Program Coach - Transform Lives Program (Townsville)

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why. 

Griffith was created to be a different type of university.  You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them. 

Why? Griffith brings together exceptional minds like yours from across the globe and from all walks of life. Here, we do incredible work, questioning and challenging, always in the pursuit of excellence. 

The Griffith Criminology Institute (GCI) is a large, diverse, and high-performing group of scholars focused on crime and justice issues. Through collaboration and innovation our research is helping find solutions to universal problems. GCI hosts the Transforming Corrections to Transform Lives Centre. The Centre’s vision is to support mothers and their children to have safe, dignified, and fulfilling lives, breaking down intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and incarceration, by transforming systems and generating new knowledge for evidence-based programs. 

The Transforming Corrections to Transform Lives (TCTL) Centre is seeking to appoint a part-time Program Coach to join our Townsville team. Program Coaches deliver a model of care that provides mothers, including First Nations’ mothers and children, with support during their prison sentence and post-release. The program aspires to ensure that mothers are provided with continuity of care until they have sufficient stability and are sufficiently empowered to continue meeting their needs, improving their own lives, and supporting the positive development of their children. TCTL acknowledges that in Australia, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are overrepresented in prison populations. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply. 

The program of support will: 

• Be multimodal in its approach, addressing not just parenting skills but also mental health needs, substance use challenges, housing needs, etc. 
• Be intensive, women centred and provide innovative clinical case management services to women and their families. 
• Be multisystemic, working across the multiple developmental systems that parents and children have contact with (e.g., prisons, family, schools, community, employment, housing, multiple agencies, and service providers). 
• Work with parents and their children during the custody period and for a substantial period after release.  
• Be rigorously evaluated by the TCTL Centre researchers. 

Key responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to: 

• Implementing the trial of the Transform Lives Program in Queensland women’s correctional centres and in the community, including the implementation of individual and ongoing case planning and support for mothers and their children. 
• Drawing on emerging best practice in working with families of prisoners, families with complex needs, and First Nations families, to provide mothers and their children with continuity of support, proportionate to needs, during custody and for up to three years after the mother returns to the community. 
• Preparing high quality initial and progressive assessment documents, identifying and responding appropriately to the needs of mothers and their children.  
• Developing and maintaining strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders and service providers in the community to support the work of the Transform Lives Program. 
• Supporting the collection of relevant research and evaluation data required to establish the effectiveness of the Transform Lives Program. 

About you 

The occupant of this position will hold a four-year undergraduate degree in social work or psychology or a related discipline and be eligible for registration with relevant professional bodies. Applicants who do not hold this qualification level but have an equivalent combination of training, education and experience are encouraged to apply or make contact to discuss their suitability for the role. 

You will demonstrate a breadth and depth of professional skills and knowledge in the human services/social work/community service/youth work field with excellent knowledge of the issues affecting incarcerated women and their children.  

You will have strong ability and experience in working effectively with First Nations women and children and understand and respect First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing, and knowledge of the issues that may impact them in contemporary society and in a forensic context. You will have demonstrated experience working cross culturally with a solid understanding of cultural competency. 

You will also have: 

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and effectively with government and non-government agencies and with clients and their families through the use of well-developed communication, consultation and conflict resolution skills. 
• Knowledge of ethical and legal principles involved in working with mothers in prison or on community correctional orders and working with minors. 
• Knowledge of (or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of) social ecological, multisystemic and multi-agency case conceptualisation, intervention and support, and First People cultures and the issues that may impact upon them in contemporary society and in a forensic context. 
• High-level interpersonal skills and highly developed verbal and written communication skills as well as strong organisational skills.
• Ability to be self-motivated and able to demonstrate a high level of individual initiative, discretion, attention to detail and judgement.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal supervision to meet competing deadlines and work effectively as a team member. 

You must hold a valid driver’s licence for Queensland. Applicants must undertake and pass, on an annual basis, a Criminal History Check for the purposes of entering correctional centres. You must hold a valid blue card in Queensland or be eligible to obtain one upon appointment. 

The TCTL Centre is committed to ensuring that program delivery and evaluation recognises, respects, and is inclusive of, Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. 

What we can offer 

This is a part-time (0.6FTE), fixed term position (to 30 June 2027) with a potential for extension primarily based at our Transform Lives Program, Townsville Office. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations. Griffith University’s campuses are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

It is expected that the successful candidate will undertake regular travel within North Queensland, meeting with stakeholders, partners, Program Managers and mothers and their children in the Program. A vehicle (or expense provision) will be provided to support the successful candidate in carrying out their duties. 

Salary Range 

The base salary for a Program Coach will be appointed at Clinician Level 1 or 2.  The full-time equivalent base salary for a Clinician Level 1 is in the range $99,404 - $108,541 per annum, , plus 17% employer superannuation.  The full-time equivalent base salary for a Clinician Level 2 is in the range $115,552 - $124,485 per annum, plus 17% employer superannuation. 

Why Griffith? 

As a values-led organisation, at Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a dynamic and strong organisational culture. We offer: 

• Wide range of Learning and Development opportunities 
• Salary packaging options and corporate health discounts 
• Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave and leave loading 
• Support with future learning opportunities through our educational staff assistance scheme 

How to Apply 

At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience. 

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy. 

Please submit your application online and ensure it includes the following: 

• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role (please refer to the About you section above and the position description) 
• Current curriculum vitae/resume including full contact details 

Applicants must have unrestricted work rights. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal history check.

For further information specifically about this role, please contact Kate Jacka, Program Manager at [email protected] or phone 0421 645 656.

For application queries, please contact People Services on (07) 373 54011 and quote reference number REF8226M.

Closing date: Monday, 4 August 2025 at 11.59pm AEST.  All applications must be submitted online.