Psychologist

Job Details

EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Ongoing Full Time

LOCATION - WA

AFP BAND & SALARY - Band 07 ($118,673.00 - $127,101.00)

JOB REFERENCE NUMBER - 14061

This advertisement is to fill current vacancies and create a merit pool for future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies arising over the next 12 months.

Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia. 

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down 
• 4 extra mandatory leave rest days per year 
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 18 weeks of paid maternity leave (after 12 months of service) + an additional 36 weeks of maternity leave without pay
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

About this Role

The Branch

SHIELD is a health capability that embeds health and wellbeing into the day-to-day operations for AFP employees by providing services across Australia and directly supporting the health of the frontline. 

Our employees are at the forefront of the rapidly evolving criminal environment, working in a range of areas from criminal investigations to transnational operations. The nature of this work carries inherent risk of psychological and physical harm, and this creates a unique challenge for the AFP as we strive to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees. While our employees are dedicated to keeping Australia safe, the AFP is dedicated to keeping our employees safe. This commitment is best exemplified by SHIELD; the single, largest health and wellbeing investment in the AFP's history.

SHIELD brings together a multidisciplinary team of experienced health services and clinicians - including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and psychologists - to deliver high-quality and personalised health services. SHIELD implements evidence-based practices to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all AFP employees. SHIELD protects those who protect us.

The Role

Are you a Psychologist looking to work within a unique, fast-paced environment? Are you driven by fairness, integrity and service to the community? Are you looking to make a meaningful difference and help keep Australia safe? The AFP is seeking registered psychologists to fill a current vacancy in Perth.

In this role you will be working collaboratively as part of an integrated team of health professionals to deliver psychological and mental health services to AFP employees from a range of operational areas; from the bomb squad, to the tactical response group to the international and transnational deployment team.

You will gain a greater understanding of the complex and expansive work undertaken at the AFP and have the opportunity to provide your input in how we can best support AFP employees to assist them in performing at the highest level. Successful applicants will be contributing to meaningful and rewarding work by supporting AFP employees who tackle threats to the safety and security of Australia.

You will also be required to contribute to the achievement of outcomes in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance Instruments. It is expected that the successful applicant will deliver on the core responsibilities and meet any requirements of the position as outlined below.

What will you do?

Duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Development and delivery of training in a variety of psychology-related areas;
• Providing advice to AFP employees on wellbeing issues and work related issues;
• Providing AFP employees referral options for available AFP, Government and community resources Providing routine mental health assessments and clearances;
• Preparing and delivering psycho-education programs to staff;
• Short-term counselling, psychological interventions, care coordination and referral services;
• Performing the role of primary practitioner to high risk business areas and liaising with senior management;
• Contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and development of psychological services being delivered to the AFP;
• Effectively and formally monitor client progress and maintaining and maintaining all required documents;
• Critical incident response and follow-up;
• Mid-and/or post-deployment debriefs;
• Active participation and contribution in multidisciplinary team meetings;
• Case coordination and management of clients.

Essential Requirements

• You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• General registration as a psychologist – in Australia this requires a minimum six-year sequence of education and training. This typically includes a four-year Board-approved accredited sequence of study in psychology, followed by one of the below pathways.
  • The higher degree pathway, which is an approved postgraduate degree accredited at the fifth and sixth year level (eg. two-year Masters) or higher (eg. three or four year Doctorate)
  • The 5+1 internship pathway. This requires you to pass the national psychology exam before applying for general registration.
• Competency in the delivery and interpretation of gold standard psychometric tools
• 3 or more years’ experience working as an unconditionally registered psychologist 
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Ability to travel when required.

Selection Criteria

• Achieve results
• Communicates with influence
• Contributes to strategic thinking
• Cultivates productive working relationships
• Shows personal drive and integrity

Application

Please submit the following documents via our Jobs portal prior to the closing date and time:

• Resume/CV - This will form the basis for determining your suitability against the position requirements and give the panel a clear outline of your current knowledge and qualifications along with previous experiences. Please include your work history, responsibilities and achievements.
• Applicant pitch (maximum two pages). Ensure your pitch tells us why you are the best fit for the role, with examples that demonstrate your capabilities addressing the selection criteria, role requirements and work level standards for the role. 

Only complete applications will be considered. Please review and ensure the uploaded documents are correct for this application after submitting your application.

Employment Suitability

Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.  
   

Recruitment Process

Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application, may be invited to a formal interview. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for you interview.  

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact Officer - Renae Hayward, Tim Grenfell
Contact Officer Phone: 0456637649, 0437062239
Contact Officer Email: Renae.Hayward@afp.gov.au; Tim.Grenfell@afp.gov.au

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 05/05/2025

To view other employment opportunities, please visit our career site.

www.afp.gov.au