Talent Pool

Multiple Temporary Positions

Full Time and Part Time positions

Location: Statewide

Agency overview

The NSW Department of Education serves the community by providing world-class education for students of all ages. We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education sector. We are the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We are committed to fostering vibrant, sustainable, and high-performing vocational and higher education sectors. We are responsible for enacting NSW Government policy, driving improvement in education, and overseeing policy, funding and compliance issues relating to non-government schools. We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as First Peoples of Australia.

The position

School psychologists are an essential part of the Department’s school counselling service and work in primary and high schools. They provide counselling and psychological assessment of students, to complement and enhance the work of teachers to strengthen student learning and wellbeing outcomes, and help families understand and manage their children’s learning and mental health needs.

Working in a NSW public school will enable you to engage with a diversity of students (and school communities) like no other child and adolescent psychologist role can. This is a chance to use your skills to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people at a time in their lives when it matters most.

“Working within the system of the young person rather than outside it, I feel like I can make a significant difference, and the young person genuinely believes me when I tell them I am here to provide them support to be ‘on their team’.

 – School psychologist

School psychologists receive individual professional supervision with the Senior Psychologist Education and participate in group and peer supervision as a member of the broader school counselling team. You will most likely be collaborating with a number of school communities and colleagues, as well as outside agencies, with the opportunity to use and expand the full range of your skills and expertise as part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team.

School counselling service – a team approach:  https://youtu.be/yBZdBz-lB-Y

School psychologists are provided with opportunities to participate in continuing professional development and the NSW Department of Education will support you to complete or maintain your registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Other benefits include access to a range of leave types, including recreation leave and flex leave, as well as leave loading, travel allowances and health and wellbeing benefits such as our Fitness Passport program. The department will also cover your indemnity insurance as a psychologist while working in our schools.

Find out more about working as a school psychologist on the school counselling service pages of the NSW Department of Education website.

Job Location

The Department will be offering part-time and/or full-time temporary contracts in a number of locations in statewide New South Wales.  To nominate your preferred work locations please complete the attached location form

Talent Pool

A recruitment pool will be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role or similar roles, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, short term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.

Total Remuneration Package

Package valued up to $134,570 + incentives (where applicable)

Base salary ranges from $75,791 – $120,322* plus leave loading and employer’s contribution to superannuation. Base salary rates above the minimum are available dependent on professional experience.

*Note there is no automatic progression to the $120,322 Band 3 salary level. Access to Band 3 is available once a school psychologist has progressed through all salary bands and upon successful application for Advanced Certification level against the NSW School Counselling Service Professional Practice Framework.

Essential Requirements

1. Knowledge of and commitment to the Department’s Aboriginal Education and Training policies
2. General or Provisional Psychology Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia
3. Valid and current Working with Children Check clearance
4. Current and valid driver’s licence and ability and willingness to travel between work sites.
5. All Department of Education employees working in an SSP are required to be vaccinated as outlined at Vaccination requirements for school sites (nsw.gov.au). The successful candidate for this position will be required to confirm vaccination status prior to the department finalising their appointment and entry on duty. Find the department’s latest advice on COVID-19 (coronavirus) at https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
6. Australian citizenship or permanent residency

How to Apply

If you are interested in this role please apply online and include:

• A cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) that addresses the key accountabilities and challenges of this role as outlined in the Role Description.
• Your resumé (maximum of 4 pages) which clearly details how your capabilities, knowledge and experience can contribute to support students’ wellbeing.
• Your responses to the following two screening questions (maximum of 300 words each)
  1. Describe a situation that demonstrates your capacity to provide a high-quality psychological service for children and/or young people.
  2. Describe a situation where you have collaborated or negotiated with other professionals to achieve beneficial outcomes for your client(s).
• Your completed  application Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)
• Your completed WWCC – Declaration for Child-Related Workers NCCHC
• Names and contact details of two recent professional referees.  Referees are to be professional referees from the last 3 years, who have known you for a minimum period of 6 months in a professional context. At least one referee is to be a current or recent line manager within the last 2 years
• Work Location Form

Applications must be lodged electronically. No paper-based application will be accepted.

Note: The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

Documents

Role Description

Aboriginal Education Review – Information

WWCC Guide to Identity

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)

WWCC – Declaration for Child-Related Workers NCCHC

About the NSW Department of Education

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ([email protected]) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

As this is a child-related position, you will also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number as a condition of employment (if you do not already have this). For more information, please visit the Office of the Children’s Guardian.

In addition, your employment may be subject to the Department’s National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment. 

Please apply online at www.iworkfor.nsw.gov.au. Job reference: 00009UKQ Applications close at 11:59 pm, Wednesday 16 August 2023.

For more information, please contact Lisa Warner on telephone 0457 188 128  or via email to [email protected]