Working with the Department of Justice means a steady income and stable job with regular hours for tradespeople and services staff.
If you have professional experience or are qualified in cleaning or laundry, canteen or retail management, library services, recreation, administration, logistics or warehousing, why not trade on your skills and apply to become a Vocational Support Officer (VSO). The Department of Justice employs VSOs to support the rehabilitative journey of prisoners around WA.
VSOs share their industry knowledge with adult prisoners and equip them with valuable work and life skills. This important role benefits prisoners during their time in custody and when they return to the community.
VSOs provide a range of opportunities for people in custody such as teaching laundry, cleaning, and general services.
VSOs impart valuable skills to enhance future employment prospects for prisoners, while teaching them responsibility and teamwork and help build pride in their ability to achieve.
Keeping food and textile production in-house also offers the prison estate a high level of self-sufficiency.
VSO roles are generally advertised in response to operational requirements as vacancies arise. We encourage applicants to regularly monitor the Department of Justice Jobs Board, where each advertisement will include detailed instructions on the application process.
For more information on the variety of VSO positions the Department has to offer, refer to the position descriptor guide.
Hear from some of our VSOs
Meet Francis
Meet Helen
Meet Jarred and Jarvis
Meet Jane
Meet Mike
Current job opportunities
Show moreThe Department offers a diverse range of roles that may align with your experiences and skills. To explore career opportunities and find a suitable role within Corrective Services you can review current vacancies.
The Role
Show moreYou'll not only help deliver community and industry programs aimed at preventing re-offending and encouraging prisoner participation, you'll also be making a positive difference in prisoners' lives.
Our vocational support officers provide training to prisoners and manage programs aimed at increasing the prisons' self-sufficiency and raising commercial return.
You'll also need to ensure that your work environment complies with occupational safety and health regulations and production meets quality standards.
The benefits
Show moreOur Vocational Support Officers enjoy a range of great benefits including:
- employment security
- flexible working conditions
- generous leave entitlements including:
- 5 or 6 weeks annual leave plus 17.5% leave loading
- personal leave
- parental leave (paid and unpaid)
- study leave
- long service leave after 7 years
- purchased leave
- competitive salary: $76,029 - $125,888 per annum* plus superannuation (* Salary dependent on the position and according to the hours of duty and/or shift requirements)
- regional incentives (depending on the location)
- opportunities for promotion
- supplied uniforms
- the ability to utilise your trade skills to make a real difference to the lives of others.
* Note: some vocational support officer positions do not require qualifications and some involve shift work.
Eligibility
Show moreWhen positions are advertised, the eligibility requirements will be outlined in the Application Package, including the specific salary range applicable to the position and the trade qualifications or skills required.
In addition you will need to:
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen.
- Possess a current valid class “C” or “CA” motor vehicle driving licence (or relevant class required for the position, if applicable).
- Possess a current valid Provide First Aid accreditation (or equivalent eg Senior First Aid) received from an accredited training provider with a minimum of 12 months validity remaining.
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