We are seeking motivated psychologists, who are passionate about improving the lives of young people and their families to join our clinical team.

Graduates are encouraged to apply!

Youth Justice Psychological Services are looking to fill various permanent and fixed term, part-time and full-time, positions for general registered and Clinical, Counselling, Forensic Psychologists. Positions are available at Specified Calling Level 2 and 3.

About the role

Be part of a highly supportive team of multidisciplinary professionals, working together to enact change for young people – both in detention and in the community.

Our team of psychologists provide assessment and intervention for young people throughout Western Australia. Youth Justice Psychological Services provides both individual and group interventions. We utilise evidence-based frameworks to reduce offending and improve the trajectory for young people in the Youth Justice system.  Psychologists in Youth Justice develop skills working with complex young people with a variety of challenges including mental health, neurodevelopmental, complex trauma and a range of offending patterns.

Our team works in both custody and in community centres. The role is diverse and incorporates clinical intervention, forensic assessment and consultation. You will be supported to develop your capacity to apply forensic instruments, assessment and intervention. Therapeutic continuity is valued and clinicians can provide through-care interventions to clients as they enter and exit custody and the community.  Opportunities for travel to all areas within WA are available, with the chance to learn about and engage first-hand with Indigenous cultures from around the state. In all settings, you will work with many individual clients and get involved in interagency strategies to create change.

Working in Custody

In custody, we are currently offering a wide range of specialised services and implementing an enhanced model of care. The model reflects best practice in Youth Justice and will focus on rehabilitation through a trauma-informed and culturally safe therapeutic approach. Some initiatives, that operate alongside of Youth Justice Psychological Services:

• The Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Service in custody. This team works alongside Youth Justice Psychological Services and includes neuropsychology, psychiatric, speech pathology, and paediatric services and increased access to clinical nurse specialists;
• The intensive mentoring program in the centre, which is available to assist the centre to meet the needs of young people with complex needs;
• Increased focus on cultural safety and security including the provision of the Aboriginal Services Unit, an Aboriginal Elders and Leaders Cultural Mentoring Program, Cultural programs and activities facilitated by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.   
• The new Crisis Care Unit at Banksia Hill Detention Centre which provides trauma-informed, culturally informed, multi-disciplinary and coordinated therapeutic support to young people in detention.

Working in the Community

Many young people in Youth Justice are placed on Community-based orders and are case-managed by Youth Justice staff who work in community centres, alongside psychologists. Young people who are involved with Youth Justice often have complex needs. They may have experienced trauma, have psycho-social challenges, neurodevelopmental difficulties and mental health concerns. In Community Youth Justice centres, psychologists are highly valued for their expertise and provide; assessment, evidence-based interventions and consultation, in order to reduce offending. Psychologists also prepare Pre-Sentence assessments and Fitness to Stand Trial assessments for the Children’s Courts across the state. Psychologists work in both the metropolitan area and regionally. Opportunities for fly in – fly out work are also available for those interested. The challenge of producing better outcomes for young people in custody and the community is an important priority and we are seeking motivated psychologists at all levels of experience to join our team and contribute to better outcomes for young people in our care.

This is your chance to switch to a rewarding and challenging career to deliver psychological assessment, interventions, consultation and advice to young people and their families.

Suitability Requirements

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

Psychological Assessment: The ability to administer a variety of psychological assessments in the forensic context and to incorporate these into Psychological Assessment Reports as required by the Courts and other appropriate bodies.

Psychological Intervention: The ability to utilise psychological expertise in order to plan and implement individual, group and systemic interventions designed to address offending in a juvenile population. Applicants must have an understanding of behaviour intervention, individual family and systemic interventions and abnormal behaviour.

Communication and Consultation Skills: Effective written oral and interpersonal communication and the ability to maintain psychological records and statistics.

Information and Knowledge Management: The ability to develop, prepare and present training for youth justice staff, clients and community groups.     

Working with Aboriginal Clients: The ability to engage with Aboriginal clients, families and communities in a culturally safe psychological framework.

Additional Skills required to be eligible for Specified Calling Level 3 positions

Practice at a senior level: The ability to provide psychological services at a senior and autonomous level and to participate in service delivery strategic planning.

Supervision: The ability to supervise psychology Masters students and/or staff undergoing a registrar program through AHPRA. 

Eligibility

WWCC – In accordance with the National Child Safety Principles, people who work directly with children and young people, you must have a current Working with Children Check or be able to successfully apply for one to be eligible for appointment to this position.

Special Conditions – Applicants must possess a current “C” Class Driver’s License.

Qualifications – Applicants must:

• Have a tertiary qualification that is required in line with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Hold a ‘Full Registration’ with AHPRA.
• Be eligible to commence the Registrar program as a Clinical / Counselling / Forensic Psychologist.

OR

• Have a tertiary degree qualification in Psychology. AND
• Hold ‘General Registration’ as a Psychologist with AHPRA.

Please note that for the positions at Specified Calling Level 3, ‘Full Registration’ with AHPRA with endorsement as a Clinical / Counselling / Forensic Psychologist is required.

Benefits and opportunities

• Fast track your psychology career. You will have access to learning and development opportunities, with high quality supervision at no additional cost, funded professional development opportunities, study leave of up to 5 days per year to attend approved external professional development, and strong team support.
• AHPRA annual registration cost paid by the department (conditions apply)
• Registrars and psychologists with general registration are encouraged to apply with easy capacity to achieve client contact hours.
• For those psychologists who are more experienced, this is a great opportunity to expand your experience and focus on driving and supporting systemic change to assist clients.
• Experience and travel around Regional WA combined with paid travel and accommodation, organised by the Department. Note: Travelling regionally is optional, for those interested and willing.
• Career pathway opportunities. These include opportunities to develop into supervisory positions (with board approved supervisor training funded for those eligible), or leadership / management roles (such as Team Leader Psychologist roles).
• Cultural supervision facilitated by an Indigenous psychologist on a quarterly basis.
• Enjoy job security whilst working for the Public Sector. Salary sacrificing options are available.
• Relocation assistance may be 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 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, experience and highlights your key achievements in relation to the above Suitability Requirements.
2. Contact details of two work related referees.
3. A copy of your current qualifications as set out in the above Eligibility section.

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

Candidate Search

If required, we may choose to supplement the field of applications by conducting a candidate search.

Subsequent Vacancies

Applicants found suitable but not recommended for this vacancy, 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 locations statewide during this period.

For further job-related information

We encourage you to attend one of our virtual information sessions where you can interact online with experienced staff and ask questions about the role and the recruitment process.

To book an information session with one of our psychology managers, please email Eleanor Parker, A/Principal Psychologist (Custody), via email at eleanor.parker@justice.wa.gov.au. 

If you would like further information regarding the position and/or vacancy please contact Eleanor Parker, A/Principal Psychologist (Custody) on (08) 9333 2279 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.