Behavioural Support Worker

The Geo Group Inc; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 89,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive salary and rewards scheme

Free parking

Employee Assistance Program

Staff gym

Subsidised meals

Fitness Passport

Job summary

The GEO Group Australia is seeking a dedicated Behavioural Support Worker at Ravenhall Correctional Centre to provide frontline behavioural support to prisoners with complex needs. You will contribute to assessment, planning, and implementation of individualized strategies to promote safety, stability and positive outcomes within custody and progression toward reintegration.

You will build therapeutic relationships, deliver interventions, monitor progress and support staff with coaching to apply

Qualifications

• Experience providing direct support to people with complex needs (disability, mental health, aged care, youth, or community services)
• Understanding trauma and disability impact on behaviour and applying positive behaviour strategies
• Developing and adjusting positive behaviour support plans for individuals with complex needs

Responsibilities

• Contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, planning and delivery of behaviour support strategies for people in custody with trauma, disability or mental health needs
• Develop individualised, person-centred Behaviour Support Plans with clinicians and support their implementation
• Provide one-to-one and group support during daily activities and routines
• Record observations and coach prisoners to reinforce prosocial choices and monitor signs of stress or aggression
• Deliver structured activities and psychosocial interventions to reduce behaviours of concern and support reintegration

Skills

Disability support experience

Trauma-informed care

Excellent communication

Autonomous work

Education

Certificate IV in Disability, Mental Health, Community Services, or related field

Qualification in psychology, social work, counselling or related discipline

Job description

Support Positive Change and Help Shape Better Futures Every Day.

Empower Change. Build Resilience. Transform Lives.

Salary Range $88,825 - $95,000 Base + Superannuation

At Ravenhall Correctional Centre, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services is creating exciting new opportunities for people who want their work to make a real difference.

Our redesigned services brings specialist expertise closer to the frontline, strengthens support from custody to community and creates clearer pathways for professional growth. It is more connected, more responsive and built to achieve stronger outcomes for people with diverse and complex needs.

Bring your expertise, ideas and commitment to change. Join a collaborative evidence-based team shaping the future of rehabilitation and reintegration at Ravenhall Correctional Centre where your work changes lives, strengthens communities and makes a difference every single day.

About The GEO Group Australia

We are the country's leading provider of outsourced correctional services, operating in VIC. GEO aims to deliver better corrections and create safer communities. We focus on providing a continuum of care and integration of services to make a real difference in the lives of people we work with. Our company is defined by us always acting with Integrity, showing everyoneRespectwithout fail, beingAccountableat all times, always beingAgileand continuously looking for opportunities to beInnovative. For more information about our organisation visit our website www.geogroup.com.au

To view our videos, including the type of individuals we seek to join our business, click here.

About Ravenhall Correctional Centre

Ravenhall is a 1,300-bed medium-security prison for adult sentenced and remand men. Its contemporary campus-style design reflects four accommodation communities with varying profiles. Community accommodation is complemented by a further 75-bed Forensic Mental Health Unit, a 25-bed unit for prisoners with significant challenging behaviours, and a 25-bed Mission Unit designed to respond intensively and therapeutically to current community issues.

In recognition of the importance of the Continuum of Care, Ravenhall extends its presence into the community by providing ex-prisoners with access to post-release support at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.

Ravenhall’s emphasis on offender rehabilitation and reintegration is supported by a significantly resourced team of clinicians who work in partnership with a number of Victoria’s most respected organisations, including Forensicare, YMCA and Kangan Institute. Working collaboratively, Ravenhall seeks to bring about lasting positive change in the lives of prisoners before and after release, with the ultimate aim of reducing reoffending.

To learn more about Ravenhall Correctional Centre, click here.

About The Opportunity

The Behavioural Support Worker provides frontline behavioural support to prisoners with significant and complex needs housed in the Glenhope Close Supervision Unit (CSU). Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the role contributes to the assessment, planning, and implementation of individualised behaviour support strategies that promote safety, stability, and positive behavioural outcomes.

The Behavioural Support Worker develops therapeutic and professional relationships with prisoners, delivers structured interventions and skill-building activities, monitors and records behavioural observations, and supports prisoners to develop strategies that enhance their adjustment within custody and progression toward reintegration.

Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, the role contributes to the creation of a safe, therapeutic, and trauma-informed environment. The Behavioural Support Worker also supports the capability development of unit-based staff through coaching, reflective practice, and guidance in the consistent application of positive behaviour support strategies and effective deescalation practices.

As the Behavioural Support Worker you will:

• Contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, planning and delivery of behaviour support strategies for people in custody with complex needs associated with trauma, disability or mental health.
• Contribute to the development of individualised, person-centred Behaviour Support Plans with allied health professionals, and support their trauma-informed implementation in response to individual needs.
• Provide one-to-one and group support during daily activities and routines
• Record objective behavioural observations, provide real-time verbal coaching, reinforce prosocial choices, and monitor early signs of sensory overload or aggression.
• Deliver structured activities and skill-building sessions
• Design and deliver targeted individual and small group-based psychosocial interventions to reduce behaviours of concern and support adjustment within custody, progression into accommodation unit and reintegration into the community.
• Contribute to custodial staff capability by providing practical guidance and coaching in the consistent application of positive behaviour support strategies within the unit.
• Assist with the facilitation of community meetings and structured forums with staff and prisoners to strengthen engagement and support positive behavioural outcomes.
• Ensure all assessments, planning, and interventions incorporate culturally appropriate considerations and support needs.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive case documentation in accordance with departmental systems and reporting requirements.
• Promote a safe working environment by adhering to legislative requirements and organisational policies, including occupational health and safety standards.
• Participate in regular supervision, reflective practice, and professional development activities to maintain professional competence and service quality.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour support strategies and interventions, recommending modifications as required.
• Identify, assess, and elevate emerging risks, including self-harm, vulnerability, behavioural deterioration, and threats to safety in accordance with operational procedures.
• Contribute to quality improvement activities, service reviews, audits, and the ongoing development of behavioural support practices within the CSU.

Your Skills & Experience

• Certificate IV in Disability, Mental Health, Community Services, or a related field (or equivalent experience); OR currently studying toward a relevant qualification
• Demonstrated experience providing direct support to people with complex needs (disability, mental health, aged care, youth, or community services)
• Understanding of the impact of trauma and/or disability on behaviour, with the ability to identify appropriate positive behaviour strategies based on individual needs.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing and adjusting positive behaviour support plans for individuals with complex needs
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with clients and stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with a solutions-focused approach
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and a person-centred approach to service delivery
• Ability to work autonomously, manage a varied caseload effectively, and contribute reliably within a multidisciplinary environment.
• A qualification in psychology, social work, counselling, behavioural therapy or related discipline

About the Benefits

Joining GEO is your chance to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of prisoners, their families and the community. Benefits of working for GEO, include but are not limited to:

• Role diversity and internal career progression opportunities
• Support with Professional Registration costs
• Flexible working arrangements
• Competitive salary and rewards scheme
• Free parking
• Employee Assistance Program
• Staff gym
• Subsidised meals
• Fitness Passport to promote wellbeing. Discounted gym and pool access for members and their families to over 1500 fitness facilities across Australia.
• REACH Program
• Discounted Private Health Insurance (Medibank Private)
• VCEA (Victorian Correctional Employees Association)

Please note: Only permanent Australian residents, Australian citizens or candidates with unrestricted visas and the right to work in Australia are eligible to apply for these positions.

Applications close at 11:59pm, Thursday 19th November 2026 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The GEO Group reserves the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date; therefore, early applications are encouraged.