Forensic Senior Clinician, High Risk and Complex Needs

About this role

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 $113,022 – $136,747 (AH4) per year plus super.
• City-based head office with travel across Victoria.
• 1 Ongoing role 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.

This is the perfect opportunity if you're looking to expand your expertise, enjoy a more dynamic role or leave a lasting influence in a progressive field.

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.

What you'll do

The Forensic Senior Clinician, High Risk and Complex Needs (HRCN) is responsible for overseeing and providing specialist, therapeutic intervention to:

• service users subject to a post-sentence Detention or Supervision Order (D/SO) or an Interim D/SO, and;
• relevant service users classified as either Special Category or Major Offender.

This includes the provision of:

• individual intervention, where an assessment of an individual's complex needs indicate that treatment would be best suited to individual work, for example, where service users require specific preparation work for group-based interventions to assist in managing their emotional regulation
• specialised co-facilitation of a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy-informed group based program within a community setting.
• interventions that increase treatment readiness for offence specific programs
• targeted case management advice and support to Principal Practitioners, Specialist Case Managers, the Sentence Management Division, and the Post-Sentence Branch, influencing complex, multi-faceted decision making regarding the management and treatment options for these service users

Skills Required 

• Sound clinical experience with a forensic population is preferred.
• 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 the application of evidence-based, forensic, risk assessment tools and the delivery of individual and group treatment and behaviour intervention models with complex populations (for example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Transtheoretical Model of Change, Trauma Informed Care, Strengths Based Approaches).
• Sound knowledge of policies and Acts relevant to the role, including but not limited to, the Serious Offenders Act (2018) is desirable.
• Adherence to and demonstration of key therapist characteristics [empathy, warmth, rewarding and directive] to facilitate the therapeutic relationship.

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

Eligibility

To apply for this role, you'll need to hold or be eligible for, one of the following:

• Minimum four years post-registration clinical experience, or equivalent.
• Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; or
• Eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW); or
• A master's degree in psychotherapy and eligible for registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA); or
• A master's degree in counselling and eligible for membership with Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). 

To find out more about the role and FIS, watch our career information video, visit our microsite or contact our recruitment team at candidatecare@justice.vic.gov.au.

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 aboriginal.employment@justice.vic.gov.au

If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 12 February 2026.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats. 

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependent on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles). 

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad. 

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.