AHP3 Senior Psychologist

Department for Education, South Australia; Port Augusta; On-site; AUD 112,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Government housing

Job summary

The Department for Education in South Australia is seeking a Senior Psychologist to join Student Support Services across regional sites, including Port Augusta and Whyalla. This full-time role involves leadership, supervision, and delivering evidence-based psychological interventions for children with diverse needs.

You will work with an interdisciplinary team, support schools and families, and drive proactive service delivery including telepractice and regional relocation benefits.

Qualifications

• Essential: Current and full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor.
• Desirable: Area of practice endorsement in educational and developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and/or counselling psychology.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional supervision, mentorship, and guidance to psychologists and provisional psychologists.
• Lead flexible service delivery models, including telepractice and FIFO arrangements.
• Monitor statewide service demands and assist in triaging psychological resources.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, families, schools, and stakeholders to develop holistic strategies.
• Contribute to recruitment, retention, induction, and professional development of psychologists.
• Champion culturally responsive practices and Aboriginal ways of knowing, doing, and being.
• Implement a service model supporting integrated and targeted services for children with additional needs.

Education

Current and full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia

Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor

Endorsement in educational and developmental psychology (Desirable)

Job description

Department for Education

Job reference: 860752

Location: 5600 - WHYALLA, 5700 - PORT AUGUSTA

Job status: Short Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us

Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

About The Role

Are you a psychologist looking for a change? Are you seeking to travel and excitement, and have a passion for making a difference? Do you like to work with children, want to explore the outback with an amazing team or improve your experience working with indigenous families? If this is you, then we have the role for you! Flexible working options will be considered and a 20% pay loading and relocation assistance or government housing if you wish to relocate to the country area. Take a chance and make a change.

Student Support Services works with schools and preschools to provide support to assist them in meeting the needs of all children. The role requires the incumbent to participate in the implementation of a service model that supports the provision of integrated and targeted services to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs.

The trend of increasing learner complexity is well documented in the literature. Increasing numbers of children and young people are being identified with complex learning difficulties and disabilities often with co-existing conditions such as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Increasing numbers of children are in schools who have difficulties arising from premature birth, have survived infancy due to advances in medical interventions, have rare neurological disorders and foetal alcohol syndrome. Behavioural issues are becoming increasingly more challenging and complex with a range of co-morbidity factors (including mental health) that require skills and expertise to identify underlying causes to better address the needs of the children and young people.

The Senior Psychologist is a member of an inter-disciplinary team, providing delegated line management, professional support and supervision to psychologists and provisional psychologists and working with children and young people with developmental, cognitive, social, emotional, behavioural and physical difficulties, and exceptional needs (including giftedness) and their families. The Senior Psychologist works closely with the Team Manager, other Senior Psychologists, psychologists, preschool and school staff, and parents to develop evidence based psychological interventions that include proactive, targeted and intensive strategies that can be adapted for learning and home contexts. This position will have a greater focus on proactive whole site and Partnership approaches. The role requires the recruitment, retention, induction and professional support, development and supervision of psychologists with a focus on meeting professional and service delivery standards.

Student Support Services are on a cultural response journey, as such we value and prioritise Aboriginal ways of knowing, doing and being.

As a Senior Psychologist, You Will

• Provide professional supervision, mentorship, and guidance to psychologists and provisional psychologists.
• Lead the implementation of flexible service delivery models, including telepractice, fly-in-fly-out (FIFO), and external provider programs.
• Contribute to the monitoring of statewide service demands and assist in the triaging and allocation of psychological resources, ensuring timely and appropriate support through internal services and external providers.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, school communities, families, and key stakeholders to develop holistic and effective strategies.
• Contribute to the recruitment, retention, induction, and professional development of psychologists, ensuring adherence to professional and service delivery standards.
• Champion culturally responsive practices, valuing and prioritising Aboriginal ways of knowing, doing, and being.
• Participate in the implementation of a service model supporting integrated and targeted services for children and young people with additional needs.

Living in Port Augusta and Whyalla

Living in Port Augusta and Whyalla Port Augusta, known as the gateway to the Flinders Ranges, provides stunning landscapes and numerous outdoor activities. Experience the charm of the outback with easy access to hiking, camping, and exploring unique geological features. Port Augusta boasts a lower cost of living, a welcoming community and a relaxed pace of life. Whyalla offers a vibrant coastal lifestyle with beautiful beaches, a relaxed atmosphere and a thriving local community. Enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, snorkelling, and exploring natural wonders such as the annual cuttlefish migration. The city combines affordable living with a strong sense of community and cultural events.

Qualifications

Essential: Current and full registration (general) with the Psychology Board of Australia; Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor.

Desirable: Area of practice endorsement in educational and developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and/or counselling psychology.

Special conditions

• You must have a current driver's license and be willing to drive
• You may be asked to work out of hours
• You may need to travel within or outside of South Australia
• You must have current Department for Human Services (DHS) Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to employment, to be renewed every five years.
• You must undertake RRHAN-EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education Care) training, updated every three years.
• You must be an Australian resident or provide evidence of a current work permit.

Remuneration

AHP3 $112,139 min – $120,284 max p.a + 12% superannuation + 20% loading if you are willing to relocate to the region + applicable allowances

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to Mel Judd, Team Manager, via tel: [phone] or email: [email protected]

Applications close: 26/10/2026 11:30 PM

This is a full-time contract role (1.0 FTE), initial 12-month term contract.

Flexibility Statement

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.