Occupational Therapy or Social Work Graduate Program

• Are you about to graduate or have recently graduated in Occupational Therapy or Social Work?
• Salary $64,766 to $83,787 (OT/SW1) + Super + Benefits (Salary Packaging)
• A rare opportunity to practice and consolidate your discipline specific skills with a reduced caseload and significant, structured support.

Our Graduate Occupational Therapists and Social Workers are an integral part of Forensicare's commitment to progressing the discipline into the future while supporting the increased demand for forensic mental health services. The Allied Health Graduate Program is designed to provide structured, supported opportunities for qualified, entry-level health professionals to gain forensic mental health expertise and consolidate both theoretical and practical skills in a range of forensic settings. The graduate program facilitates an expansion of skills and experience with opportunities in our Hospital or Prison-based services.

About the Program:

The Allied Health Graduate Program 2026 is designed to provide structured, supported opportunities for qualified, entry-level Allied Health – Social Work or Occupational Therapy) professionals to gain forensic mental health expertise and consolidate both theoretical and practical skills in a range of forensic settings. The Program facilitates an expansion of skills and experience through movement across inpatient, community and prison-based services.

Program Length: 12 month program, commencing January 2026

Location: Prison Services - Generally located in the Western suburbs including the newly opening Lara Precinct.

Hospital Operations – Thomas Embling Hospital, located in Fairfield

Education: Monthly education sessions throughout the program

About the Role:

Graduates within the program will have the access to regular discipline specific clinical supervision, monthly interdisciplinary educations sessions, regular interdisciplinary group supervision, dedicated self-directed learning time, in addition to discipline specific supports. Working with a limited case load, within the boundaries of the profession and under the direct supervision of an experienced occupational therapist, the graduate will:

Duties:

• Participate in the occupational therapy assessment and intervention of consumers through collaborative group work and individual sessions and making discipline-specific contributions to the clinical team understanding of the consumer and their situation.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of inter-disciplinary teamwork and of connections with the broader service network.
• Plan, develop, facilitate and evaluate occupational therapy group programs in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Other duties in line with the requirements of your discipline.

About You:

• You are committed to mental health consumer recovery.
• Demonstrated willingness to work in an occupationally focused way and guided by occupational therapy practice models.
• Demonstrated commitment to the delivery of quality, recovery-focused mental health care coupled with an awareness of the issues of care-delivery in forensic mental health.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a multidisciplinary health care environment, using well-developed interpersonal skills to achieve team goals.
• A demonstrated commitment to learning through analysis of own performance, engaging in clinical supervision and professional development, and a commitment to applying this knowledge to practice.

What you need:

Occupational Therapy

• Approved degree in Occupational Therapy recognised for membership of Occupational Therapy Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).
• The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential.

Social Work

• Approved degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

A culture where people matter.

• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of all our team members.
• Well defined career pathways existing across our Directorates with multi-disciplined Teams.
• Salary Packaging Options available – Mortgage, Rent, Car, Expenses
• A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• Access to an employee assistance program – an external, confidential, self-referral employee wellbeing program, for personal or work-related matters.
• A mental health and wellbeing program providing psychological, peer support and critical incidence response programs.

Eligibility

• Influenza and Immunisation Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of RESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.