Forensic Clinical Team Leader, Medium Security Prisons

Department of Justice and Community Safety; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 116,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation allowances

First-rate training & support

Mental health wellbeing care

Travel across Victoria

Flexible home & on-site work

Job summary

Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria seeks a Forensic Clinical Team Leader in Medium Security Prisons. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee delivery of forensic services, and influence policy and practice across the state, including travel to prisons.

The role demands expertise in risk assessment, evidence-based therapies, and strong stakeholder collaboration. Opportunities for career development and relocation support are provided.

Qualifications

• General registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA).
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Credentialed as a mental health nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• Registered as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
• A master's degree in psychotherapy and registration with PACFA.
• A master's degree in counselling and PACFA/ACA registration.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to a multi-disciplinary clinical team.
• Oversee delivery of services to individuals with complex forensic needs.
• Build partnerships with stakeholders to enable multi-disciplinary approaches.
• Maintain direct service delivery including risk assessments or interventions in prisons across the state.
• Travel to correctional facilities across Victoria.

Skills

Leadership

RNR principles

Forensic risk assessment

Therapy models

Empathy

Education

Psychologist registration

AASW eligibility

Mental health nurse credential

Occupational therapy registration

Masters in psychotherapy

Masters in counselling

Job description

Empower people and elevate your career - join Forensic Intervention Services. Enjoy world-class training and wellbeing support. Flexible home and on-site working arrangements Earn $116,413 - $140,489 (AH4) per year plus super. City-based head office with travel across Victoria. 2 Ongoing roles available

FIS provides evidence-based screening, assessment and intervention services for individuals in custody and the community. We focus on areas such as violent and sexual offending, restorative justice, violent extremism and family violence.

We're seeking experienced professionals in psychology, social work, mental health nursing, occupational therapy, counselling or psychotherapy to join our growing team of forensic clinicians. Whether you're looking to expand your expertise, enjoy a more dynamic role or leave a lasting impact in a progressive field, this is career defining work with marginalised groups you can't access anywhere else.

What you’ll do

As a Forensic Clinical Team Leader working in Medium Security Prisons, you will contribute to the development of programs and policy and provide consultancy in the placement and management of the applicable service user cohort.

• Provide leadership to a multi-disciplinary team.
• Oversee the consistent delivery of services to individuals with complex forensic presentations and varied treatment needs.
• Build strong partnerships with stakeholders to enhance multi-disciplinary approaches and influence complex, multi-faceted decision-making.
• Continue your practice by maintaining involvement in direct service delivery including comprehensive risk assessments or facilitating group or individual interventions in prisons across the State.
• Travel to correctional facilities across the state.

Skills Required

• Demonstrated experience managing and leading staff in multidisciplinary clinical teams.
• An advanced understanding of the theory and therapeutic frameworks underpinning assessment and treatment with service users within the justice system, and an ability to apply these frameworks in practice, such as the Risk-Needs-Responsivity principles.
• Significant experience in and knowledge of evidence-based, forensic risk assessment and the delivery of individual and group treatment and behaviour intervention treatment models with complex populations (e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Transtheoretical Model of Change, Trauma Informed Care, Strengths Based Approaches).
• Adherence to and demonstration of key therapist characteristics (e.g., empathy, warmth, rewarding and directive) to facilitate the therapeutic relationship.

Eligibility

• General registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA).
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Credentialed as a mental health nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• Registered as an occupational therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
• A master's degree in psychotherapy and registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
• A master's degree in counselling and membership with Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or registration with thePsychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the attached position description.

How we'll support and reward you

Our work can be demanding, so we offer first-rate training and support.

• A specialised induction program for new clinical staff (including foundation, theory, and mentored on-the-job training).
• Exposure to national and international experts in forensic work.
• Mental health and wellbeing care - essential debriefing for the first 12 months for new forensic practitioners.
• Ongoing professional development, including clinical scholarship, research program and study leave opportunities.
• Your professional association membership or registration funded annually (e.g. PBA/AHPRA, AASW).
• Relocation allowances for eligible candidates.

Why join us

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce - we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural background.

We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We’re proud of our individual differences. We’re proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is continually working towards increasing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) workforce. The Aboriginal Employment Team aims to attract, recruit and retain Aboriginal staff across all our roles. This support includes a culturally appropriate attraction and recruitment process. To learn more, email [e-mail]

Applications close 24 November 2026.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Child Safe Statement of Commitment: The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.