Working as a health professional in the justice system offers a chance to use different skills and make a difference to society’s vulnerable people
WHAT makes a person take up the challenge of working in the justice system?
The nurses, doctors and allied health professionals who work for Justice Health come from a variety of backgrounds.
What they have in common is a passion to make a difference in the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable people.
Many people who come into contact with the justice system in New South Wales suffer from poor physical health, and about half of them (42% of males, and 62% of females in a recent Justice Health survey) suffered from a diagnosed mental illness 12 months prior to being incarcerated.
Justice Health’s vision is to provide international best practice healthcare for those in contact with the criminal justice system.
The opportunities for staff are many, including the potential to specialise in many areas including forensic mental health, aboriginal health, women’s health, and drug and alcohol treatment.
Shona MacLeod is a Scottish nurse who quit her job at home and travelled half way around the world to pursue a career in forensic mental health.
Shona originally joined Justice Health as a casual when she was backpacking around Australia.
After returning to Scotland, Shona successfully applied for a permanent position at Justice Health and made New South Wales her permanent home.
“I found I enjoyed the challenge,” she said.
“It was a very different use of my skills, trying to be therapeutic with patients involved in the justice system.
“It’s about being sympathetic and non-judgemental and treating them as patients and individuals.”
Justice Health provides primary health care and mental health care in every jail and juvenile detention centre in the state, as well as many prison cells.
Before joining Justice Health the most common question people ask is, “Will I be safe?”
“It was a very different use of my skills, trying to be therapeutic with patients involved in the justice system.”
And what many staff say after they join the organisation, is that they feel safer working for Justice Health than they ever did working in any other hospital environment.
This is because security and safety are built in to every aspect of work, and Justice Health’s training is second to none.
“There’s very thorough risk assessment and management of patients,” Shona said.
“Staff are trained to identify these risks very quickly and are able to put strategies into place to minimise them.”
There are many opportunities for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to learn and grow with Justice Health.
For more information on career opportunities with Justice Health, visit www.jobsatjustice health.com.au