Correctional Counsellor

Queensland Corrective Services is a top-tier forward thinking public safety agency, committed to the humane containment, supervision and rehabilitation of offenders. Every day, our work makes Queensland a safer place to live and work.

The Correctional Counsellor will contribute to a high level of community safety through the provision of welfare assistance, counselling and approved programs to offenders.

Southern Queensland Correctional Centre is located in Spring Creek, approximately 17 kms from the township of Gatton in the Lockyer Valley.

Southern Queensland Correctional Centre is a women's facility located in Spring Creek, approximately 17 kms from the township of Gatton in the Lockyer Valley. The centre provides high security secure placement accommodation for sentenced and remand women that are classified as high or low security. Women who enter the criminal justice system often come from lives characterised by sexual, emotional and physical abuse, domestic and family violence, substance addiction and mental health problems. QCS provides a gender-responsive, trauma-informed approach to managing women with the goal of offering an opportunity to truly rehabilitate and escape the cycle that led to crime. It is important to recognise that to change a woman, is to change a generation.

Qualifications, professional registration, conditions, and other requirements

- Possession of a Degree in a field relevant to the position (e.g., Social Work or the Behavioural Sciences).

The essential requirements for this role are:

- Able to demonstrate experience of taking personal responsibility for following through on any work-related incident or emerging risk without instruction.
- Experience and understanding of welfare provision in a human services or related field.
- Experience in or exposure to a criminal justice environment or similar human services area.
- Ability to engage with community groups and/or external service providers.
- Self-aware and consistent with the attitudes and behaviours that need to be modelled in a correctional environment.
- Resilient to remain motivated in achieving high standards in the delivery of essential frontline services.
- Well-rounded in administrative and technical skills that assist in the achievement of workplace goals.
- Ability to interpret and apply legislation, policies, and procedures.
- Communicate professionally and engages with respect with colleagues, offenders, management, and stakeholders. Experience in working collaboratively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Knowledge of risk assessment instruments and processes and their application and be able to apply within criminal justice settings.
- Well-developed written communication skills with the ability to provide high quality professional reports and case notes.
- Well-developed verbal communication skills with the ability to engage with a diverse client group and to effectively communicate with stakeholders in a manner appropriate to the audience.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/548481/24

Closing Date: Wednesday, 13th March 2024