Take your career further
Working in the criminal justice system requires specialised training for all staff across our health service. Health professionals, managers, administrative and support staff are all actively encouraged to participate in development programs and activities.
We coordinate a program of internal and external learning and development opportunities to assist staff and managers in identifying and planning their professional development.
Graduate Nurse Programs
Launch your nursing career in a unique, supportive, and impactful healthcare environment.
If you’re passionate about making a real difference in healthcare, Justice Health NSW offers an exceptional graduate nurse program designed to develop your skills and support your growth. Join us and work in diverse, challenging environments while providing world-class care to patients within the justice system.
Why Choose Justice Health NSW?
- Supportive environment with clinicians and preceptors
- Work in a unique high secure healthcare settings i.e. correctional facilities and forensic mental health units
- Competitive pay with highest graduate nurse salaries in NSW Health
- Free parking at all locations
Our Graduate Nurse Programs
Justice Health NSW offers three programs tailored to your interests and career goals:
1. Custodial Health Program
Explore primary health nursing in correctional settings:
- Metro Pathway: Metropolitan correctional health facilities
- Rural Pathway: Rural correctional health facilities
2. Rural-Rural Exchange Program
Experience varied care in partnership with Western NSW and Mid North Coast Local Health Districts
3. Mental Health Program
Specialise in mental health care within forensic and secure settings, focusing on therapeutic engagement and recovery-oriented practice.
Where You'll Work
Depending on the program and pathways you select, you may experience nursing across multiple unique settings, including:
- High, medium, and low secure custodial health centres
- Assertive mental health care and treatment in custodial settings
- The Forensic Hospital covering a broad clinical spectrum
- Youth Justice Centres
What You’ll Do as a Nurse at Justice Health NSW
- Conduct comprehensive health screenings and assessments
- Provide day-to-day nursing care, medication management, and health promotion
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to support patient recovery
- Deliver forensic mental health care, including therapeutic engagement and risk management*
(*) Applicable only within the Graduate Nurse Mental Health Program
Graduate Program Benefits
- Extensive orientation and core education days throughout the year
- 5 supernumerary days at the start of each rotation
- Environmental and Productivity Allowance – the highest pay for graduate nurses in NSW Health
- Dedicated preceptors during all rotations
- Access to clinical supervision
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Justice Health NSW part of NSW Health?
Yes, it’s a specialty network within NSW Public Health. - Are international nurses eligible?
Yes, international nurses are encouraged to apply but will require a visa that allows them to work in Australia for the duration of the program. - What unique opportunities does the program offer?
Experience working in correctional centres, mental health units, and rural exchange programs.
Ready to start your rewarding nursing career with Justice Health NSW?
Applications for the 2026 intake are accepted through the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO) centralised recruitment website.
For more information email: jhfmhn-nursingandmidwiferyoffice@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9700 2288.
Program details
This is a structured program with a comprehensive orientation, paid ongoing education days, and reflective supervision supported by the clinical experts in the specialist areas.
You'll be provided with an opportunity to provide value based, quality care to vulnerable populations, receiving:
- a gateway to a unique and rewarding career with many opportunities for professional development and career advancement
- a supportive environment that assists graduate nurses transition to the workplace and develop as safe and confident clinicians
- a comprehensive orientation program
- education days and mandatory training
- 6-monthly clinical rotation, dependent on the allocated facility
- access to reflective clinical supervision
- clinical support and education from clinical nurse educators and experienced specialty clinicians.
- accreditation training for venepuncture and cannulation
Keen to learn more on what you’ll experience? Watch this video:
Just the Place – Custodial Nursing at Justice Health NSW
Locations
Custodial Health Metropolitan Pathway
Positions are usually offered in NSW at the following locations:
- Long Bay Correctional Complex, Malabar
- Silverwater Correctional Complex, Silverwater
- Cobham Youth Justice Centre, Werrington
- Francis Greenway Correctional Complex, Windsor
Custodial Health Rural Pathway
Positions are usually offered across NSW in the following areas:
- Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, Mid North Coast
- Cessnock Correctional Complex, Hunter New England
- Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre, Kariong
- South Coast Correctional Centre, Illawarra Shoalhaven
- Goulburn Correctional Centre, Southern NSW
- Bathurst Correctional Centre, Western NSW
- Lithgow Correctional Centre, Nepean Blue Mountains
- Junee Correctional Centre, Murrumbidgee
- Wellington Correctional Centre, Western NSW
- Macquarie Correctional Centre, Western NSW
Rural Exchange Program
Positions are usually offered across Justice Health NSW for applicants from Western NSW and Mid North Coast Local Health Districts.
Program dates
All programs begin each year between February or March.
The Custodial Health Metropolitan and Rural midyear program usually starts in July.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 intake are accepted through the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO) centralised recruitment website.
To be guaranteed an interview, select JHFMHN – Custodial Health (specific program i.e. metro or rural) as your first preference in your application.
Midyear intake
Mid-year positions are advertised via I Work for NSW website or contact us via jhfmhn-nursingandmidwiferyoffice@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9700 2288.
Program details
Our Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program will provide you with:
- a comprehensive orientation program including 5 supernumerary shifts
- 12 education days including specifically designed mental health workshops
- 3 rotations with opportunities in adolescents, acute female, and acute rehabilitation male units as well as specialised mental health areas within custodial settings
- regular reflective clinical supervision
clinical support and education from clinical nurse educators and experienced specialty clinicians - two allocated preceptors during each rotation
- gain specialised clinical skills including and not limited to venepuncture, Clinical Risk Assessment and Management (CRAM) training, Violence Prevention and Management (VPM)Team Restraints and Mechanical Restraints.
Keen to learn more on what you’ll experience, watch this video: Join the team at the Forensic Hospital in NSW, Australia
Program Locations
Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program positions are offered at the following locations:
- Forensic Hospital, Malabar
- Long Bay Hospital, Malabar
- Mental Health Screening Unit at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, Silverwater
Programs Dates
The Graduate Nurse Mental Health Programs begin each year between February or March.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 intake are accepted through the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Office (NaMO) centralised recruitment website.
To be guaranteed an interview, select JHFMHN – Mental Health Program as your first preference in your application.
For more information email: jhfmhn-nursingandmidwiferyoffice@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9700 2288.
Program details
Mental Health Transitions Program (MHTP) provides support to newly Graduated Enrolled Nurses or Existing EN1 – EN5, who are transitioning to Justice Health NSW for the first time. The MHTP is designed to support enrolled nurses who have completed their learning and are entering the clinical workforce for the first time since graduating or would like to transition from general nursing to forensic mental health.
Our Program provides the following:
- an opportunity for newly Graduated Enrolled Nurses or Existing EN1 – EN5 to transition into a forensic mental health setting.
- a supportive environment that assists Graduated Enrolled Nurses or Existing EN1 – EN5 to the workplace and develop as safe and confident clinicians.
- a comprehensive orientation program alongside Graduate Registered Nurses.
- core study days and mandatory training targeted for Enrolled Nurses.
- 3 rotations with opportunities in adolescents, acute female, and acute rehabilitation male units.
- access to reflective clinical supervision.
- clinical support and education from clinical nurse educators and experienced specialty clinicians.
- allocated preceptors during each rotation.
- gain specialised clinical skills including and not limited to venepuncture, Clinical Risk Assessment and Management (CRAM) training, Violence Prevention and Management (VPM)Team Restraints and Mechanical Restraints.
Locations
Mental Health Transition Program positions are offered at the Forensic Hospital, Malabar.
How to apply
Recruitment for the Mental Health Transitions Program is based on availability and does not follow a set schedule. When positions become available, they are advertised on the I Work for NSW website. We encourage interested applicants to check the site regularly for updates.
For more information email: jhfmhn-nursingandmidwiferyoffice@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9700 2288.
Masters of Forensic Mental Health
The University of New Soth Wales offers a Masters of Mental Health where students can learn the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal, civil, child and family forensic mental health sub-specialties.
Masters of Custodial Health
The University of Newcastle offers you the opportunity to tailor your studies to your specialist area of custodial health while building your knowledge with a strong social justice philosophy.
Graduate Certificate in Custodial Health
Gain advanced specialist knowledge and skills, specific to the health needs of people in touch with the criminal justice system.
Student Clinical Placements
Justice Health NSW aims to break down barriers to clinical training within high secure forensic and custodial environments for undergraduate health professionals.
The Student Placement Program co-ordinates clinical placements of all undergraduate students across Justice Health NSW. The program has been developed in consultation with education providers to help students experience a range of clinical experiences that enhance their educational understanding of health care in custodial settings.
These placements offer an opportunity to participate in a multidisciplinary team in custodial, community and forensic mental health environments.
A valid Student Placement Agreement and Operational Schedule between Justice Health NSW and the Education Provider are required before students can attend placements.
All placements are booked through ClinConnect, which is a web-based application that supports Local Health Districts and the Education Provider to facilitate and manage clinical training demand and capacity. The ClinConnect Coordinator for Justice Health NSW is the Student Placement Coordinator.
Contact us
All enquiries regarding student placement should be directed via email to JHFMHN-StudentPlacements@health.nsw.gov.au.
Clinical supervision
Clinical supervision is a support strategy designed to promote the professional development of Justice Health NSW staff. Clinical supervision ensures that our staff practice in a competent, accountable and ethical manner. It is also an opportunity for staff to reflect on their work practice with another trained professional. Sessions are scheduled at a mutually agreed time, usually monthly.
The aim of clinical supervision is to facilitate a formal process of professional support and learning which enables individuals to develop knowledge and competence and assume responsibility for their own practice. Justice Health NSW promotes quality patient care and we maintain that quality by encouraging and supporting skilled, competent and committed staff, dedicated to continuous professional development.
Workforce Development Coordinator, Aboriginal Health Unit
Email: JHFMHN-AboriginalWorkforce@health.nsw.gov.au
Contact Justice Health NSW Recruitment
Email: JHFMHN-Talent@health.nsw.gov.au
Post: PO Box 150, Matraville NSW 2036
Phone:(02) 9700 3000