Transform lives
Change the journey, change the outcome
Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) employs psychologists, counsellors, and other allied health professionals to provide high quality psychological and disability services supporting the mental health, wellbeing and safety of prisoners in correctional centres.
These services play a crucial role in keeping our community safe, promoting prisoners’ safety, wellbeing and positive progression through all stages of their time in custody, supporting them to lead more productive, crime free lives going forward.
We are hiring people with degrees in Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy and other allied health and behavioural science disciplines, who want to make a difference.
Workplace benefits
As well as making a difference in the lives of people facing complex challenges, psychological, allied health and disability services employees work within a supportive, inclusive team and experience great workplace benefits, including:
- annual pay rises
- up to 12.75% superannuation
- 17.5% annual leave loading
- flexible work arrangements to help you achieve work/life balance
- opportunities to work across different centres and workplaces to gain a wide range of clinical experience
- generous annual professional development and support for ongoing education and clinical training
- leadership development training
- supervision to help meet AHPRA requirements and supervisor training for eligible staff
- relocation funding and support (for eligible applicants)
- career pathways providing opportunities for future career development.
Current roles
At Queensland Corrective Services, we’re not just a team, we’re a community dedicated to creating safer environments and reducing crime. Be part of something meaningful and make a difference.
Meet our people
Are you the right fit?
We’re looking for people who are:
- empathetic and confident
- excellent communicators and listeners
- a team player
- flexible, adaptable and professional
- able to quickly adapt to a busy, complex environment
- adept at managing multiple, competing tasks
- able to apply policy and procedural frameworks
- capable of building productive working relationships
- of high personal drive and integrity
- able to conduct difficult conversations
- strong problem solvers and negotiators
- open to embracing diversity.
Is a correctional psychologist role right for you?
Try our correctional psychologist careers quiz.
It only takes 2 minutes!
Psychological services roles in corrections
Correctional Counsellor PO2
Duties:
-
- Develop, implement and deliver appropriate assessment, counselling and welfare services to individuals.
- Participate in professional supervision activities and team meetings.
- As a member of a multi-disciplinary unit, provide consultancy services to, and accept referrals from, other unit members.
- Administer appropriate assessments to offenders, analyse assessment results and record information.
Qualifications required:
-
- Degree in a field relevant to the position (e.g. social work or behavioural sciences).
Psychologist PO3
Duties:
-
- Conduct independent risk assessments of harm to self or others, including acute or chronic risk.
- Provide clinical assessment of psychopathology, psychosocial needs and protective factors to inform interventions, referrals and individual management strategies.
Qualifications required:
-
- Bachelor’s degree (4 year) in psychology or behavioural science and current registration with AHPRA.
- Bachelor’s degree (5 year) in psychology or behavioural science and current registration with AHPRA.
- Eligibility for registration as a Psychologist with AHPRA.
Senior Psychologist PO5
Duties:
-
- Undertake complex and varied psychology duties with clinical decisions based on valid and reliable evidence and infrequent need for direct clinical practice supervision.
- Provide advanced level clinical and consultancy services to complex offender caseloads, utilising high level independent clinical judgement informed by best practice, in accordance with prescribed professional practice and ethical standards.
Qualifications required:
-
- Bachelor’s degree (4 year) in psychology or behavioural science.
- Bachelor’s degree (5 year) in psychology or behavioural science.
- General registration with AHPRA is mandatory.
Allied Health Clinician PO3 (Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre)
Duties:
-
- Provide clinical services, including assessment and tailored therapeutic interventions within a multi-disciplinary context.
- Conduct independent risk assessments of harm to self or others, including acute or chronic risk.
Qualifications and registration:
-
- Requirements for Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists differ and are outlined in role descriptions.
Senior Allied Health Clinician PO4 (Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre)
Duties:
-
- Provide consultation and supervision on clinical risk and clinical interventions.
- Provide professional/discipline specific practice leadership.
- Support professional development and training of the multi-disciplinary team.
Qualifications and registration:
-
- Requirements for Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists differ and are outlined in role descriptions.
Allied Health Team Leader PO5 (Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre)
Duties:
-
- Provide clinical and operational leadership to the multi-disciplinary team
- Provide advanced level practice consultation.
- Coordinate process of referral, assessment, interventions and crisis management.
- Ensure the Allied Health Services effectively contribute to meeting centre operational requirements.
Qualifications and registration:
-
- Requirements for Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists differ and are outlined in role descriptions.
Workplaces across Queensland
Psychologists, allied health and disability services clinicians work in centres at a range of locations across Queensland. Check out the map below to see where our centres are located, and explore the unique and rewarding experiences you can have in each centre.
Student placement
We partner with universities across Queensland to foster the next generation of psychologists in corrections.
Students on placement encounter a diverse array of psychological presentations rarely seen in other placements. The unique and enriching experience is instrumental in developing foundational skills for handling at-risk and complex presentations.
Our commitment to cultivating talent and supporting the career aspirations of budding psychologists has often resulted in offers of permanent employment as provisional or registered psychologists.
Student testimonial
“I completed my student placement at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, and once finished decided to continue with my QCS journey. I have now been employed as a provisional psychologist at the centre for three months. Initially I was uncertain of the role’s expectations however, I soon discovered as a psychologist in QCS I am an integral part in providing support to offenders. Whether this be through risk management, or therapeutic case management, I have the opportunity to engage collaboratively with offenders to employ and teach adaptive therapeutic skills for them to utilise. This was one of the many surprises and opportunities within this role.
Additionally, the role has significant diversity both through the specific client population and within the working team environment. From the diverse demographic and presented vulnerabilities of offenders, to the range of experience and knowledge of my colleagues, there is not a day that I am not learning and growing both professionally and personally.”
Interested in student placement?
For more information about student placements, email us at psurecruitment@corrections.qld.gov.au
How to apply
Are you ready for a dynamic and exciting psychology career with us?
We advertise jobs on the Queensland Smartjobs website.
To apply, register for a free My Smartjob account. From here you can review, withdraw, and track the progress of your application.
If you would like more information about the recruitment process, contact us by email at psurecruitment@corrections.qld.gov.au
Tips for writing your application
When submitting your application, you’ll need to detail how your skills and experience help you meet the requirements of the role in your cover letter. Read our application tip sheet for putting your best application forward.
Got an interview?
Check out our Applicant Tip Sheet and preparing for your interview to be ready and confident to showcase your skills to the panel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What roles are available?
We have a range of roles available in locations across Queensland including Service Delivery Support Officer, Correctional Counsellor, Psychologist, Senior Psychologist, Allied Health Clinician, Senior Allied Health Clinician and Allied Health Team Leader. Check out our currently advertised roles at the top of this page.
What is it like to work in a QCS psychological, allied health and disability services role?
Roles in our centres can be challenging, however just like any workplace, listening and talking through problems to create solutions work best. Our teams are caring, empathetic and supportive and we always have each other’s back. The environment in our centres are designed with safety in mind.
How do psychologists, allied health and disability roles help prisoners?
Adults housed in Correctional Centres experience higher rates of complex mental health challenges including cognitive impairment and other vulnerabilities than the general population. On admission, and throughout a prisoner’s time in custody, Psychologists conduct assessments to identify if they are at risk of harm to themselves, or others. Psychologists also provide brief interventions to support prisoner’s mental health and wellbeing, and support them in their rehabilitation journey. Psychologists also play an important part in building the capability of other staff within the multidisciplinary team by providing psycho-education related to mental health conditions, symptoms and treatment options.
How safe is it to work in a correctional centre?
QCS is committed to providing healthy and safe work environment in all its centres and workplaces. We promote a health, safety and wellbeing culture where safety is a key priority and embedded in everything we do. Fostering safety leadership at all levels helps us proactively identify and address any potential hazards and risks, including psychosocial risks.
Roles in our centres can be challenging, just like any workplace. Our teams are caring, empathetic and supportive and we always have each other’s back. We can rely on each other to listen and talk through problems to create solutions.
What are the salaries?
Psychologists and other allied health clinicians in QCS are employed under the Professional Officer Stream of the Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015 and the State Government Entities Certified Agreement 2023 (CB/2023/112) (qirc.qld.gov.au). At 1/7/2023 rates for each level were as follows:
PO2 – $71K – $90K
PO3 – $94K – $103K
PO4 – $109K – $117K
PO5 – $122K – $131K
What hours will I work?
Psychologists and Allied Health roles work daytime hours (7:15 a day) from Monday – Friday. We offer flexible working arrangements including accrued hours, part time options, purchased leave and working from home options.
What experience and qualifications do I need?
Role specific requirements are outlined in the role descriptions listed with our vacancies.
- For Counsellors: Mandatory possession of a tertiary degree qualification in a relevant field (e.g. social work, behavioural science) from a recognised tertiary institution.
- For Psychologists: Mandatory possession of a tertiary degree qualification in Psychology from a recognised tertiary institution and registration or eligibility for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA).
- For Social Workers: Eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) (or ‘certification of eligibility’ letter from AASW for overseas qualified Social Workers).
- For Occupational Therapists: degree in Occupational Therapy from a recognised tertiary institution, registration or eligibility for registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (AHPRA).
What support and training is available after I start?
There is a lot of support for Psychologists beginning in QCS. From a comprehensive induction and onboarding, access to professional supervision and support from senior staff and colleagues, this is a great place to kick-start your career. We also provide access to a range of ongoing professional development and leadership development options to help you continue to develop and expand your skills.