Position overview

The Division of Allied Health within Canberra Health Services places a strong emphasis on accessible and timely care, delivered to a high standard of safety and quality. This is underpinned by the Division’s commitment to research and training. The Division works in partnership with professional colleagues, consumers, and a range of government and non-government service providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.

The Psychology team in Acute Allied Health Services provides evidence-based care to inpatients and outpatients across the Canberra Hospital (TCH) and Canberra Health Services. TCH is an acute care teaching hospital of approximately 600 beds, and a tertiary referral centre that provides a broad range of specialist services to the people of the ACT and Southeast NSW.

The Psychology team consists of Registered / Health / Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists.

An exciting opportunity exists for a psychologist (general registration / health psychologist / clinical psychologist) to join the Acute Allied Health Services Psychology team.

You may work across several areas, including:

• Inpatient  psychology services at the Canberra Hospital

The inpatient psychology service provides psychological assessment and interventions to consumers experiencing health related anxiety, depression and adjustment to chronic illness, as well as acute and chronic pain, eating disorders and functional neurological symptoms. In addition, we provide consultation, education and support to the multidisciplinary team in relation to behaviour support plans. Psychoeducation within a group setting is provided to particular consumer populations.

• Inpatient and  outpatient psychology services at the Centenary Hospital for Women and  Children.

The paediatric service supports young people and their families, including those people that are experiencing persistent pain, eating disorders, and functional symptoms. We also provide psychological interventions for other reasons, including adjustment to chronic illness.

Psychologists also support people admitted to antenatal and postnatal wards of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

• The Canberra  Region Cancer Centre (CRCC)

The CRCC is a referral cancer treatment centre for the ACT and Southern NSW caring for inpatients and outpatients receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy and haematology services. We undertake assessments and interventions to cancer patients within the inpatient and outpatient setting as.

The position reports to the Psychology Manager in Acute Allied Health Services, with day-to-day operational coordination and service planning through the associated clinical team as appropriate. Clinical supervision will be provided by a Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) approved supervisor; supervision arrangements will be negotiated with the Psychology Manager.

Depending on clinical caseloads, the position may be located at the following locations:

• The Canberra  Hospital
• Centenary Hospital  for Women and Children

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

1. Provide a high level of appropriately skilled clinical assessments and interventions to Canberra Health Service consumers, including liaising with carers and other service providers to facilitate effective service provision, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, professional practice and ethical standards.
2. Exercise independent professional judgement in solving problems and managing cases where principles, procedures and techniques require expansion, adaptation or modification.
3. Active contribution to the planning, development and evaluation of client programs and services including data collection and analysis.
4. Active contribution to the development, evaluation and analysis of policies and procedures applicable to professional practice.
5. Provide professional primary supervision and/or training to other staff and students as directed. Participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management.
6. Consult and liaise with external community agencies/groups to develop partnerships for health promotion and other service delivery activities identified in the business plan.
7. Under professional supervision, participate in and/or implement and coordinate research programs in relevant areas of service delivery, and initiate and coordinate quality improvement activities in areas of speciality.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following:

Displays skills across the eight core psychology competencies (AHPRA Psychology board, 2025)

Competency 1: Applies and builds scientific knowledge of psychology to inform safe and effective practice

Competency 2: Practises ethically and professionally

Competency 3: Exercises professional reflexivity, deliberate practice and self-care

Competency 4: Conducts psychological assessments

Competency 5: Conducts psychological interventions

Competency 6: Communicates and relates to others effectively and appropriately

Competency 7:  Demonstrates a health equity and human rights approach when working with people from diverse groups

Competency 8:  Demonstrates a health equity and human rights approach when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, families and communities

Displays organisational competencies in line with the ACT health professional work-level standards, including:

• Manage and prioritise own clinical caseload across a specific or generalised clinical area.
• As appropriate, provide close and routine supervision to entry level psychologists (P1 and P2) and AHAs in their clinical area.
• As appropriate, manage and prioritise own workload and that of the P1/2s across a specific or generalised area.
• As appropriate, supervise psychology and AHA students in their clinical area and may be responsible for co-ordination of the placement or work closely with a Clinical Educator.
• Identify opportunities for and lead professional development, quality improvement, and/or participate in research activities.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant Tertiary qualifications.
• Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia under AHPRA.
• Psychology Board of Australia approved Supervision status, or eligibility and willingness to work towards approved supervision status.

Desirable

• Psychology Board of Australia approved supervision status for provisional psychologists and registrars.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 3 years’ experience working as a psychologist.

Desirable

• 5+ years’ experience working as a psychologist in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience working with consumers experiencing disordered eating, cancer, and / or persistent pain.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven ability to provide a high level of skilled evidence-based clinical assessment and interventions to health consumers who present with complex health conditions consistent with Psychology Board of Australia professional competencies and standards.
2. Proven ability to or willingness to work towards meeting the requirements to provide clinical supervision to staff and students in accordance with Psychology Board of Australia requirements.
3. Demonstrated ability to actively participate in multidisciplinary teamwork and prioritise workload according to clinical indicators, a risk management framework and organisational requirements.
4. Demonstrated ability to evaluate psychology programs through quality improvement initiatives, and to plan and develop services to meet the needs of the clients, whilst maintaining data collection and analysis.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.