Principal Clinical Lead
The GEO Group Australia
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Ravenhall Correctional Centre is seeking a Principal Clinical Lead to deliver strategic clinical and operational leadership across the Glenhope Close CSU and Forbes Management Unit. You will guide embedded staff, strengthen governance, and ensure risk-informed, trauma‑informed care while coordinating continuity of care with GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.
Join GEO to drive improvements in offender rehabilitation, contribute to service redesign, and mentor clinicians within a collaborative,
Qualifications
- Registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA) or eligible membership with AASW, or registration as Mental Health Nurse/OT.
- Substantial experience in forensic, correctional or complex disability settings.
- Proven track record in leading clinical governance and multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care and Positive Behaviour Support.
Responsibilities
- Lead, supervise and develop clinical and behaviour support staff with clear expectations.
- Strengthen clinical governance through audits and planning.
- Provide specialist assessment and reporting for a limited caseload when required.
- Advise on complex risk, placement decisions and trauma-informed care.
- Lead reviews and translate insights into service improvements.
Skills
Education
Job description
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.
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 everyone Respect without fail, being Accountable at all times, always being Agile and continuously looking for opportunities to be Innovative. For more information about our organisation visit our website www.geogroup.com.au
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.
- Shape the future of the service: influence clinical practice, governance and service improvement during an important period of redesign.
- Lead where your expertise matters: guide multidisciplinary teams and provide trusted advice on complex behavioural and psychological risk.
- Create impact beyond the unit: strengthen continuity of care and support better outcomes from custody through to community reintegration.
- Grow people and practice: mentor clinicians, build team capability and contribute to clearer professional development pathways.
As Principal Clinical Lead, you will provide strategic clinical and operational leadership across the 25-bed Glenhope Close Supervision Unit (CSU) and Forbes Management Unit. The CSU supports prisoners with complex or significant behavioural needs associated with disability, acquired brain injury, mental illness or neurodevelopmental conditions. The Management Unit supports prisoners separated for risk, behavioural or protective reasons.
You will lead embedded unit-based staff, strengthen clinical governance and service coverage, and provide trusted advice on complex behavioural and psychological risk. Working alongside Principal Clinicians and the Principal Clinician, Service Improvement and Outreach Support, you will help deliver coordinated in-reach services and maintain continuity at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre when required.
- Lead, supervise and develop clinical and behaviour support staff through clear expectations, thoughtful workload management, reflective practice, mentoring and targeted development.
- Strengthen clinical governance by auditing, reviewing and endorsing assessments, Behaviour Support Plans, Individual Intervention Plans and clinical records.
- Ensure plans are evidence-based, risk-responsive and aligned with professional, legislative, human rights and departmental requirements, including scheduled and post-incident reviews.
- Provide specialist assessment, formulation, intervention, planning and reporting for a limited caseload when required.
- Advise on complex clinical and behavioural risk, placement, regimes and behaviour management, modelling trauma-informed practice and Positive Behaviour Support.
- Lead multidisciplinary case, serious incident and critical event reviews, translating insights into practical service and system improvements.
- Build strong partnerships with custodial leaders, executives, clinicians, disability providers, and forensic and mental health services.
- Coordinate transitions across the CSU, Management Unit, general population and external services to maintain continuity of care.
- Use activity, trend, incident and outcome data to inform service planning, policy, resourcing and continuous improvement.
- Contribute expert advice to case management and placement decisions, supporting prisoners’ participation, progression and completion.
- Provide monthly and quarterly reports to the Clinical Manager, supervise students where appropriate and maintain professional competence through ongoing development and supervision.
- Represent GEO in relevant networks and forums, championing organisational objectives and advocating for the needs of the client group.
- Registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA); eligibility for Australian Association of Social Workers membership; credentialling as a Mental Health Nurse; or registration as an Occupational Therapist.
- Substantial experience in forensic, correctional or complex disability and behavioural settings.
- A strong record of leading and clinically supervising psychologists or multidisciplinary allied health teams, including workforce, performance and wellbeing management.
- Advanced knowledge of behavioural theory, Positive Behaviour Support, risk–need–responsivity, trauma-informed practice and evidence-based therapies.
- Expertise in complex risk assessment, formulation, treatment and behaviour support planning across mental health, disability and offending domains.
- Experience leading clinical governance, quality assurance, documentation and incident review in secure or high-risk/high-need services.
- Sound judgement, ethical reasoning and composure when balancing competing priorities and dual-role tensions.
- Highly developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills across custodial, clinical, executive and external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to turn clinical information and service data into clear, defensible advice.
- A commitment to reflective practice, supervision, cultural safety and equitable trauma-informed care, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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
- Novated Lease and salary sacrifice options
- Ongoing funding for professional development opportunities (including further education sponsorship)
- 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)
Bring your clinical expertise, courage and ideas to Ravenhall. Help shape stronger practice, safer pathways and better outcomes for people moving from custody to community.
To be considered for this role, applicants must submit a cover letter and a current resume.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are highly encouraged to apply
Applications close at 11:59pm, Thursday 12th 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.
We are always looking for people to join our company who stand for the values that we stand for:
INTEGRITY RESPECT ACCOUNTABLE AGILE INNOVATIVE
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