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Rehabilitation Counsellor

State/Territory Specific Information

Rehabilitation counsellors assist people with disabilities to attain individual rehabilitation goals, such as returning to paid employment.

Rehabilitation counsellors may perform the following tasks:

  • counsel clients adjusting to disability
  • undertake comprehensive assessment of the client's vocational, social, medical, personal and psychological needs in order to develop an individual rehabilitation plan
  • plan, develop, implement and monitor individual client rehabilitation programs, making sure that appropriate services are provided within these programs
  • refer clients for medical examinations and psychological or psychiatric evaluations
  • use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to assess a client's particular interests, abilities, skills, motivation, attitude, values and knowledge in order to establish goals
  • provide vocational counselling services to clients with disabilities
  • use labour market information when making decisions about a client's vocational choices
  • arrange formal or on-the-job training for clients in line with their rehabilitation goals
  • check a client's progress in training or employment phases of the rehabilitation program
  • evaluate the effectiveness of redeployment and recommend further action
  • manage the placement of clients into suitable paid employment or back into the community after coordinating the client's required training
  • negotiate and manage a gradual return or introduction to a job to ensure a smooth transition
  • talk to insurance companies, medical practitioners and other professionals to ensure all parties are consulted regarding the client's individual rehabilitation program
  • provide an information and advisory service to organisations assisting people with disabilities.

Rehabilitation counsellors work as case managers and may be part of a team comprising medical, therapy and related rehabilitation personnel.

Personal Requirements:

  • good communication skills
  • good problem-solving skills
  • a supportive and tactful approach to people's problems
  • able to work independently or as part of a team.

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