About forensic disability services work
Forensic Disability Services supports people with cognitive disability and who are involved in the criminal justice system. We work with people who need access to specialist forensic support and treatment, or require additional supports so they can benefit from mainstream forensic services.
People with a cognitive disability are more likely to experience disadvantages, challenges and vulnerabilities. This can lead to their repeated contact with the criminal justice system. Forensic Disability Services assist these individuals.
Forensic Disability Services provides an alternative pathway for people which allows them to receive specialist forensic disability support and potentially divert them from further involvement with the criminal justice system.
Every member of our team plays an important role across our services. This allows us to best support people who need our services throughout their entire interaction with the criminal justice system and in the community.
“The key skills we need are people skills. People who work well with others, who are able to problem solve, who see the best in those they support.”
Matt Frize, Director, Forensic Disability Services
We also work closely with the National Disability Insurance Agency, so people with disability and their families receive the supports they need.
Working with Forensic Disability Services means:
- a choice of full-time, part-time and casual positions, all with a competitive salary
- a tailored orientation process to equip team members with essential knowledge before commencing
- training provided throughout employment to help staff continue to grow in the role and expand their career pathway
- significant opportunities for career progression into management, case work or clinical roles
- employee wellbeing and support programs available to all employees.
“We’re set up for most people coming into these roles without experience.”
Matt Frize, Director, Forensic Disability Services
Who we’re looking for
If you’re searching for a career that allows you to change people's lives for the better, there are job opportunities for you. There are entry level roles that require no formal qualifications, just a passion to help people, plus opportunities for those with qualifications in the disability, psychology and clinical areas.
We're looking for employees who are:
- committed to delivering high quality outcomes
- passionate about making a difference
- well organised and good communicators
- honest and have integrity.
Working with Forensic Disability Services can give you a sense of purpose. You can help make a real impact by supporting people with disability and keeping the community safe.
“I was fortunate enough for the department to put me through a forensic disability course with the University of Melbourne, which was an amazing kind of introduction to understanding forensic disability.”
Jaclyn Kent, Senior Disability Justice Coordinator, Forensic Disability Services
We are always looking for committed individuals to join our teams at the residential treatment facility in Bundoora and Fairfield.
To receive more information and be contacted when opportunities become available, please register your expression of interest.
Apply now
If you're looking for a change, are interested in a role that is never the same on any given day and provides challenges and opportunities for training and growth, apply now via the Careers in the Victorian government public sector website.
About our services and the roles on offer
Find out more about the wide range of roles and career opportunities available across Forensic Disability Services.
There's a role for you
The following videos offer more information on the roles available, with insights from employees within the different program areas.
Forensic Disability State-wide Access Service
Forensic Disability State-wide Access Service (FDSAS) operates as a triage and intake entry point for referrals to forensic disability treatment and supports. The service assesses clients for eligibility and provides initial advice on forensic disability supports, including through a Disability Prison Services Coordinator who assists staff within prison in identifying options for supports for people with a cognitive disability.
Roles available include:
- Advanced Practitioner
- Senior Practitioner
- Disability Prison Services Coordinator
- Psychologist
- Management roles.
Position descriptions
- Forensic Disability State-wide Access Service - Advanced Practitioner - position description
- Forensic Disability State-wide Access Service - Senior Practitioner - position description
About Forensic Disability Services
In this video, the Director Forensic Disability Services describes the role of forensic disability services in supporting clients as well as common reasons for clients offending. Staff describe the key skills needed for people working in this field and some of the challenges and rewards of working with people with a disability who have offended. They also refer to the diverse background of people who work in the service, and the qualities that help them in the role and in understanding how to best assist clients.
About the Forensic Disability Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member 1: Forensic disability services is essentially about supporting people with a cognitive disability, so generally that's people with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury, and it's about supporting them through the criminal justice system.
Female staff member 1: So I am a senior disability justice co-ordinator with the forensic disability program. So our role is essentially to coordinate services for people with an intellectual cognitive disability.
Male staff member: What we really want to do is get, get an understanding and acknowledge what our client's goals are and use them to motivate the person to work in more pro-social ways.
We all want the best in our lives, and unfortunately, often offending is a way of trying to get reasonable needs met, done in a poor fashion and what we want to do is work with them, work on their goals so they're able to live independently, get their needs met but at the same time, doing in a way that makes the community safer.
Female staff member 2: You're here to make a difference in people's lives so in order for you to make that, you also have to really work on yourself.
Male staff member 1: The key skills we need are people skills, people who work well with others, who are able to problem solve, who see the best of our clients.
Male staff member 2: Every day is a different day. Every day is unique and you know, sometimes you do a lot of fun things with the clients.
Male staff member 1: Our best people in this field come from areas where you wouldn't anticipate, have been tradies, or who've been truck drivers. But it is those soft skills, and it's people who are able to relate to other humans and be able to get on with them, they're the people who do best in this field.
Male staff member 3: I'm a tradie by background. So many years ago, I was in the trades.
Male staff member 1: You know, there's no question that this is a group of people who have done some horrible things. But, our goal there is to prevent that from happening in the future.
Male staff member 4: We always talk about how we can best support the client in moving towards their goals and reaching whatever they need to do and obviously stopping any risks that may come up for them.
Male staff member 1: That's one of the things I love about this space is that I can work with an individual and see them develop and become happier, but the ripple effect of that is massive.
Female staff member 3: Every day I go to work and you do feel accomplished at the end of every day.
Male staff member 1: I generally anticipate most people who'd be coming into these roles have not had any experience at all in this background at all. But that's the system we're set up for.
We know that's what we're expecting people to come in to see. So we are eager to make sure that we provide a lot of training.
Female staff member 4: If you're willing to not give up on clients, if you're willing to put in 100%, I think, you know, you will make a difference to the clients and you will do your job well.
Male staff member 1: You need to work with someone and understand their offending, where that comes from and then how to manage those risks and support them to go down a path where they're not likely to do that. You also need to have an understanding of the justice system, you need to be able to work with government, you need to work with non-government organisations.
Female staff member 5: I think it's really rewarding getting to work with this clientele and trying to make a difference in the community.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
About the Forensic Disability Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member 1: Forensic disability services is essentially about supporting people with a cognitive disability, so generally that's people with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury, and it's about supporting them through the criminal justice system.
Female staff member 1: So I am a senior disability justice co-ordinator with the forensic disability program. So our role is essentially to coordinate services for people with an intellectual cognitive disability.
Male staff member: What we really want to do is get, get an understanding and acknowledge what our client's goals are and use them to motivate the person to work in more pro-social ways.
We all want the best in our lives, and unfortunately, often offending is a way of trying to get reasonable needs met, done in a poor fashion and what we want to do is work with them, work on their goals so they're able to live independently, get their needs met but at the same time, doing in a way that makes the community safer.
Female staff member 2: You're here to make a difference in people's lives so in order for you to make that, you also have to really work on yourself.
Male staff member 1: The key skills we need are people skills, people who work well with others, who are able to problem solve, who see the best of our clients.
Male staff member 2: Every day is a different day. Every day is unique and you know, sometimes you do a lot of fun things with the clients.
Male staff member 1: Our best people in this field come from areas where you wouldn't anticipate, have been tradies, or who've been truck drivers. But it is those soft skills, and it's people who are able to relate to other humans and be able to get on with them, they're the people who do best in this field.
Male staff member 3: I'm a tradie by background. So many years ago, I was in the trades.
Male staff member 1: You know, there's no question that this is a group of people who have done some horrible things. But, our goal there is to prevent that from happening in the future.
Male staff member 4: We always talk about how we can best support the client in moving towards their goals and reaching whatever they need to do and obviously stopping any risks that may come up for them.
Male staff member 1: That's one of the things I love about this space is that I can work with an individual and see them develop and become happier, but the ripple effect of that is massive.
Female staff member 3: Every day I go to work and you do feel accomplished at the end of every day.
Male staff member 1: I generally anticipate most people who'd be coming into these roles have not had any experience at all in this background at all. But that's the system we're set up for.
We know that's what we're expecting people to come in to see. So we are eager to make sure that we provide a lot of training.
Female staff member 4: If you're willing to not give up on clients, if you're willing to put in 100%, I think, you know, you will make a difference to the clients and you will do your job well.
Male staff member 1: You need to work with someone and understand their offending, where that comes from and then how to manage those risks and support them to go down a path where they're not likely to do that. You also need to have an understanding of the justice system, you need to be able to work with government, you need to work with non-government organisations.
Female staff member 5: I think it's really rewarding getting to work with this clientele and trying to make a difference in the community.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
Forensic Residential Services
Forensic Residential Services (FRS) is a network of secure and non-secure houses and units that provide accommodation for a person with forensic disability treatment and support needs, who will also benefit living in a supported environment. These services integrate supports for daily living skills building and positive behaviour provided through a multidisciplinary team. These services aim to provide a therapeutic environment, to support the achievement of beneficial treatment outcomes and goals.
Roles available include:
- Therapeutic Support Officer
- Therapeutic Support Leader
- Unit Manager
- After Hours Coordinator
- Liaison Officer
- Management roles.
Position descriptions
- Forensic Residential Services - Therapeutic Support Officer - position description
- Forensic Residential Services - Therapeutic Support Leader - position description
- Forensic Residential Services - Unit Manager (Complex) - position description
- Forensic Residential Services - Operations Manager - position description
About Forensic Residential Services
In this video, Forensic Residential Services staff describe the type of work they do in the service, as well as how they were able to find work in the department with their qualifications and experience. They mention the challenges they face and how they address those challenges through upskilling and training opportunities. They also refer to the flexibility in the workplace, which allows them to balance their work and personal lives. Staff reflect on how the skills they have developed also benefit them outside of the job and say that their work makes them feel they have the opportunity to make a difference.
Staff can enter the service without any qualifications. Staff develop knowledge and skills related to the justice system and psychological interventions through formal training ‘on the job’ .
About the Forensic Residential Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member 1: What brings me back is the uniqueness of the job, it's not a very typical nine to five sitting in front of a computer job.
Female staff member: I have studied psychology and forensic science as an undergrad. I've also got a cert four mental health, and I was basically like, where am I going to get a job that's in forensics that's going to hire me without experience?
Male staff member 2: I'm a tradie by background. So many years ago, I was in the trades, so I'm now in a completely different field that I never thought I would end up in so it's quite good.
Male staff member 3: This is more, more complex, more challenging and more involved. And you are involved in people's daily lives.
Female staff member: Some of the challenges we face every day are fitting the residents, the staffing group and the operational needs all into one to create the best outcomes possible in a day.
Male staff member 1: How we work through those challenges is, you know, upskilling the staff members, mentoring a lot of training.
Male staff member 3: To become a part of the team, they gave me a number of training. Training involving culture background, how to support people with a different culture background to communication, and justice system.
Female staff member: My workplace has been extremely helpful with you know, allowing me to study and work full time, very flexible in that aspect.
Male staff member 2: You know, I have a better relationship with my own kids now than what I think I would have if I wasn't in this field.
Male staff member 1: Skill development has really developed my confidence in dealing with the situation that I wasn't able, you know, I was really afraid to deal with when I started off. Now I'm really comfortable and I can walk in and I can think on my feet in the right, you know, and make the right decision.
Female staff member: We have a massive team, which is great because I've got lots of resources.
Male staff member 2: Knowing that you can have an opportunity to make a difference and make someone a valued member of society and keeps bringing ya back.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
About the Forensic Residential Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member 1: What brings me back is the uniqueness of the job, it's not a very typical nine to five sitting in front of a computer job.
Female staff member: I have studied psychology and forensic science as an undergrad. I've also got a cert four mental health, and I was basically like, where am I going to get a job that's in forensics that's going to hire me without experience?
Male staff member 2: I'm a tradie by background. So many years ago, I was in the trades, so I'm now in a completely different field that I never thought I would end up in so it's quite good.
Male staff member 3: This is more, more complex, more challenging and more involved. And you are involved in people's daily lives.
Female staff member: Some of the challenges we face every day are fitting the residents, the staffing group and the operational needs all into one to create the best outcomes possible in a day.
Male staff member 1: How we work through those challenges is, you know, upskilling the staff members, mentoring a lot of training.
Male staff member 3: To become a part of the team, they gave me a number of training. Training involving culture background, how to support people with a different culture background to communication, and justice system.
Female staff member: My workplace has been extremely helpful with you know, allowing me to study and work full time, very flexible in that aspect.
Male staff member 2: You know, I have a better relationship with my own kids now than what I think I would have if I wasn't in this field.
Male staff member 1: Skill development has really developed my confidence in dealing with the situation that I wasn't able, you know, I was really afraid to deal with when I started off. Now I'm really comfortable and I can walk in and I can think on my feet in the right, you know, and make the right decision.
Female staff member: We have a massive team, which is great because I've got lots of resources.
Male staff member 2: Knowing that you can have an opportunity to make a difference and make someone a valued member of society and keeps bringing ya back.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
Disability Justice Coordination
This service assesses and coordinates forensic disability supports for a person based on their needs, risks and goals and advocates for any other supports they require through other universal service systems. Disability justice coordinators support the forensic disability client to understand the court process, conditions of bail, parole and/or their order and coordinates access to interventions to reduce their risk of reoffending and any behaviours of concern that contribute to that risk, improve their quality of life and support community safety.
Roles available include:
- Disability Justice Coordinator
- Senior Disability Justice Coordinator
- Team Leader
- Liaison Officer
- Management roles
Position descriptions
- Disability Justice Coordination - Disability Justice Coordinator - position description
- Disability Justice Coordination - Senior Disability Justice Coordinator - position description
- Disability Justice Coordination - Team Leader Disability Justice Coordination - position description
About Disability Justice Coordination
In this video, disability justice coordination staff describe their role, as well as the opportunities the role can provide to allow them to grow and move within the service. They describe the opportunities they’ve been given to continue to learn through the job, including further education through university that was funded by the department. They also describe the skills that are needed to best support clients.
About the Disability Justice Coordination – Video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Female staff member 1: Our role is essentially to coordinate services for people with an intellectual cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system.
Female staff member 2: This role has, you know, multiple opportunities. I think even with the department if you want to grow and you want to move, you can go into a leadership role. You can go into an advisory role.
Female staff member 3: You know, it's really exciting, challenging, but also exciting. Like you get to learn so much, you know, that keeps me coming into this role.
Female staff member 1: You know, I was fortunate enough for the department to put me through a forensic disability course with Melbourne University, which was an amazing kind of introduction to understanding forensic disability.
Female staff member 4: I've done two specialist certificates which have been funded through the department and the specialist certificates were a sexual offender management and forensic disability and I completed those at Melbourne Uni, which was just amazing.
Female staff member 1: You know, we really need to be mindful of, I guess somebody's, what their disability needs are, their cultural needs and the best ways to actually support that person to get through those challenges.
Female staff member 3: Just being that person for the client is such a huge difference in their life. And I always and it's always such a memorable thing for me to carry wherever I go in the department, that will be something that always stick with me.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
About the Disability Justice Coordination – Video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Female staff member 1: Our role is essentially to coordinate services for people with an intellectual cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system.
Female staff member 2: This role has, you know, multiple opportunities. I think even with the department if you want to grow and you want to move, you can go into a leadership role. You can go into an advisory role.
Female staff member 3: You know, it's really exciting, challenging, but also exciting. Like you get to learn so much, you know, that keeps me coming into this role.
Female staff member 1: You know, I was fortunate enough for the department to put me through a forensic disability course with Melbourne University, which was an amazing kind of introduction to understanding forensic disability.
Female staff member 4: I've done two specialist certificates which have been funded through the department and the specialist certificates were a sexual offender management and forensic disability and I completed those at Melbourne Uni, which was just amazing.
Female staff member 1: You know, we really need to be mindful of, I guess somebody's, what their disability needs are, their cultural needs and the best ways to actually support that person to get through those challenges.
Female staff member 3: Just being that person for the client is such a huge difference in their life. And I always and it's always such a memorable thing for me to carry wherever I go in the department, that will be something that always stick with me.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
Forensic Disability Clinical Service
This service provides offence-related and offence-specific assessment and treatment programs which are targeted to people with cognitive disability. The programs aim to address criminogenic behaviour, as well as other behaviour of concern related to disability, to reduce risk of offending. This service also provides behaviour support planning and consultancy to other services and providers about the person’s forensic disability treatment and support needs.
The service also includes Youth Forensic Disability Clinical Services which is an expansion of the existing Forensic Disability Clinical Service and works with young people (10-21) and the support systems around them, such as their families, carers, care team or residential staff.
Roles available include:
- Psycho-educational trainer
- Clinician
- Practice Leader
- Management roles.
Position descriptions
- Forensic Disability Clinical Service - Psycho Educational Trainers Youth - position description
- Forensic Disability Clinical Service - Psycho Educational Trainers - position description
- Forensic Disability Clinical Service - Complex Needs Clinician - position description
- Forensic Disability Clinical Service - Clinician Youth - position description
- Forensic Disability Clinical Service - Clinical Coordinator - position description
About Forensic Disability Clinical Services
In this video, forensic disability clinical services staff describe what their role involves, and the team that they work with. One staff member details how they were able to find employment in the department, and the opportunities they’ve had that allowed them to develop and progress in the role. They further describe how their team works together in order to best assist clients, making their work rewarding and allowing them to make a difference in the community.
About the Forensic Disability Clinical Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member: I'm a psycho educational worker, who works in the clinical community team and what we do is we do assessments and deliver programs to people who are in the in the community, who are on corrections orders.
Female staff member 1: We might have some people that are psychologists or social workers or disability support officers, and we all work together in different areas to support the clients. We've got a really supportive team. We try and make sure that we're supporting each other, not just in work, but also in life.
Male staff member: So I started off in my student placement here, and then what happened is they trained me up and then they got me employment as working downstairs. And then they took me to courts and to different training sessions.
Female staff member 2: So we have a multidisciplinary team which is operational staff or treatment support officers. We have psycho educational trainers and we have senior clinicians and managers that all have different qualifications.
Female staff member 1: As part of that team we provide clinical oversight in care team meetings and provide progress updates and work together to get the best outcome for our clients.
Male staff member: I hope to keep working and moving up and trying to create more programs that help clients.
Female staff member 1: I think it's really rewarding getting to work with this clientele and trying to make a difference in the community.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
About the Forensic Disability Clinical Services – video transcript
[Opening title card: Victoria State Government – Department of Families, Fairness and Housing]
[Music plays in the background throughout the video]
Male staff member: I'm a psycho educational worker, who works in the clinical community team and what we do is we do assessments and deliver programs to people who are in the in the community, who are on corrections orders.
Female staff member 1: We might have some people that are psychologists or social workers or disability support officers, and we all work together in different areas to support the clients. We've got a really supportive team. We try and make sure that we're supporting each other, not just in work, but also in life.
Male staff member: So I started off in my student placement here, and then what happened is they trained me up and then they got me employment as working downstairs. And then they took me to courts and to different training sessions.
Female staff member 2: So we have a multidisciplinary team which is operational staff or treatment support officers. We have psycho educational trainers and we have senior clinicians and managers that all have different qualifications.
Female staff member 1: As part of that team we provide clinical oversight in care team meetings and provide progress updates and work together to get the best outcome for our clients.
Male staff member: I hope to keep working and moving up and trying to create more programs that help clients.
Female staff member 1: I think it's really rewarding getting to work with this clientele and trying to make a difference in the community.
[Closing title card: Victoria State Government – Search for jobs in Forensic Disability Services at www.careers.vic.gov.au]
Questions and answers
Common questions and answers about working in the Forensic Disability Services environment.
There are numerous allowances that may be payable to employees:
- Qualifications allowance of 4 per cent or up to 6 per cent may be payable depending on qualification level and discipline
- Clothing allowance of $592.71 per year (pro rata) payable to eligible unit-based employees
- A First Aid allowance of $21.05 per week (pro rata) for eligible employees
- Standby and Recall Allowance where applicable as part of the employees roster arrangements Forensic Skills Recognition and Retention Allowance for eligible employees in Forensic Residential Services of 2.5 per cent of the employees annual salary
- Interpreting or Translating Allowance for employees who performs casual interpreting or translating duties for eligible employees.
Find more information about employee benefits.
The department offers a host of roles that are available to graduates, people transferring from the private sector, individuals who are only just starting their career, and people who are looking for a career change.
We look for the best quality candidates at all levels, and our career structures ensure that you have the best chance possible to develop and grow within your role.
We offer unique roles that are suited to a range of abilities, whether you prefer team or independent-based work, working in an office or directly with clients, there is a position suitable for everybody.
Find more information about the diverse roles we offer.
To ensure our workforce is as strong as it can be, we commit to providing training and developmental opportunities to help you upskill in your role and progress in your talents. These opportunities can include further study and educational qualifications, conferences and seminars, and programs to further grow your knowledge.
We understand that your life can't revolve around your work and that a proper work-life balance is essential. We offer various supports to assist staff in achieving that balance, such as part-time roles, and home-based work. These arrangements are subject to your managers approval.
Our employees’ mental and physical wellbeing is highly important to us. Our Employee Wellbeing and Support Program provides services and resources to help you manage your wellbeing.
Our confidential and professional services can assist you with your relationships and family, work-life balance, emotional wellbeing, career stress, physical health, addictions, legal or financial concerns, and more.
More information
Find out more about the benefits of working within the public sector on the Victorian Government website.
Explore how a fulfilling role in Forensic Disability Services in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing can work for you: