Senior Psychologist Specialist

Senior Psychologist Specialist

Location: Parramatta/Hybrid

Employment type:  Temporary full-time role up to 11 months

Salary: $140,655 pa - $148,932 pa, plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

The DCJ CVE Engagement and Support Unit is a specialised multi-disciplinary team within the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) focussing on prevention and early intervention of violent extremist behaviour. The unit delivers three programs, Integration Support Program, Engagement and Support Program and the Step Together Helpline. ESU also contributes to national best practice in CVE interventions and works closely with both Commonwealth and NSW agencies.

The aim of the ESU is to reduce the risk of violent extremism by providing early intervention and support to address social, psychological, or behavioural issues before they escalate to violent action. Our primary focus is on diversion in the first instance and disengagement through voluntary service provision within a non-mandated space. Our multidisciplinary programs work directly with clients along with their families and support networks, including collaboration with stakeholders. We receive referrals from a wide variety of sources, including concerned public / parents, non-government organisations and government and security agencies. Our services are mobile teams, working with clients across NSW.

Our programs are rapidly growing and evolving, and as such you will have the opportunity to assist in the development of policy and procedures, providing expert consultation both within the team and our key stakeholders, and participate in ongoing program evaluation processes. Positions are currently available on a temporary basis, with the potential for ongoing opportunities in the future.

Your role

The role requires working across our services collaboratively to deliver psychological assessments, interventions and professional services to participants including children, adolescents, and adults.

In this diverse role you will be working within an experienced multidisciplinary team to devise and implement evidence-based interventions for complex clients and their support network across Sydney metro and regional NSW. You will work collaboratively with our partner agencies, stakeholders and other community organisations to assist our clients in reconnecting with their families and local communities promoting disengagement from violent extremism. Your non-judgemental and curious approach will encourage clients to identify and achieve goals relating to areas such as enhancing coping skills, maintaining effective interpersonal relationships, increasing personal sense of identity, education and employment.  You will enjoy engaging in ongoing professional development within an emerging space, actively contributing to the continued development of the psychology role within the Engagement and Support Unit.

What you’ll do

As part of the CVE Engagement Support Unit, you will be required to:

• Conduct psychological, social, emotional, cognitive, developmental, behavioural and functional assessments to identify areas of need, develop treatment plans and provide evidence informed interventions for our clients.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to deliver and evaluate individually tailored therapeutic interventions based on your areas of expertise and evidenced based best practice.
• Prepare reports, advice and consultation services.
• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders, agencies and community groups through consultation, liaison and education.
• Provide expert consultation to staff, managers, and key stakeholders individually or as a consultant in group supervision, to assist in decision-making processes.
• Maintain accurate records and data integrity of relevant information systems to ensure accurate, up to date client information is available to support effective case management, planning, decision making and quality assurance.
• Deliver training and education to ESP staff in relation to trauma and other psychological and neurodevelopmental issues relevant to ESU participants as requested.
• Work collegiately with our state and federal law enforcement partners.
• Be committed to ongoing learning and development in understanding of violent extremism and best practice in disengagement.

Additional key accountabilities for Senior Specialist Psychologist
 

• Conducts and evaluates psychological interventions at a high standard.
• Adapts psychological literature for new programs, therapies or research.
• Conduct psychological research and evaluation projects for the Department as required.

What we’re looking for

Essential requirements:

• Current full registration as a psychologist, with the Psychology Board of Australia, and is eligible to be a Board-approved supervisor.
• Post-graduate degree at the masters level or higher in a relevant specialist area including but not limited to clinical psychology, forensic psychology, counselling psychology or neuropsychology. The post graduate degree must include components of professional training and supervised experience and must be of at least 2 years full time duration or its equivalent; or
• Education, training and experience deemed by the Department to be equivalent (for example as signified by membership of a relevant APS College such as Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Counselling Psychology, Forensic Psychology).
• Must be an Australian Citizen and able to obtain National Security Clearance within 6 months
• Current NSW driver’s licence and willingness to travel throughout NSW.

We want you to be successful in your new role! As an experienced senior psychologist you will need to be confident, curious and resilient. You will have:

• Minimum five years post-registration experience as a psychologist
• Have proven superior skills and extensive experience in psychological assessment and interventions, including experience in confidently adapting skills to new areas of practice
• Have demonstrated knowledge and experience in working with adolescents and adults
• Previous knowledge and experience completing forensic assessments and interventions
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of a psychologists ethical and legal obligations
• Exceptional communication skills demonstrated through extensive experience in working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, including experience in providing consultation services

• Be committed to develop an understanding of violent extremism vulnerabilities, risks, and pro-social/protective factors in the role of disengagement
• You must be an Australian Citizen, and be able to acquire a National Security Clearance.
• This role will require a driver’s licence and willingness to travel within NSW regularly.

Download the role description.

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To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

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
• Competitive pay and conditions
• 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, 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).

Applications close 28 May 2025 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Rachel Terry on 0461161151 or at rachel.terry@dcj.nsw.gov.au

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 Rosie Matamaki on 9765 3235 or via email rosie.matamaki@dc.nsw.gov.au  

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.

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