• Provision of intermediary services in the Australian Capital Territory
• Speech Pathologists; Psychologists; Social Workers; Occupational Therapists and other professionals with relevant skills are eligible to apply
• Rate of $160 (plus GST) per hour
• Multiple ACT Intermediary Panel roles available

The ACT Human Rights Commission is seeking expressions of interest from skilled professionals to be involved in an exciting program working with criminal justice and other stakeholders to elicit the best possible evidence from vulnerable witnesses to improve justice outcomes.

The ACT Intermediary Program, which commenced on 31 January 2020, is based in the Victim of Crime Commissioner’s team within the ACT Human Rights Commission. Intermediaries are accredited professionals and independent officers of the court. They provide specialised advice at police investigative interviews, to lawyers and at court to facilitate the giving of evidence by vulnerable witnesses. Currently, the Program mainly receives requests for intermediaries for matters involving child complainants in sexual assault and child witnesses in homicide matters, however, there has also been demand for the Program with matters involving adults with disabilities and other communication difficulties.

The Program model draws on the expertise of a small number of ‘in-house’ intermediaries and a larger ACT Intermediary Panel. We are presently seeking expressions of interest for membership of this panel.

Intermediaries are usually allied health professionals but may be other professionals who have extensive experience communicating with vulnerable people.

Becoming an accredited ACT intermediary is an opportunity to make a professional contribution to the effectiveness of the ACT criminal justice system.More information regarding the Program can be found here: https://hrc.act.gov.au/act-intermediary-program/.

Eligibility requirements

The following professionals are eligible to apply to become an accredited ACT Intermediary:

• Psychologists and Occupational Therapists who have full, unrestricted registration with Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency;
• Social Workers who are members of the Australian Association of Social Workers and possess a mental health accreditation;
• Speech Pathologists who are members of Speech Pathology Australia with a Practising Membership grade; and
• Other professionals (e.g., teachers with special needs experience, mental health practitioners etc.) with relevant skill sets required by the intermediary role.

Applicants must also demonstrate:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience working with people with communication and/or developmental needs including children, young people, people with a disability and older people;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional resilience; and
• Strong written communication skills.It is highly desirable that applicants also have experience engaging responsively with people who are disproportionately impacted by crime and trauma - particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and/or people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. Applicants able to demonstrate their contribution(s) in these regards will be viewed favourably.

Compulsory Intermediary Training

This training will be led by the ACT Intermediary Program with modules delivered in partnership with stakeholders including ACT Police.

Professionals who attend the above training and successfully complete the assessment requirements will become accredited ACT Intermediaries. They may then be appointed to the Intermediary Panel. The above training and assessment activities will be provided free of charge to participants.

Contact: 

If you have questions regarding the information provided above or about the ACT Intermediary Panel, please contact Laura Cilesio, Director, ACT Intermediary Program or Vanessa McKinley, Assistant Director, ACT Intermediary Program on 0434 855 030.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the subject line: ACT Intermediary Program Members enquiry via EthicalJobs.