Occupational Therapist
We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.
The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.
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.
For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers
We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?
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| Department: | Department of Justice and Community Safety |
| Work Type: | Ongoing - full time |
| Job Function: | Prison and Corrective Services |
| Classification: | AH3 |
| Work Location: | Geelong |
| Reference: | VG/CV0928/NOV |
| Closing Date: | 14-Dec-2025 |
| Salary Range: | $97,955 - $111,142 |
| Job Duration: | Ongoing |
| Attachments: | Position Description - Occupational Therapist (AH3) Western Plains.pdf (PDF, 211KB) Job Specification |
| Contact: | Emma Reid Emma.Reid@Justice.vic.gov.au |
Position Details
Occupational Therapist
- Support the rehabilitation of people in custody with disabilities and complex needs.
- Join our growing Western Plains team and help reduce re-offending.
- Earn $97,955 - $111,142 per year plus superannuation.
About the Business Unit
Corrections Victoria is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and is responsible for the operation of Victoria's adult corrections system, public and privately operated prisons, and a transitional centre. It ensures that people held in prison are safely and securely contained and aims to rehabilitate people by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
Western Plains is a new state-of-the-art, maximum-security correctional facility in the Barwon South West region. The staff here are dedicated to helping people in our care build the skills and self-confidence needed to make positive contributions to the community. Western Plains provides a secure and transformative environment that empowers individuals to rebuild their lives.
About the Role
The Occupational Therapist is part of a small clinical multidisciplinary team responsible for providing a holistic range of therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation based on the needs of people in our care with disabilities and complex needs. This may include specialised occupational assessments, individualised occupational therapy plans and treatment to increase functional capacity, including but not limited to, emotion regulation skills, living skills and social skills.
In addition, they will be responsible for developing and maintaining a culture where staff and people in our care are motivated to create and maintain a therapeutic environment and identifying ways to promote participation and engagement from people in our care in both formal and informal processes and activities.
The Occupational Therapist will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team that includes Occupational Therapists, Disability and Complex Needs Practitioners, Disability Support Workers, Personal Care Attendants, Forensic Clinicians, Custodial staff and external stakeholders including National Disability Insurance Scheme and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
This position is based at Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara and requires the incumbent to regularly attend their usual place of work. Some travel to Melbourne or other regional locations may be required for meetings.
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you
A dynamic Occupational Therapist, you have a focus on improving service users daily living skills, emotional regulation and social engagement. In line with our values, you are driven to create a therapeutic environment that encourages participation and best practice in disability and rehabilitation care.
To be eligible, you will need to hold an approved degree in occupational therapy recognised for membership of ‘OT Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists'.
You will also need to be registered as an occupational therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 14 December 2025.
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
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.
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.
