This is an “open ended” recruitment pool where applicants will be assessed on an ongoing basis. At a minimum, applicants will be shortlisted quarterly.
Suitable applicants may be offered fixed term contracts and permanent opportunities as they arise.
Relocation supports may be available to Interstate and New Zealand applicants.
If you are interested in regional roles please contact us through the number provided in the Further job-related information section
Are you a Social Worker or Psychologist interested in utilising your clinical skills in a unique work environment?
Are you ready to work with people in custody to build their resilience, be psychologically healthier and future focused?
Join us as a Prison counsellor where you will be able to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and expertise to undertake clinical risk and psychological assessments and provide counselling, and at the same time make an impact on the lives of those held in custody.
About Justice
When you join the Department of Justice, you become part of a people-focused organisation, working hard to make our community a fairer and safer place to live. We offer many different employment opportunities in locations around Western Australia. You will have a chance to make a real difference to your local communities and to the lives of those you work with.
Meet Katie, one of our psychologists at Department of Justice:
About the role
Psychological Health Service (PHS) sits within the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) directorate. This role provides a great opportunity for suitably qualified psychologists and social workers to practice in a unique and dynamic environment.
The Psychological Health Service is responsible for undertaking clinical assessment and provide intervention to individuals held on remand in prison and to prisoners:
- who are at acute risk of suicide or self-harm;
- at chronic risk of suicide or self-harm or otherwise vulnerable within the prison system;
- with mental health issues;
- or having difficulties coping, adjusting to prison, or in transition to release.
The Prison Counsellor is responsible for applying discipline specific professional knowledge, experience, and skills to provide evidence based clinical assessment and intervention services in response to psychological health needs of prisoners. Prison Counsellors provide consultation and participate in multi-disciplinary risk management processes and case management meetings.
If appointed, there is scope to be transferred to regional prison positions where you will provided with an opportunity to live and work in regional, rural and remote WA knowing you will be professionally supported through clinical and line supervision, the state wide PHS team, and as a member of the prison staff.
If you are dedicated to making a meaningful difference and possess a strong background in offender service management, we invite you to be a part of our mission to enhance public safety and support offender rehabilitation.
Eligibility
- An accredited qualification in Psychology and registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; or Tertiary qualification in Social Work and eligible for full membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or the Society of Professional Social Workers and a minimum of two (2) years supervised practice in counselling.
- Evidence of current registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) or Social Work tertiary qualifications consistent with AASW requirements must be provided prior to commencement.
- Possession of a current valid ‘C’ class motor vehicle driving licence.
- Business related state-wide travel may be required from time to time.
- To be eligible for appointment to permanent positions in the West Australian Public Sector you must be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia.
Benefits and opportunities
- Competitive salaries and WA Public Sector benefits.
- Flexible working arrangements with the opportunity for weekend shifts and part-time rosters.
- Career pathway opportunities.
- Learning and development opportunity programs.
- Eligibility for study leave.
- In-house training and monthly clinical supervision.
- In-house Clinical supervision for those undertaking registrar, provisional registration and for Social Work mental health accreditation.
- 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.
For more information about the recruitment and selection process and other benefits, please refer to the Applicant Information Pack.
We require you to submit:
- A current comprehensive CV including the contact details of two (2) referees and;
- A statement no more than two (2) pages, addressing the following four (4) Role Specific Criteria contained in the JDF and as given below:
Please provide examples to support your claims.
- Experience in a Counselling Role
- Therapeutic Assessment and Intervention Skills
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Knowledge and experience working with diversity in client groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) populations.
Applications without the accompanying statement will be deemed as incomplete.
All remaining Role Specific Criteria will be assessed at a later stage in the recruitment process.
Open pool recruitment
This is an “open ended” pool recruitment process which means there is no closing date for applications. We assess candidates on an ongoing basis for suitable applicants to be selected to the pool as vacancies arise.
When selected to the pool, the pool will be open for a period of 12 months from the day after the breach of standard claim period closes. Permanent, fixed term, full time and part time appointments may be offered as vacancies arise, however an appointment is not guaranteed.
The Department of Justice uses recruitment pools to build a bank of talent for future opportunities. Applicants found suitable in this pool, may be considered for subsequent, similar vacancies, with the Department of Justice for the duration of the pool.
Equity and diversity
The Department of Justice is committed in building a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. We actively promote the employment of Aboriginal Australians, people with disability, youth, and other diversity groups. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.
Aboriginal job seekers may contact the Aboriginal Workforce Development Team on aboriginalworkforcedevelopment@justice.wa.gov.au or call (08) 9264 1700 for culturally appropriate application advice.
Applicants with disability requiring adjustment or accessibility requirements at any stage of the selection process can contact the hiring manager as listed under the ‘Further Information’ section or contact WorkforceDiversity@justice.wa.gov.au or call (08) 9264 1700 to for a confidential discussion.
For further job-related information
If you would like further information regarding the vacancy or other regional positions please contact Jabrulla Shukoor, Acting Psychological Health Service Manager on (08) 9334 6068 for a confidential discussion.
Submitting your application
Applicants are requested to apply online. 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 over the next 12 to 18 months.
