Expressions of interest

Before completing this expression of interest, you must read our Information Pack and watch our Info Session.

Have you read the Counsellor Information Pack? If no, please read before proceeding. If yes, please type YES.

Have you watched the Recorded Info Session? If no, please watch before proceeding. If yes, type YES.

SECTION ONE: ABOUT YOU

Full name and pronouns

State you practice from

Phone

All therapists joining Rough Patch are required to have a Bachelors degree or post-graduate degree in counselling, psychotherapy, social work or psychology.

What is the title of your Bachelors degree?

At which university did you complete your Bachelors degree?

In which year did you graduate from your Bachelors degree?

Do you hold any other degrees? If yes, what is the title of your additional degree?

At which university did you complete your additional degree?

In which year did you graduate from your additional degree?

Do you hold any relevant post-graduate degrees or diplomas? If yes, what is the title of your additional degree or diploma?

At which institution did you complete your additional degree or diploma?

In which year did you graduate from your additional degree or diploma?

Rough Patch requires our therapists to have completed a clinical placement during their training.

Did you complete a clinical placement during your training?

At which organisation did you complete your clinical placement?

How many hours of individual counselling sessions did you provide during your placement?

How many hours of group therapy did you provide during your placement?

SECTION TWO: THERAPEUTIC APPROACH, COHORT AND COMPETENCIES

Rough Patch requires our therapists to be registered with an Australian professional association.

Which peak bodies are you registered with? (PACFA, ACA, AASW, AHPRA, etc)

What is your professional registration number/s?

How long have you been practicing as a talk therapist? This does not include case management; disability support work; financial counselling; life coaching; or social work where counselling is not a component of your practice.

How many client counselling hours have you completed since finishing your clinical placement? Please do not include your clinical placement hours.

Do you have a reliable high-speed internet connection; a quality webcam and microphone; and feel competent using video conferencing software such as Zoom or Google Meet?

Do you have a private, quiet space (away from pets, people and distractions) from which to conduct online counselling sessions and can you ensure client confidentiality in your workspace?

Are you comfortable troubleshooting basic technical issues and do you have a backup plan for technology failures during sessions?

ABOUT YOUR CLINICAL PRACTICE

What is your therapeutic stance? Please elaborate.

Do you have any specialty areas or client populations you prefer to work with?

Are there any clients you couldn’t or wouldn’t work with, either due to skill, experience or personal/moral reasons?

In your own words, what is intersectionality and how does it relate to counselling and your personal practice?

One of our Community of Practice values is non-defensiveness. This means being open to learning, feedback, and self-reflection; engaging in group supervision; considering diverse perspectives and theories; and challenging traditional ideas about mental health, especially around race, culture, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, and body liberation.

Please tell us how you practise self-reflection and non-defensiveness in your work, and how you manage receiving feedback. Please give an example.

Another of our values is an anti-oppressive stance, which encourages active and ongoing learning; self-reflection; bias awareness; and actively creating a safer counselling practice for diverse clients. We acknowledge the impacts of colonisation and traditional therapy harms and commit to ongoing learning. While expertise in all areas isn’t expected, undertaking specialised training and a commitment to continuous learning is essential.

Have you completed formal training in relation to anti-racism and cultural competency? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to anti-racism and cultural competency? If yes, please give details

Have you completed formal training in relation to homophobia and LGBTQIA+ literacy? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to anti-homophobia and LGBTQIA+ literacy? If yes, please give details

Have you completed formal training in relation to transphobia and gender literacy? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to transphobia and gender literacy? If yes, please give details

Have you completed formal training in relation to ableism, and mental or physical disability literacy? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to ableism, and mental or physical disability literacy? If yes, please give details.

Have you completed formal training in relation to fatphobia, accessibility for diverse bodies, and body liberation? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to fatphobia, accessibility for diverse bodies, and body liberation? If yes, please give details.

Have you completed formal training in relation to sex work and sex workers? If yes, please give details of the training provider, date and length of training.

Have you conducted self-directed learning in relation to sex work and sex workers? If yes, please give details.

Have you worked in private practice before?

Have you worked in NGO’s, charities or non-profit counselling services before?

Do you have experience with FaCS/DCJ reports, family court matters, court appearances, report writing for court, subpoenas and subpoena redactions? Do you feel comfortable managing FaCS reports, requests for subpoenas, or court reports if Rough Patch management are not urgently available to support you with this?

Do you have the requisite training and experience to manage DCJ reports, requests for subpoenas, or court reports without assistance?

Have you completed formal training to understand your mandatory reporting requirements, and do you feel comfortable using the mandatory reporting guide/decision tree and making mandatory reports without guidance from Rough Patch management?

Yes, I have completed formal training in mandatory reporting and DO feel confident using the decision tree to determine whether to make a report Yes, I have completed training but DO NOT feel confident using the guide or making a report, and would need support from a supervisor to do so No, I have not completed formal training Other

Have you completed formal training to understand domestic and family violence, and do you feel confident you can recognise and respond to D&FV?

Yes, I have completed formal training in domestic and family violence, and DO feel confident recognising and responding Yes, I have completed formal training but DO NOT feel confident recognising or responding without support from a supervisor No, I have not completed formal training Other

Have you completed formal training to understand suicide prevention, and do you feel confident you can recognise and respond to suicidal risk?

Yes, I have completed formal training in suicide prevention, and DO feel confident recognising and responding Yes, I have completed formal training but DO NOT feel confident recognising or responding without support from a supervisor No, I have not completed formal training Other

SECTION THREE: ABOUT ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING AND PRIVATE PRACTICE

Marketing and promotion is essential in private practice. While Rough Patch generates referrals, counsellors must also engage in marketing and community outreach. We’ll help you create a plan that fits your strengths—are you willing to execute it with our support?

Are you comfortable being featured in Rough Patch marketing materials, on our website, on our social media pages, and other places we promote the service?

We use technology and online resources for most of our work. We rely on Slack, Google Drive, Google Meet and Zoom for communication and reporting. We rarely use email. Are you comfortable with these tools, or willing to learn through self-directed resources such as video tutorials, etc?

You can decide your own working hours, but please indicate your predicted availability. Keep in mind you will receive more enquiries if you have greater availability, as this will be indicated on your profile.

Peer support is central to our Community of Practice. Counsellors both give and receive support with management and each other, strengthening us all as therapists. Attending a minimum of 6 Community of Practice meetings or training sessions per year is a contractual obligation, but we encourage you to attend as many as possible. Can you commit to monthly meetings (Wednesdays 6.30pm-8.30pm AEST) and quarterly training (quarterly Sundays 11am-3pm)?