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%
• 16 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
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

What is the role?

Applications are sought from suitably qualified applicants wishing to be considered for the role of Mental Health Clinician – SHIELD.

The Mental Health Clinician role provides professional mental health support services to AFP employees on both an individual and organisational level with the goal of enhancing individual and organisational health and wellbeing, therefore optimising operational readiness and success. The role is committed to maintaining a high standard of care and contributes to the delivery of AFP business through the provision of a variety of health initiatives.  

Within SHIELD a Mental Health Clinician can be a Registered Psychologist, Mental Health Social Worker, or a Mental Health Nurse.  

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.

Core duties and essential requirements:

The following duties and essential requirements apply to all Mental Health Clinician roles and disciplines, these include:

• Work collaboratively within the SHIELD multi-disciplinary team to provide a stepped care approach to promoting optimal mental health through engagement in proactive interventions as well and clinical treatment interventions as required; 
• Development and delivery of training in a variety of wellness-related areas; 
• Providing routine mental health assessments and clearances; 
• The provision of focused psychological strategies in a short-term counselling/brief intervention framework to AFP members; 
• Engaging with, understanding, and supporting high risk business areas, including rapport building, gaining an in-depth knowledge of specific demands, and consulting and liaising with senior management; 
• Contributing to the ongoing monitoring, evaluation and development of psychological services being delivered by SHIELD to the AFP; 
• Effectively and formally monitoring patients progress and maintaining case notes; 
• Effectively managing critical incident responses, including collaborating with command, SHIELD executive, and external agencies as necessary; and 
• Conducting pre and post-deployment assessments/debriefs, and providing virtual support to AFP members deployed across the world.

Essential Requirements: 

• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) 
• Minimum of five (5) years demonstrated practice in a relevant mental health field 
• Availability to be on-call after hours

What will you do?

Discipline specific descriptions and requirements include: 

Mental Health Nurse 

Mental Health Nurses specialise in promoting optimal physical and mental health, preventing physical and mental illness, and providing therapeutic interventions and treatment to support physical and mental health preferences. Mental Health Nurses specialise in addressing the interplay between physical and psychological health.  

Essential Requirements: 

• Bachelor Degree in Nursing or equivalent 
• Recognised specialist/post graduate qualification/s in mental health nursing.  
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) 

Registered Psychologist 

Psychologists use evidence-based, customised psychological approaches to assess and manage a wide range of presenting issues. Psychologists provide a wide range of focused psychological services to individuals for mental health conditions that range from mild to severe and complex. Within the AFP, Psychologists conduct psychometric testing (psychologist Class C testing) for the purposes of sworn recruitment screening, specialist role selection screening, and assessments to determine fitness to hold accoutrements. 

Essential Requirements: 

• 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 
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) 

Social Worker 

Social Workers work to address the personal difficulties of members through casework, counselling, and the application of a range of clinical and therapeutic intervention. They work with the individual as well as the systems around them in order to boost wellbeing and general functioning. Like other allied health professionals, such as psychologists, Social Workers use a range of interventions in helping people with mental health disorders, including focused psychological strategies (dependant on individual training and education):  

Essential Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or equivalent 
• Current professional membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) 

Additional Information

This position is an AFP Band Level 7.

These roles are generally filled on a full-time basis, however, consideration will be given to part-time work where an applicant is able to work a minimum of four days (32 hrs) per week. 

Our Mental Health Clinician positions are based in the following location/s:

• Registered Psychologist – Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth
• Social Worker – Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Adelaide
• Mental Health Nurse – Canberra

As part of your application you can nominate your preferred geographical location. 

Please note that shortlisting for this process will not be undertaken until late-January/early-February 2024. It is anticipated that applicants will be advised if they will progress to interview by March 2024.

AFP employees are required to have received a minimum of two COVID-19 vaccinations (or one dose if the Janssen vaccine was used). Satisfactory proof of vaccination status will be required at the time an offer of employment is made. Please contact the Recruitment Team if you wish to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine requirements further.

Diversity and inclusion is an operational priority for the Australian Federal Police (AFP). To be an effective police force, we must be reflective of the community we serve, working across languages, cultures and transnational borders. The 2023-26 Diversity & Inclusion Strategy is the guiding framework for delivering the AFP’s diversity and inclusion goals and reflecting our commitment to being an employer of choice, incorporating diversity and inclusion principles in day-to-day practice and building a psychologically and culturally safe workplace. This includes hiring people from diverse backgrounds who bring their lived experience to contribute, and add value, to the AFP. Find out more about how the AFP embraces diversity and inclusion.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact: SHIELD Program

Contact Email: [email protected]

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 21/12/2023