Allied health
The allied health workforce is a diverse group of individual professions who work in a health-care team to support a patient’s medical care.
Within Justice Health NSW, there are 15 allied health professions. Together, these allied health professionals provide holistic and specialised diagnostic, technical, treatment and rehabilitation services to patients. These services aim to identify a patient’s strengths and challenges (including medical conditions and disorders), collaborate on treatment and recovery/care planning, and enhance and maintain a patient’s function and their physical, psychosocial, and cultural health.
In addition to the professions listed below, allied health staff may also occupy specific mental health roles, such as community forensic mental health clinician, community adolescent clinician, or court liaison clinician.
Allied health assistants
Allied health assistants include pharmacy assistants, dietetics assistants, speech pathology assistants, and mental health assistants. They support and assist the work of an allied health professional by undertaking a range of less complex, routine, but much needed tasks that are delegated to them by an allied health professional.
Allied health assistants enable allied health professionals to focus on more complex clinical work that cannot be undertaken by others, allowing provision of care to a greater number of patients. Depending on the allied health professionals they work to, allied health assistants may directly support the psychosocial, physical, and cultural health goals of patients, assist in equipment management and the preparation of prescriptions, and escalate clinical matters to their supervising allied health professional.
Within Justice Health NSW, allied health assistants work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), Long Bay Hospital, Palliative and Aged Care Services, and Pharmacy Services.
Art therapists
Art therapists use creative, art-based processes grounded in psychodynamic theory as part of therapeutic practice with patients to facilitate self-expression, communication, self-awareness, and personal development. Art therapy is a strength-based intervention that assists patients to express themselves when they may be having difficulty and actively participate in recovery planning.
Within Justice Health NSW, our art therapists work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital).
Counsellors
Counsellors works with patients on a range of issues, such as dealing with matters that affect their mental health, or social or emotional wellbeing, or situations impacting on their personal lives.
Our Aboriginal counsellor positions aim to deliver holistic, culturally safe services to Aboriginal patients. They do this by focusing on a patient’s social and emotional wellbeing, including connection to country, culture, and spirituality, and working to reduce the challenges and barriers experienced by Aboriginal people to facilitate better health outcomes for Aboriginal patients.
Within Justice Health NSW, our counsellors work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), Adult Survivor Program, Drug and Alcohol Services, Community Forensic Mental Health Services, and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Dietitians
Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. They provide guidance about how to appropriately manage diets and nutrition for people who may be affected by health conditions such as diabetes, overweight and obesity, cancer, heart disease, renal disease, gastro-intestinal diseases, and food allergies. A dietitian can help people maintain their health and reduce their risk of developing chronic disease.
Within Justice Health NSW, our dietitians work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), the Long Bay Hospital, and Palliative and Aged Care Services.
Diversional therapists
Diversional therapists work with patients who experience barriers to participating in leisure and recreational activities. Diversional therapists assess a patient’s needs to design, implement, and evaluate person-centred and meaningful recreational and leisure services. These services are aimed at enhancing a patient’s mental, physical, social and emotional wellbeing through designing activities that suit the personal goals and strengths of each patient.
Within Justice Health NSW, our diversional therapists work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital).
Exercise physiologists
Exercise physiologists deliver clinical exercise intervention, such as exercise prescription, health and physical activity education, advice, and support for patients with acute, sub-acute or chronic conditions, injuries, or disabilities. Interventions typically focus on lifestyle modification and behavioural change. Exercise physiologists support a broad range of patient concerns, including but not limited to, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and neurological issues, as well as those who may be at risk of developing a medical condition or injury.
Within Justice Health NSW, our exercise physiologists work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital).
Medical imaging professionals
Medical imaging professionals includes radiographers and sonographers. Medical imaging professionals produce images of the human body to assist in the diagnosis and subsequent management of illness or injury.
Within Justice Health NSW, our medical imaging professionals provide an ultrasound service to patients at Long Bay and Metropolitan Reception and Remand Correctional Centres, and general x-ray and dental OPG x-ray service to patients at Long Bay, Metropolitan Reception and Remand, Silverwater Women’s, Goulburn, South Coast, Wellington, and Mid North Coast Correctional Centres.
Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists support patients to participate fully in the activities of everyday life and engage in meaningful occupations. Occupational therapists do this by using specific activities to enable patients to do things that will enhance their participation. This includes helping patients cope with demands, adapt to tasks, and overcome challenges. Occupational therapists may assist patients with routine and time management, equipment prescription, self-care, activities of daily living, cooking, computers skills, community living skills, study, and leisure activities.
Within Justice Health NSW, our occupational therapists work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), Palliative and Aged Care Services, Long Bay Hospital, the Community Forensic Mental Health Service, and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists provide pharmaceutical services and medication management oversight to all adult and adolescent custodial centres. This includes ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient dispensing of medications, along with the provision of a quality pharmacy service and advice to patients and staff of Justice Health NSW.
Within Justice Health NSW, our pharmacists provide a state-wide pharmaceutical service within the NSW custodial environment and in the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital).
Psychologists
Psychologists specialise in the assessment, formulation and management of mental health conditions and challenging or problem behaviours. In a forensic mental health context, psychologists engage in multimodal assessment including clinical, personality, cognitive/neuropsychological and risk assessment, functional analysis, and case formulation, in order to inform therapeutic interventions and strategies to manage mental health symptoms and reduce the risk of offending. In addition to supporting mental health recovery, our psychologists help patients understand and address the factors that have led them to come into contact with the criminal justice system, such as mental health, substance use, trauma, and difficulties with emotional regulation.
Within Justice Health NSW, our clinical and forensic psychologists primarily work in the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), the Community Forensic Mental Health Service, Adolescent Mental Health Services, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Forensic Mental Health Research.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists address the prevention, assessment, and treatment of human movement disorders. Physiotherapists treat patients with physical difficulties including those with musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory, orthopedic, burns, and spinal cord injuries.
Within Justice Health NSW, our physiotherapists provide a state-wide service to patients within the NSW adult custodial environment.
Podiatrists
Podiatrists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat foot and lower limb problems including skin or nail problems, foot and ankle injuries, foot complications related to diabetes and other medical conditions and problems with gait or walking. Preventative care, education and advice is also part of the role, focussing on how to improve mobility, independence, and quality of life.
Within Justice Health NSW, our podiatrist works in Primary Care, primarily with the Palliative, Aged and high-risk foot populations.
Social workers
Social workers aim to help patients develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems. As part of their role, social workers consider a patient’s individual and personal problems within the context of broader social issues. Social workers also collaborate with patients for admission and discharge planning, liaise with external stakeholders, and provide advocacy.
Within Justice Health NSW, our social workers work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), Long Bay Hospital, Adolescent Mental Health Services, and in Palliative and Aged Care Services.
Speech pathologists
Speech pathologists provide speech, language and augmentative communication and swallowing assessment, therapy, management, consultation, and support. Speech pathologists aim to improve a patient’s communication and swallowing skills through evidence-based intervention, enabling patients to understand and participate in their treatment, recovery, and ultimately, all aspects of their life.
Within Justice Health NSW, our speech pathologists work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital), Palliative and Aged Care Services, and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Lived experience workforce
Peer workers
Peer workers use their lived experience of mental ill-health, alcohol and drug issues, and/or the justice system to provide unique support to patients. They offer practical and emotional support to patients using their own lived experience to build health literacy, foster hope, and model recovery. They also act as a ‘bridge’ between the patient and the health care team, which supports patients to engage in their recovery and feel included in their care plans. With knowledge of trauma-informed care, peer workers are able to walk alongside patients on their recovery journey.
Within Justice Health NSW, our peer workers work at the high-secure inpatient setting (the Forensic Hospital) and in Community Forensic Mental Health Services.