Juvenile Justice Officers (JJOs) work with young people in the community to:
- reduce re-offending
- protect the community
- direct offenders toward law-abiding lifestyles to help create safer communities
What does the job involve?
JJOs use research-led, contemporary counselling and interventions to achieve positive behaviour change in young offenders. JJOs supervise young offenders in the community and provide advice and reports to courts and releasing authorities, based on assessment and analysis of offending behaviour. JJOs work in community based centres, program centres, detention centres and the courts.
Each JJO is allocated a number of young offenders to work with. They meet these young people on a regular basis to help them build a law-abiding lifestyle. This may involve the JJO developing a rehabilitation program for the offender, linking them with other services for treatment programs, ensuring they comply with supervision orders from the courts, or checking to see they have completed any community work requirements.
What are the pay and conditions?
- a highly-competitive starting salary
- a 37.5 hour working week
- non-contributory superannuation
- four weeks annual leave, 15 days personal leave and long service leave after seven years of service
- study assistance
- full on-the-job and off-site training
- opportunities to travel and to work in regional areas, with housing assistance.
Salary
$57,192 to $60,444 per annum
Who are we looking for?
JJOs come from a variety of backgrounds – some are social work or psychology graduates while others come from experienced leadership roles in the community – and all bring personal strengths, skills and experience to the positions.
Effective JJOs have a broad range of skills and abilities to meet the demands of these diverse roles. They are committed to helping people and have a resilient approach to the challenges that are associated with working with offenders.
It is important that JJOs are able to build a rapport with young people.
Key qualities of a JJO are:
- cultural understanding and sensitivity
- ability to work in a challenging environment that requires face-to-face dealings with offenders
- strong communication skills to counsel and manage offenders
- problem-solving and analytical skills and able to respond in high-pressure situations
- productive in a team or when working alone
- strong time management and organisational skills to effectively manage people, tasks and activities.
Eligibility, assessment, selection and appointment processes
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to apply for the position of Juvenile Justice Officer you must:
- be prepared to undergo criminal history screening and possibly Departmental integrity checking for convictions or associations that may compromise your employment within the offender management industry. There are certain offences and or associations that can disqualify your application.
- obtain the relevant clearance under the Working with Children (WWC) (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (the Department of Corrective Services will apply for this on your behalf during the first week of training).
Assessment and testing requirements
Applicants must successfully complete all assessments used in the selection process to be placed in the appointment pool and considered for employment. These assessments include:
- eligibility and identification checks
- Departmental application process and selection panel interview
- criminal history screening (this is undertaken by the Department following receipt of applications – applicants are not required to obtain a police clearance) and possibly integrity checking (in-house)
- Working with Children check on the commencement of training.
Appointment and offer of employment
Successful applicants will be placed in a Juvenile Justice Officer appointment pool and will be considered for employment as vacancies become available.
Placement in the appointment pool does not guarantee an offer of employment.
Successful applicants offered employment will complete a 12-week training course, normally held at the Training Academy located in Bentley, WA, during which the JJO is required to demonstrate specific skills, knowledge and performance requirements. This is followed by the completion of a nine-month, on-the-job practical and competency based qualification. Upon the successful completion of their training, JJOs become eligible for permanent appointment.
How to apply
The Department regularly conducts recruitment campaigns for JJO vacancies (usually around March and October).
Additional information is available in the Juvenile Justice Officer - You just can't ignore it, can you? recruitment brochure.
Contact details
Community and Juvenile Justice
141 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9264 1779
Facsimile: (08) 9264 6237
Contact Community and Juvenile Justice
Last Updated: 3-Sep-2009
[ Back to Top ]
