Catholic Schools is currently seeking a Temporary School Counsellor / Psychologist to join the team in February on a 0.5FTE basis.
We’re looking for someone to work 0.5 FTE, ideally covering Wednesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays, with final days to be confirmed with the successful candidate.
About the Role
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Provide counselling and psychological support to students.
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Work collaboratively with school staff to address barriers to learning.
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Support the wellbeing and development of children and young people across the school community.
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Be part of a professional team employed by the Catholic Schools Office and allocated to schools within the Diocese.
Why Join Us?
For more than 180 years, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle have offered families a nurturing, encouraging, and safe environment for their children to learn, achieve, and grow from Kindergarten to Year 12.
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Meaningful impact: Help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
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Supportive community: Work within a values-driven Catholic education system.
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Professional collaboration: Join a team of counsellors and psychologists dedicated to student wellbeing.
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Rewarding environment: Every school has access to a School Counsellor, ensuring your role is valued and essential.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The role of School Counsellor / School Psychologist aims to assist school communities to support students in achieving educational success and social-emotional wellbeing by:
- working collaboratively with students, school staff, families, and communities to enable students to reach both educational and social-emotional outcomes through proactive and reactive strategies
- providing expertise in mental health, child development, and education and learning
- providing consultation, assessment, and intervention that assist school communities to support students to achieve academic success, psychological health and social and emotional well-being and respond to the educational and wellbeing needs of their students:
- individual assessments
- personal counselling
- behaviour management interventions
- consultation
- professional development for teachers and parents
All School Counsellors / School Psychologists will be supported with ongoing professional learning and networking opportunities to improve their knowledge and professional capacity. Professional Practice and Development processes for the role of School Counsellor / School Psychologist will be established in consultation with the Coordinator: Counselling Team. These will include feedback mechanisms from Principals and relevant CSO and school staff.
EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA
- Eligible for employment with the Catholic Schools Office Maitland Newcastle
- Experience in assessment of psychological & educational needs and provision of evidence-based counselling interventions for school aged students
- Experience in providing expert advice to schools on mental health, child & adolescent development, education, and learning
- Respect for the mission of Catholic schooling in the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative, respectful and productive relationships with key school and community partners
- Demonstrated knowledge of local community agencies including referral pathways
- Excellent organisational, communication and IT skills,
- Previous experience of working within a school setting (Desirable)
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 4-year degree in psychology, social work or counselling. Psychologists must be registered with AHPRA.
- Current drivers’ licence
- Current Working with Children's Check (WWCC) clearance
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Salary is in accordance with Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Employees Enterprise Agreement 2019.
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US
- Work in quality schools where students are nurtured, challenged and encouraged to excel and grow
- A corporate fitness program through Fitness Passport
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Training and staff development programs
- Paid parental leave for eligible employees
- Access to long service leave after just five years for eligible employees.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Vanessa Petersen, Leader, School Counselling on vanessa.petersen@mn.catholic.edu.au
TO APPLY, CLICK ON THE APPLY BUTTON BELOW AND
- Please provide a cover letter along with your resume
- Within your cover letter address each of the selection criteria as listed under EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA above and ensure your response to each criteria is no longer than 300 words.
Please note, not adequately addressing the selection criteria may result in your application not being shortlisted.
Applications close: Tuesday 27 January 2026 at 11.59pm
Additional information
The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a child safe organisation, committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons and has zero-tolerance of any abuse. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and comply with our Safeguarding Framework Policy and Codes of Conduct.
This position has been determined as child related and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will be verifying the successful applicant’s Working with Children Check for Paid Employment prior to commencing working in the position. For more information, please visit the NSW Office of Children’s Guardian.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children
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