Forensic Intervention Services - Student Placement Program

Forensic Intervention Services is seeking expressions of interest from undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to supplement their current tertiary studies with a unique clinical or non-clinical field placements.

As a division of Corrections Victoria, Forensic Intervention Services is a specialist program area that provides people in custody and in the community with evidence-based screening, assessment, and offence-specific intervention services to support their rehabilitation. In doing so, Forensic Intervention Services is a critical component of the department's strategy to reduce reoffending and contribute to community safety. Our workforce is comprised of experts in psychology, social work, occupational therapy, mental health nursing, criminology, criminal justice, restorative justice, and family violence, and we offer both placements to students from these disciplines.

What do clinical student placements involve?

Students undertaking a clinical student placement will be undertaking a relevant clinical course in Psychology (postgraduate), Social Work, Mental Health Nursing, or Occupational Therapy, which requires, or offers capacity for, a student placement. Placement students will have the opportunity to broaden their clinical knowledge and skills within a forensic setting, undertaking clinical service delivery that may include individual work, assessment, case formulation, group-based intervention, supervision, and relevant professional development and training.

What do non-clinical student placements involve?

Non-clinical student placements are open to undergraduate students in psychology, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students in social work, criminology, legal studies, and related disciplines who have the option to complete a field placement or internship as part of their studies. Students undertaking a non-clinical student placement will gain an understanding of the professional practice settings of a forensic environment, while learning about the broader legislative and judicial systems that frame service delivery within these forensic environments. Students may also be engaged in projects that work towards improving service delivery through research and evaluation.

What students we are looking for?

Forensic Intervention Services is seeking expressions of interest from students with a strong passion for effective forensic practice, who are optimistic that individuals within our justice system have the capacity to change and should be afforded the opportunity to do so. We also seek students who possess a high level of maturity that understand the importance of effective self-care and self-reflection, who are committed to their learning, and are open to discussing the specific challenges they may face throughout their student placement. As a workforce that prides itself on ethical practice, students should also demonstrate an alignment to the department's core values of working together, making it happen, respecting other people, serving the community, and acting with integrity.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume, covering letter, and a letter of recommendation from your institution's placement coordinator. If a letter of recommendation is not included, placement coordinators must contact Forensic Intervention Services directly on the below email address endorsing your application. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, or .rtf formats.

Please note: Students who are progressed to an interview will be required to undergo relevant pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening. Undergoing a pre-employment check, national police check, misconduct screening, or any other relevant pre-employment check does not have any bearing on the likelihood of obtaining a student placement.

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways to 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.