• Key mission-driven opportunity
• Create a supportive ongoing formation culture
• Part-time role, 2-3 days per week, based in Homebush

About the Seminary of the Good Shepherd

The Seminary of the Good Shepherd (Seminary) is the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney’s inter-diocesan community of vocational discernment where men, who desire to be priests, come for formation. The formation program is designed to help each seminarian discern his vocation by growing in his self-awareness and generosity in response to the love of Christ. The program, which continues for seven years, focuses on the formation of the human, spiritual, pastoral and academic dimensions.

The Seminary is seeking a seasoned professional with a developed understanding of human development and the dynamics of the human person, as well as a demonstrated capacity to help people grow in affective maturity, to take up the role of Director of Counselling Services.

About the Opportunity

As Director of Counselling Services (Director), you will collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure the Seminary provides the foundation for each seminarian’s overall priestly formation.

Reporting to the Rector of the Seminary, the Director provides counselling for the seminarians, accompanies them on their journey of formation and encourages them to assimilate the formation program to his own personal and pastoral experience.

With a strong focus on the human dimension, the Director works with teaching staff, the Seminary psychologist and other internal and external stakeholders to facilitate each seminarian’s interior transformation and foundational growth in pastoral identity and cultural sensitivity.

This is a part-time role, working 2-3 days per week. There is some flexibility around how those days and hours are to be worked. The role is based at Homebush.

About You

You will bring five or more years’ experience in a similar senior role, and an understanding of, or a willingness to deepen your understanding, of the vocation and ministry of priests.

The Director of Counselling Services will ideally possess the following Key Requirements:

• A personal commitment to the teachings, values, ethos, and mission of the Catholic Church.
• Graduate qualifications and accreditation in counselling or psychology.

• An understanding of human development and the dynamics of the human person and of groups, with insights into the process of formation for the Priesthood is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate across a variety of people and platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and empathy.

• High level of discretion and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Proven ability to manage a broad stakeholder base and to work collaboratively to achieve specific goals.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong, positive and effective working relationships.

Enquiries and Application Process

For a confidential discussion and to obtain a copy of the Position Description please contact Anthony Spata at Reach HR on 0402 210 055 or [email protected].

Applications should include a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter must include how your skills, knowledge, experience and personal attributes align with the Key Requirements of the role as outlined above under the heading About You.

Applications close 30 September 2025, however, applications will be assessed and progressed as they are received.

Additional Requirements

The Archdiocese is wholly committed to ensuring the safety, well-being and dignity of all children and adults at risk, and acknowledges its important legal, moral and spiritual responsibility to create a safe and nurturing environment for those children and adults at risk. The Archdiocese has a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse.

Additionally, the Archdiocese is committed to continuous improvement to assess and address the risk of modern slavery in its operations and supply chains and to report annually on these actions in the form of a Modern Slavery Statement.