Helpline Counsellor

As a volunteer Youthline Counsellor, you will be supporting young people by phone, text and web‑chat for a three hour shift, three times per month (minimum).

This is a fantastic opportunity for supporting young people, and fabulous for your own personal and professional development. Full training and ongoing support is provided.*

Youthline Wairau is supported by Youthline Central South Island.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Must have good listening and engagement skills with young people.
• Able to act professionally.
• Can show warmth, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and a non‑judgmental attitude.
• Be able to refrain from giving your own opinions or suggestions.
• Have some life experience.
• Cares about NZ Rangatahi.

* note: TRAINING
If you're already trained as a counsellor then you can miss our training. You will still be required to go through our mentoring process until you feel comfortable to manage a shift yourself.

Be able to attend a training weekend in Christchurch in February 2025 (we'll pay your petrol, and provide accommodation), plus ongoing training for the next 6 weeks, likely delivered largely online with support from mentors.

Training dates:
Please only apply if you can make all the training dates below and make Youthline a prime commitment of one (3 hour) session each week for at least the next two years. (time off is allowed).

Flexibility in hours is a requirement. After training you are mentored for eight months at times that suit our mentors. If you can do evenings you'll be okay, otherwise need a lot of flexibility.

Once you are passed by your mentors, you can pick your own shifts between 8 am and 12 midnight.

Must be able to commit to two years at the Youthline Centre you start at. Shifts are done at the Centre.

Note:

references only provided after completing your two years commitment.

• Online counselling course opens 1 June 2025. It is approximately 3.5 hours a week for seven weeks.
• Six evening practice sessions (6:30 to 9 pm) from Tuesday 25

Please be assured that all applications are treated as confidential and only members of our training and selection team will see them.

A Police background check is required for this role.

This is a significant commitment; one 3 hour shift, three times per month, for a minimum of two years.

The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below. We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.

Apply at