We are seeking applicants for the position of Gambling Counsellor. This position is to be based in Dubbo, NSW. And can be either Full time or part time.
Applicant must be prepared to travel to areas such as the Broken Hill and Bourke areas.
Please send a cover letter of no more than 2 pages with your resume to special@lifelinecentralwest.org.au. Closing Date: 15 August 2025
The GambleAware Program (GAP) provides support/guidance and access to services for those experiencing or at risk of Gambling harm and those affected by other people’s gambling. We support clients to address immediate distress caused by gambling and financial hardship and to support them to make decisions about their future. A recovery focused and harm minimisation model will be offered to all clients and their affected others. Service provision will offer a welcoming, hopeful, empathic environment that is strengths-based, family-inclusive, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented.
You will support clients and their families with gambling issues/addictions to enable them to rebuild their lives and work through their gambling addiction. This will include local travel to deliver outreach services.
Reporting to the Team Manager and undertaking supervision, you are responsible for providing online, telephone, and face-to-face Gambling counselling support to address distress caused by gambling. You will be responsible for monitoring and managing your caseload. You will exercise initiative and professional judgment as part of your daily work. You will be energized to participate in teamwork to ensure workflows, clinical governance, compliance, and service delivery are part of your deliverables. You are a people person with an understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice. You have great interpersonal skills in communicating effectively with your clients, providing support to help them deal with gambling addictions/crisis, and connect to other support services.
The following are the key requirements for the Gambling Counsellor position. Please address each requirement in your cover letter and/or resume, as your responses will form the basis for selection criteria assessment:
* Demonstrated ability to manage and support your own caseload of clients, providing Gambling Counselling services through face-to-face, online, and telephone modalities.
* Capacity to support clients and their families to access a range of referral pathways to other services and resources as appropriate.
* Experience in maintaining accurate and up-to-date client case notes and completion of all necessary documentation in accordance with legislative, GambleAware, and Regional Employee Support Ltd requirements.
* Willingness to participate in community engagement activities and contribute to outreach services through local travel, particularly in areas such as Broken Hill and Bourke.
* Active participation in our Community of Practice and Clinical Governance committee activities to ensure ongoing professional development and service improvement.
* Ability to work in a culturally appropriate manner, particularly with First Nations Communities, reflecting understanding and respect for cultural diversity.
* Experience requirements include, for example, at least two years of addiction and/or gambling counselling, and work experience with Indigenous Peoples would be considered an asset.
* Relevant qualifications for Gambling Counselling as outlined by industry bodies and compliant with current NSW OLGR requirements (counsellors are required to maintain their qualifications and professional currency).
* Strong understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice, with the ability to provide empathic, strengths-based, family-inclusive, and recovery-oriented support to clients experiencing or at risk of gambling harm.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively support clients in crisis, help them connect with other services, and work collaboratively as part of a professional team.
Your application should clearly demonstrate how you meet each of these requirements, as this information will be used to determine your suitability for shortlisting and progression in the recruitment process.
Qualifications
The required qualifications that Regional Employee Support Ltd have adopted are developed by our industry bodies and may change from time to time. The pathways listed below are currently valid but may change, all counsellors are required to maintain their currency in-line with NSW OLGR requirements.
Counsellor Qualifications for Gambling Counselling
As part of the Responsible Gambling Funds (RGF) minimum qualification program for problem gambling counsellors, the following pathways have been developed to ensure the recognition of a range of relevant qualifications and to provide flexibility in meeting these minimum standards.
These revised minimum qualification pathways consist of 4 separate pathways to meet the minimum standard for current problem gambling counsellors.
Pathway 1 – Problem gambling counsellors with a post-graduate qualification in problem gambling counselling
Problem gambling counsellors meeting Pathway 1 will not be required to undertake recognition of prior learning or further training.
Pathway 2 – Problem gambling counsellors with:
* professional membership with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board, the Australian Association of Social Workers, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists or the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia; OR
* one of the following qualifications
Master’s or higher qualification in Clinical Psychology,
Bachelor or higher qualification in Counselling,
Bachelor of higher qualification in Social Work; OR
* a relevant degree (eg psychology, social studies, welfare, nursing, theology, education) majoring in counselling; OR
* a relevant degree (eg psychology, social studies, welfare, nursing, theology, education) and a diploma or higher qualification in counselling
Problem gambling counsellors meeting Pathway 2 will be required to complete the three problem gambling counselling competencies through either recognition of prior learning or further training.
Pathway 3 – Problem gambling counsellors with a relevant degree (eg psychology, social studies, welfare, nursing, theology, education)
Problem gambling counsellors meeting Pathway 3 will be required to complete the three problem gambling counselling competencies and five counselling competencies through either recognition of prior learning or further training. Recognition of prior learning is advised only for workers with two or more years’ experience in counselling.
Pathway 4 – Problem gambling counsellors without relevant degree
Problem gambling counsellors meeting Pathway 4 will be required to complete a relevant Diploma (eg. Financial counselling, welfare, counselling)
Problem gambling counsellors meeting Pathway 4 will be required to complete the three problem gambling counselling competencies through either recognition of prior learning or further training.
Salary is from $80,000 - $87,000 depending on qualifications and experience.