Prevention and Diversion Officer - Department of Corrective Services

Prevention and Diversion
Officer
Package up to $84,400

Prevention and Diversion Officer
– Halls Creek, Kununurra,
Wyndham
Level 4 PSGA
Information for Applicants
This booklet contains information about the Department of Corrective Services, the
duties of the Prevention and Diversion Officers, how to apply and an overview of the
recruitment and selection process.
About the Department of Corrective Services ................................. Page 3
The role ............................................................................................... Page 4
Benefits .............................................................................................. Page 4
How to apply .................................................................................... Page 4
Recruitment and selection assessments ......................................... Page 5
For more information about the position, please contact Cheryl Mavor on (08) 9264
1064 or at cheryl.mavor@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au for a confidential discussion.
The Department of Corrective Services is committed to ensuring that its workforce reflects the
diversity of the community it serves by encouraging people from all parts of the community
including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women and people from diverse
linguistic and cultural backgrounds to apply.
Current at October 2010
© Department of Corrective Services, Western Australia 2010

About the Department of Corrective Services
The Department of Corrective Services was formed in February 2006, separating
from the Department of Justice, to manage adult and young offenders in custody and
in the community.
The Department looks after 13 state prisons, one privately managed prison, six work
camps and two detention centers, as well as people on probation, parole and other
community orders.
The Department reports to the Minister for Corrective Services, the Hon C. Christian
Porter MLA, and is headed by Commissioner Ian Johnson.
The key focus is to contribute to community safety by upholding the integrity of
custodial and non-custodial sentences and by positively influencing offender
behaviour to reduce re-offending and encourage law-abiding lifestyles.
The Department aims to provide an environment that encourages self-respect and
respect for others, embraces diverse cultural backgrounds and provides best
opportunities for positive change.
Youth Justice Services
Youth Justice Services works with young people who offend, or are at risk of
offending and their families to create safer homes and communities.
In dealing with young people, Youth Justice Services staff believe that:
Families play an extremely important and ongoing role in helping a young
person change their behaviour
A young person should be continually offered the chance to change their
behaviour
Young people should be assessed to find out the best way to stop them from
breaking the law
All young people must be treated with cultural sensitivity
Young people should only go into detention when all other options have failed
or when the offence is extremely serious.
To achieve this, the Department also works with other agencies which can help
young people and their families.
The range of services and programs offered by the Department to young people and
their families fall into four main areas:
Preventing and diverting young people from entering detention centres.
Helping young people complete community-based sentences after they have
been convicted of a crime.
Intervening with young people and their families to help them get back on
track when a young person develops a criminal record.
Working with young people in detention or coming out of detention.
In recent years, the Department has combined these services in two regional
locations and in the metropolitan area. These services now offer a complete youth

justice service which can help young people no matter what the offence. The
Regional Youth Justice Services in the Goldfields and Mid-West Gascoyne started
operating in 2008, followed by the introduction of metropolitan Youth Justice Services
throughout Perth in 2009.
The DCS locations map, available at www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au/youth-justice
provides more information about where our staff are located.
The role
Prevention and Diversion Officers link young people with longer term specialist
support and work in partnership with local police, government agencies and family
members to provide support.
They provide short term crisis intervention, mediation or other assistance to target
offending behaviours whilst supporting families.
Prevention and Diversion Officers are responsible for assessing and placing young
people into the Youth Bail Options Program.
An understanding of Aboriginal culture is important, with a demonstrated ability to
communicate with Aboriginal youth, their families and communities.
Applicants should note that there may be a requirement to work outside of ‘normal’
business hours in these positions and to work shifts.
Eligibility requirements for this position are outlined in the Job Description Form
(JDF) attached to the job advertisement.
Benefits
Working with the Department of Corrective Services (DCS), you'll receive all the
benefits attached to a government career: job security, competitive wages, flexible
work arrangements, generous leave provisions, a supported work/life balance and
additional benefits including:
salary from $62,959 - $66,538 pa
subsidised housing for some positions in specified regional locations in the
form of rental assistance through Government Regional Officers Housing
(GROH) and the Home Ownership Subsidy Scheme (HOSS)
17.5% annual leave loading
district allowances up to $9534 pa (paid fortnightly) which are an additional
payment for staff working in specified regional locations
1 week additional annual leave and annual leave travel time for staff working
in specified regional locations
annual leave fares/concession
long service leave after 7 years continuous service
salary packaging – visit www.smartsalary.com.au for more details
up to $2295 pa ATO zone rebate on tax.
Working in DCS, you'll constantly learn, face new challenges and negotiate changing
circumstances.

Plus you'll be working with a team that's making a positive difference to the lives of
others.
How to apply
Your application is important as it will be used to determine your suitability to
progress to the next stage of the assessment and selection process.
Our preferred method for lodgement of applications is online at www.jobs.wa.gov.au
You will need to submit:
1. A covering letter (no more than two pages) that highlights your suitability for this
position in the context of the work-related (selection criteria) requirements and
responsibilities of the position contained in the Job Description Form attached to
the job advertisement. PLEASE DO NOT WRITE A SEPARATE STATEMENT
ADDRESSING THE SELECTION CRITERIA.
There are several Prevention and Diversion Officer positions available in the
following locations:
Halls Creek
Kununurra
Wyndham
Please list your location preference/s in your covering letter.
2. A current comprehensive Resume including the contact details of two work related
referees who can confirm your achievements relevant to this position. Please note
that in order to streamline the recruitment process, referees may be contacted prior
to interview. Candidates will be notified if this is to occur.
Your covering letter and Resume will provide the selection panel with a solid base
from which to assess your suitability for the position.
Applicants who are shortlisted for further assessment will be assessed against all
selection criteria listed in the Job Description Form (attached to the job
advertisement) throughout the selection process. There is no need to write a
response to the selection criteria as your covering letter will provide this information.
All applicants assessed as suitable by the selection panel will be placed in the
appointment pool.
Applicants in the appointment pool, who are not immediately appointed, may be
considered for any similar vacancies that arise in the 12 months from the date of
selection panel’s decision.
Alternatively, if you are unable to apply online, you can:
Fax: (08) 9264 6149
Hand delivery: Reception Level 12,141 St Georges Terrace (applications must be
securely stapled)

Post: Attention: Employment Assistant, Recruitment, Org Data and Classification
Services Directorate, Department of the Attorney General, GPO Box F317, Perth WA
6841
Please note: emailed and late applications can not be accepted.
Applications close Monday 29th November at 4.30 pm.
Recruitment and selection assessments
Applicants should note that interviews may be conducted between mid December
2010 - end of January 2011 in the region where the position is located. If you will be
unavailable at this location, please ensure you provide a contact phone number
where you can be reached as telephone interviews may be conducted.
If applicants wish to travel to the position location for the interview, travel will be at
their own expense.
Criminal History Records check
All Department of Corrective Services employees are required to undergo a National
Criminal History check. A previous criminal conviction or pending charge may not
necessarily preclude a person from being employed with the Department.
Any other eligibility requirements are outlined in the Job Description Form (JDF)
attached to the job advertisement.
Feedback
All applicants will receive a letter at the conclusion of the recruitment process
advising the outcome of their application. The letter will include an invitation to seek
feedback. Gaining feedback about your application is as equally important for
successful and unsuccessful applicants.
Feedback on the panels’ assessment of your application will help you to understand
how the selection panel made their decision.
Thankyou for your interest in a career with the Department of Corrective Services.