School Psychologist

About the Role

This temporary position is a full time 1.0 FTE equivalent to commence on the 03 February 2026 until the 04 February 2027.

This position will be based at Cobar High School. Please note that in addition to the base school mentioned, there may be a requirement to service other schools in the area as required. Individual temporary engagements will be created at each base school for the successful candidate.

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.

This is a truly collegiate role offering unique challenges and opportunities – both in your professional development and your ability to make an impact on the lives of children and young people.

The successful candidate will be based at Cobar High School and provided with opportunities to work across the lifespan with both primary and high school aged students. 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.

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 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.

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, 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 ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

Rural and remote incentives of between $20,000 to $30,000 per annum are available for eligible school psychologist positions, depending on the remoteness of the school, school type, in recognition of the value of the school counselling service to students in rural and remote areas

Total Remuneration Package

Package valued up to $182,461 + incentives (where applicable)

Base salary ranges from $101,122 - $160,983* 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 $156,294 SPAC salary level. Access to SPAC is available once a school psychologist has progressed through all salary steps and upon successful application for Advanced Certification level against the NSW School Counselling Service Professional Practice Framework.

Additional Information

Cobar High School is a small comprehensive secondary school located in remote NSW, 712kms northwest of Sydney on the traditional lands of the Wongaibon people who speak Ngiyampaa, with the nearest regional centre of Dubbo 300kms east. Cobar is a mining town with an approximate population of 4000 people. Students predominantly expect to gain highly paid occupations within the mining sector which does create unique challenges for the school, particularly in terms of engaging students in the notion of tertiary education. The school has a student population of around 220 students, of whom approximately 30% identify as Aboriginal and approximately 6% from a Non-English Speaking Backgrounds. Our support unit currently consists of 3 multi-categorical classes to cater for our students with additional needs. The student population is transient with on average (past 7 years) only 35% of our Year 12 HSC graduates starting their secondary education at Cobar High School. For more information, please visit the school website Cobar High School

Key accountabilities

• Provides counselling and psychological services to students, individually and in groups, including appropriate short term therapeutic interventions undertaken within the constraints of their training, experience and supervision
• Engages with and implements the procedures of the Professional Practice Framework for the NSW School Counselling Service
• Works in consultation with the principal, school executive, staff and student support services to improve student learning and wellbeing outcomes and implement current departmental priorities
• Contributes to the social, emotional, and academic development of students, and supports schools and students with complex behavioural needs
• Administers cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural assessment of students, reports on the results of assessments and interventions and collaborates to improve learning, wellbeing and mental health outcomes
• Works collaboratively with learning and support teams, parents and carers, and other agencies, to develop appropriate school based support for students
• Responds as part of a team to assist schools experiencing serious incidents
• Refers students and/or their families and carers to other agencies that will support the development of student health and wellbeing outcome

Essential Requirements

1. Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people

2. General or Provisional Psychology Registration with active internship 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. 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.
• 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.

The following questions must be addressed (half a page each):

• Experience in counselling using evidence-based interventions with a demonstrated understanding of the mental health needs of children and young people.
• Experience in the psychological assessment of children and young people, including case formulation and report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with key stakeholders to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of children and young people including students from diverse backgrounds and needs.

Documents

Role Description

Aboriginal Education Policy

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.

Note: The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Applications must be lodged electronically. No paper-based applications will be accepted.