Description:
This is a Pool process which may lead to sessional appointments.
The commencement of the substantive provisions of the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment Act) 2023 (WA) (the Act), which includes the establishment of the new Mental Impairment Review Tribunal (the Tribunal), is anticipated to be
1 September 2024. The Tribunal is accepting expressions of interest from individuals who are seeking to be appointed as Psychiatrists and Psychologists to the Tribunal.
The process will result in the establishment of a pool of suitable Psychiatrists and Psychologists that will be available to be drawn upon to make recommendations for appointment for a period of two years from when the pool is finalized.
Applicants should be aware that successful placement within the pool will not necessarily result in an appointment to the Tribunal. Appointments will be made over the two-year period of the operation of the pool as required, and as approved by Attorney General upon Cabinet approval.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Tribunal’s principal function is to administer Custody Orders (and associated Leaves of Absence) and Supervision Orders which Supervised Persons, adults and youth, are subject to. The Tribunal is also responsible for conducting internal reviews of its own decisions and considering and reporting on the need for extended orders beyond their limiting term whilst ensuring Supervised Persons are reintegrated into the community in a safe manner.
The paramount consideration of the Tribunal remains to ensure the protection of the community.
It is anticipated that the Tribunal (after commencement) will convene twice weekly with an increase in hearings developing over time. The composition of the Tribunal will vary dependent upon the type of hearings being conducted. Membership of the Tribunal will include a President, Deputy Presidents, Community Members, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and representatives from the Department of Justice and the Department of Communities.
It is anticipated that all members will be provided with reading materials electronically a week before their rostered hearing in order to prepare in their own time.
Hearings will be convened in the Perth CBD and members are expected to attend in person.
Child and adolescent specialists within their fields are also encouraged to apply.
Consideration will be given to appointing Members who reside outside of the Perth metropolitan area and engaging with the Tribunal remotely.
BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Tribunal appointments are made by the Minister upon approval by Cabinet.
Specific terms cannot exceed five years and membership to the Tribunal cannot exceed a total of 10 years.
Psychiatrists and Psychologists are appointed on a sessional basis and paid $497 per hearing which includes meeting reading, preparation and presiding at the hearing itself.
ABOUT THE MENTAL IMPAIRMENT REVIEW TRIBUNAL
The Tribunal replaces the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board.
The Tribunal is established under section 156 of the Act and is governed by the provisions contained within it. The Act relates to criminal proceedings involving intellectually impaired or mentally ill people who are charged with offences and subsequently found unfit to stand trial or acquitted by reason of unsoundness of mind (Supervised Persons).
The Act :
- expands the disposition options available to the judiciary so that community supervision orders are available for Supervised Persons;
- limits the terms of custody orders to ensure they align with the likely sentence the court would have imposed if they were sentencing the person having been found them guilty of the offence; and
- introduces procedural fairness provisions in relation to decisions of the courts and the Tribunal.
APPLICATION PROCESS
How to apply
Please ensure you review the attached Position Descriptions for further information about the requirements of the position. This information will assist you with the preparation of your application.
We require you to submit:
- A current comprehensive CV that highlights your experience and suitability for this position in the context of the Position Description which you are applying under.
- Contact details of two referees within your CV.
Pool Recruitment
This pool will be open for a period of 24 months from the day the tribunal commences. Sessional appointments may be recommended however an appointment is not guaranteed.
Candidate Search
If required, we may choose to supplement the field of applications by conducting a Candidate Search.
EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
The Tribunal is committed in building a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. We encourage the appointment of Aboriginal Australians, people with disability, youth, and other diversity groups. People with disability will be provided with reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace.
ELIGIBILITY
Successful applicants will apply for this pool under one (or more) Position Description. Each position description has a different set of criteria for eligibility and is as follows:
MIRT Psychiatrist - Must be a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
MIRT Child Psychiatrist - Must be a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and possess:
- an Advanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; or
- demonstrated experience of working with children and adolescents in a clinical setting; or
- Membership of the RANZCP Faculty of Child and Adolescent Pscychiatry.
MIRT Psychologist - Must be a Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
MIRT Child Psychologist - Must be a Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia who specialises in child and adolescent treatment.
FOR FURTHER JOB-RELATED INFORMATION
If you would like further information regarding Psychiatrists and Psychologists to the Tribunal, please email MIRT@justice.wa.gov.au
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
Applicants are requested to apply online. To submit your application, click the “Apply for Job” button at the bottom of this advertisement.
Please ensure you allow sufficient time to submit your application, as late applications will not be accepted.
If you are having difficulty submitting your online application, please telephone RAMS Helpdesk on 1300 733 056 for assistance.
To keep you up to date on what is happening in Department of Justice and job opportunities you can go directly to the departments website or follow us on social media.