This recruitment pool will run for a period of 12 months and may be used to fill ongoing permanent opportunities.

Currently, there are 13 permanent positions available for immediate filling.

About the role 

The roles offer a diverse range of work opportunities including psychological intervention to high-risk violent offenders, sexual offenders, and offenders with violent extremism concerns. Other opportunities include court report writing, risk of reoffending assessments, and providing consultation and liaison support to staff who manage offenders in the community and custody. This is a rare opportunity for Psychologists with strong clinical skills seeking to establish or expand their career within the forensic space. The roles are challenging and very rewarding.

Forensic intervention services are provided to offenders in the community or custody who are referred to the service as part of a court imposed order, release order, or treatment assessment. Intervention is targeted at reducing the risk of reoffending to enhance community safety. Psychologists providing individual intervention work closely with the Community Corrections Officers who case manage offenders.

Forensic assessment services are provided to offenders either in custody or the community to inform risk management, as well as identify criminogenic treatment needs. Assessments are carried out for offenders who have committed offences of a serious nature and received terms of life or indeterminate sentences. They are also conducted for offenders who are deemed to be an unacceptable risk to the community and are considered under the High Risk Serious Offenders Act 2020. Forensic assessment clinicians may be required to provide evidence in court.

Suitability Requirements 

Through the recruitment process, we will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate skills, experience and attributes in relation to the following:

Essential Criteria

• The ability to provide specialist consultant advice.
• A demonstrated ability to undertake a range of advanced psychological assessments and interventions associated with offending behaviour, in accordance with psychological principles and theories of offending behaviour.
• The ability to develop and undertake research of a clinical, applied and evaluative nature.
• The ability to conduct work independently, while also contributing to disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to develop, contribute to and provide staff training and development.
• The capacity to coordinate, support and assist professional colleagues as required.
• The capacity to contribute to policy development.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide supervision to Psychologists.

Job Related Requirements

• Shapes and Manages Strategy - The ability to; understand the Department’s objectives and links to the whole-of government agenda, understand the strategic direction and objectives of the business unit and the factors that may impact on work plans and operational goals, scan the environment to monitor priorities and keep self and other stakeholders informed on critical factors and issues, think laterally, be innovative, identify and work collaboratively to overcome challenges and implement reform program initiatives are important for this role.
•  Achieve Results - The ability to; evaluate project/program performance, identify areas of improvement and initiate changes to ensure positive outcomes, deal positively with uncertainty and cope in a changing environment, able to determine appropriate actions despite a lack of clarity, a focus on quality, adherence to current procedures and managing projects to completion within a set timeframe are fundamental to this role.
• Builds Productive Relationships - The capacity to network effectively in order to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders, team members and other staff in the agency, to actively listen to staff, colleagues and stakeholders involved in the reform program and encourage engagement and contribution to the process is a requirement for this role.
• Exemplifies Personal Integrity and Self-Awareness - A demonstrated; high level of personal commitment to integrity, professionalism, probity and personal development; adherence to the Code of Conduct; ability to constructively challenge issues, discuss alternatives to progress issues, meet objectives, follow up to finalise work, maintain a positive outlook. Engage with risk by providing impartial and clear advice, constructively challenging issues and proposing solutions. Actively identifies potential risk issues and reports to management.
• Communicates and Influences Effectively - A demonstrated ability to present messages confidently and persuasively and to successfully listen, understand and adapt to a range of audiences is a requirement for this role.

The suitability requirements outlined will be what the panel will assess throughout the selection process.  

Eligibility

Qualifications 

• Applicants are required to have an accredited Masters or Doctorate in Psychology or equivalent qualification approved by the Psychology Board of Australia and general registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, with endorsement in an approved area of practice (Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychology).

• All applicants are required to have a valid C Class Drivers Licence and may be required to travel within Western Australia for operational purposes.

Benefits and opportunities 

• Flexible working arrangements 

• Career pathway opportunities 

• Learning and development opportunity programs 

• Health and wellbeing programs including Fitness passport providing a wide range of gym, pool, and fitness Centre discounts available for employees and their families. 

• Relocation assistance/allowance available for applicants relocating from Interstate or New Zealand (if eligible) 

• Check out the attached Applicant Information Pack to find out other benefits of working for Justice. 

Application process
How to apply 

Please ensure you review the attached Job Description Form (JDF) for further information about the requirements of the position. This information will assist you with the preparation of your application.  

We require you to submit:

1. A comprehensive Resume/Curriculum Vitae, that clearly outlines your transferable skills and experience in the context of the relevant Essential Criteria contained in the JDF.
2. A statement of no more than two-pages addressing your suitability for the role in the context of the above Essential Criteria.
3. Evidence of relevant qualifications and endorsements.
4. Contact details of two work related referees (including a current line manager).

All remaining Suitability Requirements will be assessed at a later stage in the recruitment process.

Subsequent Vacancies 

Applicants found suitable to this pool, may be considered for subsequent similar vacancies for a period of twelve (12) months, in accordance with section 7d of the Commissioner’s Instructions No.48 – Recruitment, Selection and Appointment to Permanent Vacancies, and section 9d of the Commissioner Instructions 49 - Recruitment, Selection and Appointment to Fixed Term Vacancies. Permanent, fixed term, full time and part time appointments may be offered at Various Metropolitan and Regional Sites during this period.

For further job-related information 

If you would like further information regarding the vacancy please contact Chantelle Place, A/Director Assessment & Intervention on (08) 9264 1015 for a confidential discussion.  

Equity and Diversity 

The Department of Justice is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace that reflects the community we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants can access support by following this link.  

Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. For a confidential discussion about support or adjustments, please contact the person listed above or email workforcediversity@justice.wa.gov.au.  

Submitting your application 

To submit your application, click the “Apply for Job” button at the bottom of this advertisement.  

Please ensure you allow sufficient time to submit your application, as late applications will not be accepted. 

If you are having difficulty submitting your online application, please telephone RAMS Helpdesk ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com on 1300 733 056 for assistance.  

To keep you up to date on what is happening in Department of Justice and job opportunities you can go directly to the departments website or follow us on social media. 

The Department of Justice has introduced a smoke-free policy, which has been fully implemented across all women’s prisons and the Academy, with all other prison sites to follow.