Communities and Justice

Corrective Services Psychologists

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Working for Corrective Services

Corrective Services Psychologists provide direct psychological assessment, intervention, and therapeutic services and programs to offenders and remandees within custodial and community locations. There is a supportive supervision structure in place to ensure opportunities for career development.

  • Rebecca is a psychologist, and she shares why working at the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is the best decision she has ever made.

    We ask Rebecca why

    Rebecca is a psychologist, and she shares why working at the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is the best decision she has ever made.

    Transcript

    (Psychologist walking through a correctional centre.)

    Rebecca, Provisional Psychologist: My name is Rebecca, I'm a Provisional

    Psychologist at Bathurst Correctional Centre.

    (Rebecca walking through Bathurst Correctional Centre.)

    Rebecca: At 45 I decided to become a Psychologist, I changed careers began working here. Best decision I've ever made.

    (Rebecca talking to a group of Psychologists.)

    Rebecca: I feel privileged to be able to have the opportunity to work here with the inmates at Bathurst Correctional Centre.

    Rebecca: We might be able to make a difference so they can go back out into the community and begin again and lead successful lives.

    (Rebecca talking to an inmate in a cell.)

    Rebecca: I believe passionately that everybody deserves a second chance.

    Tagline: Become a Corrective Services Psychologist, A job like no other.

    (Aerial view of a correctional centre.)

Who we are

CSNSW employs over 260 psychologists across 90 locations state-wide. We offer an extensive range of programs for people subject to custodial and community orders.

Psychologists within CSNSW play a vital role across a  wide range of diverse areas, including: 

  • specialist assessment and treatment for individuals with a range of problem behaviours associated with offending.
  • undertaking mental health assessments and interventions
  • undertaking cognitive assessments and provision of specialist services.
  • crisis management and the assessment and intervention of individuals at risk of injuring themselves.
  • providing specialist advice and consultation to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
  • providing reports, assessments and intervention recommendations for people with a range of problem behaviours, criminogenic and psychological needs.
  • supervision and training of psychologists as well as multidisciplinary team members.
  • project planning, developing and implementing rehabilitative frameworks.

We have psychologists in metro; rural; and remote locations. They are in male and female Correctional Centres and in Community Corrections offices.

CSNSW employs great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds including people with disability, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

What is it like to work here?

"The diversity and variability of our roles and the people we work with is key for me. I also have amazing colleagues who are just as dedicated and passionate about our purpose, which is so important for job satisfaction."

- Berindah, Statewide Manager Specific Needs

Berindah Aicken, Statewide Manager Specific Needs (Psychology)

Why work with us

We do work that really matters

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) provides professional correctional services and programs to reduce reoffending and create safer communities. We house remand and sentenced inmates in correctional centres and supervise offenders serving orders in the community. We collaborate with government and non-government partners to support victims, facilitate restorative justice, and promote reintegration.

Correctional Psychology is  rewarding and often challenging work. You will work with purpose in a secure and supportive environment, helping individuals in custody transform their lives and a meaningful difference in a trauma-informed, rehabilitation-focused environment.

You will deliver expert psychological assessment and intervention services and  provide professional consultation on offender management, ensuring evidence-based practices are consistently applied.

You will prepare reports and provide consultation to statutory authorities, including the State Parole Authority, Serious Offenders Review Council, and Mental Health Review Tribunal.

We offer

  • A challenging and rewarding career
  • Flexible, autonomous work environment
  • Professional development opportunities including ongoing training and an annual conference.
  • Access to Fitness Passport.
  • Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.
  • Competitive pay and conditions.

   


What it's like to work here

Our directorates

Our directorates

CSNSW psychologist work in multidisciplinary teams in both custodial and community settings.  

All psychology service provision is governed by the following  Directorates.

Correctional Practice directorate

The Correctional Practice directorate manages standards and models of care and practice for all staff interacting with people in the care of CSNSW, in custody and in the community. This underlying framework aims to support the rehabilitative efforts of staff.

Offender Transformation directorate

The Offender Transformation directorate develops, accredits, approves, implements, monitors and evaluates offender programs, across custodial and community settings to transform offender behaviour and reduce reoffending. Our work includes programs for:

  • sex offenders
  • violent offenders
  • offenders with chronic substance abuse/ misuse 
  • terrorism related offenders.

We ensure programs are based on contemporary research and evidence and address the criminogenic needs. We also provide expert advice and training to front line staff on program content and delivery.

Diversity and Responsivity directorate

The Diversity and Responsivity directorate is responsible for strategy development of people under orders who are: 

  • culturally and linguistically diverse 
  • younger people 
  • older people 
  • people who identify as LGBTQIA+ 
  • people with disabilities.

The Diversity and Responsivity business unit also provides advice, services, and consultation in Specialised units such as the: 

  • additional support units 
  • mental health screening units 
  • complex placement unit .

Through teams with specific expertise including:

  • Statewide Disability Services 
  • Community Safety Program.

The Diversity and Responsivity business unit works closely with the Mental Health Review Tribunal in relation to Forensic Patients with Cognitive Impairment. 

Your career

Your career

We provide opportunities for psychologists of all levels, registrars and students a range of CPD opportunities including training and an exciting annual conference. We provide clinical supervision to all staff and offer supportive peer supervision arrangements.

The Corrective Services  Provisional Psychologist Program provides supervision, skill building opportunities and support to achieve full registration as per AHPRA requirements. We provide opportunities to meet core competencies and case study requirements and build knowledge for the National Psychology Exam.

What we're looking for

We’re looking for a passionate, ethical, and dedicated psychologists who:

  • have a strong desire to work with vulnerable and underserved communities
  • have interest or experience in trauma, forensic risk, cognitive impairment, or behavioural interventions
  • work well in complex, multidisciplinary environments
  • are committed to evidence-based, client-centred practice.

Essential requirements

  • Minimum 4-year accredited psychology qualification
  • Full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (provisional applicants welcome to apply – we offer supervision)
  • Driver’s Licence: willingness to travel as required.

Registrar program

The Corrective Services  Registrar Program offers specialist supervision, providing opportunities for staff to meet specialist endorsement requirements with AHPRA. We provide resources, ongoing opportunities for training and group supervision to support professional development.

Student placements

Student placements

We offer rich placement experiences for undergraduate work placement students, provisionally registered students, and post registration students, supervised by Board Approved Supervisors, some with clinical and forensic endorsement.

Resources

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