therapies with demonstrated efficacy; and
- Conduct regular assessments of the wellbeing needs of Young Carers.
Session Management and Administration (15%)
- Communicate all session allocation (individual or group) information to Young Carers and their families as required;
- Regularly communicate with Young Carers participating in therapy regarding engagement and attendance; and
- Input all necessary information into Cliniko, maintaining accurate, confidential client records.
Data Analysis, Reporting and Community Engagement (15%)
- Provide psychoeducation for clients, families and various stakeholders about the benefits of art therapy in enhancing mental health, resilience and wellbeing;
- Build and maintain strong relationships with community organisations, support groups, and stakeholders to enhance the reach and impact of The YCWH; and
- Collaborate with our small team to deliver tailored effective treatment.
Key Selection Criteria
- Qualification in Art Therapy (preferred), psychology or counselling
- Minimum of three years experience in direct service provision with associated skills in the provision of a high standard of care coordination and group work for young people
- Fully registered psychologist with The Australian New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association or relevant mental health practitioner accreditation body in line with applicants qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate individual and group based therapeutic art programs for people with a diverse range of mental illnesses, both neurotypical and neurodiverse
- Experience working in community services, allied health, or carer/family peer positions
- Thorough understanding of the caring role, and evidence based, best-practice carer supports that enable carers to sustain their caring role, and enhance their own wellbeing and identity
- Experience in coordinating responsive individualised supports for Young Carers
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of carer programs and supports, as well as considerable knowledge of youth support programs
- Organisational and interpersonal skills, e.g. negotiation, problem solving capacity, communication and organisational and planning skills
Desirable skills and qualities:
- Lived experience of being a Young Carer
- Understanding of and commitment to Young Carer issues and needs
- Understanding of the not-for-profit sector
* Please include experiences within community and volunteer positions, we value your community contributions.
Successful application will be subject to a Working with Children Check and National Police Check
Benefits
When you join the Little Dreamers Team, you join a community of people committed to making a difference. We come together with shared values, passion and a collaborative culture. We are a rapidly growing organisation with access to a lot of development opportunities. We operate within a leadership structure that accepts and embraces everyone’s ideas and hard work to create the world that we want to see for Young Carers.
You also get access to salary sacrifice packaging, internal EAP program, up to 10 days of paid carers leave, and generous parental leave packages.
Application Process
Please email your application to careers@littledreamers.org.au, using the subject line: Young Carer Art Therapist
Please include the following:
- Responses to demonstrate your experience with each of the Key Selection Criteria
- Your CV including two referees
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed before the closing date or during the following week. Applicants who are not selected for an interview will be notified by email.
Have questions? We prefer enquiries via email to careers@littledreamers.org.au due to the volume of calls we receive from applicants.
Classification
This position is classified as a Level 3 or 4 (dependant on experience), fixed term contract, part time employee (15.2 hours per week) under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020.
