• Location - Cessnock Correctional Centre & Shortland Correctional Centre
• Employment Type - Ongoing and Temporary Opportunities available
• Salary – $74,302.00 p.a. – $130,530.00 p.a. plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading 

Your role 

We’re looking for passionate psychologists to join our dedicated teams at Cessnock and Shortland Correctional Centres. In these roles, you will be providing direct psychological assessment and intervention to offenders within a custodial environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

You will also provide expert consultation to staff and statutory authorities on the management of those in custody, ensuring evidence-based and ethical practices are consistently applied.

What you’ll do 

• Deliver psychological assessments and interventions to individuals in custody.
• Provide expert consultation to staff regarding offender mental health and risk management (including sexual and violent offender assessment).
• Assist in the formulation of behaviour management plans and case plans for those in custody, as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate and compliant documentation on the Offender Integrated. Management System (OIMS) and psychology files for all individuals receiving psychological services.
• May prepare reports and provide consultation to statutory authorities, including the State Parole Authority, Serious Offenders Review Council, and Mental Health Review Tribunal.  

We also offer the below benefits:

• Positive, supportive, and cohesive team environment
• Yearly professional development requirements provided
• A 35-hour work week with annual leave, sick leave, and flexible work options available
• Additional environmental allowance for custody roles
• Abundant opportunities for learning
• The opportunity to develop skills in assessment and interventions
• Varied, challenging and interesting work
• Fitness passport available
• Supervision provided internally by a Senior Psychologist 

What we’re looking for 

• A motivated psychologist to provide an ethical and effective psychology service in a dynamic environment for psychologists who are charged with management of challenging clients and in the context of limited or scarce professional resources.
• Demonstrated expertise in assessment and treatment in correctional psychology including mental health issues, cognitive impairment, and with respect to behaviour management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary correctional principles related to psychological assessments and interventions, including criminogenic risk assessment.

Essential requirements

• Minimum four-year accredited qualification in psychology with current provisional or full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
• Current driver’s license and willingness to travel throughout NSW. 

A position description is attached.

Please note: The recruitment process may be impacted by the Talent Acquisition office closure from COB Friday, 20 December 2024, to Monday, 6 January 2025. Applications will still be accepted during this period; however, the assessment and recruitment process may commence after the break.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information?  Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment! 

Are you ready to join us?

Click Apply Now, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Got a question? 

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring managers Olivia Charge – [email protected] or 4993 2298 or Tamara Gradden – [email protected] or 4050 6669, using the subject line: Psychologists / Specialist Psychologists - Cessnock & Shortland Correctional Centre enquiry via EthicalJobs.

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Nastassja Le Claire via [email protected] or 0460 961 902.

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more. 

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit 

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups. 

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website. 

Other Information 

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: CareersatDCJ.