The role

• Assess how medical, psychological and social factors affect a customer’s current and future capacity to work, identifying and recommending services for customers with barriers to employment.
• Investigate, analyse and assess complex and sensitive medical information to make recommendations in line with policy, service guidelines and legislation. 
• Arrange and/or deliver specialist health assessments in accordance with agency guidelines by phone, video and face to face. 
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including treating health professionals, to gather medical information and make referrals.
• Prepare evidence-based reports and written documents in the required format and within timeframes.
• Maintain customer records according to procedures and guidelines and professional standards.
• Review escalated medical and non-medical issues and refer matters to senior staff, when required.
• Collaborate with other staff to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of professional and technical advice.

Job description

Health and allied health professionals use professional judgement to assess how medical, psychological and social factors affect a person’s capacity to work and access payments and services. They analyse complex information, engage directly with customers, and write clear, evidence-based outcomes that support fair, consistent and defensible decisions.

Assessors – Health and allied health professionals conduct complex assessments, interpret evidence and provide advice on capacity to work and service needs. They engage directly with customers and stakeholders and contribute to accurate, timely and defensible outcomes. Psychologists also conduct psychometric assessments and write specialist reports.

Assessors – Health and allied health professionals providing these services hold a professional qualification in one of the following disciplines: 

• Exercise Physiology 
• Occupational Therapy 
• Physiotherapy 
• Psychology 
• Registered Nursing 
• Rehabilitation Counselling 
• Social Work 
• Speech Pathology

To learn more about what the role involves on a day-to-day basis, watch the Day in the Life of an Assessor video.

Eligibility requirements

Essential Requirements: 

• Mandatory qualifications:

Qualifications for the relevant profession: psychologists, registered nurses, exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation counsellors, social workers or speech pathologists.

• Professional registration:

Psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and registered nurses must be fully registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 

Exercise physiologists must have full membership of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). 

Rehabilitation counsellors must have full membership with the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC). 

Social workers must be eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). 

Speech Pathologists must be Certified Practising members with Speech Pathology Australia.

• Working with Children or Vulnerable Persons Check:

The role requires direct/indirect contact with children/vulnerable groups without supervision.

All Assessors require a Working With Children or Vulnerable Persons Check, except in WA or if AHPRA registered in QLD.

• Security Clearance:

Some positions may require a security clearance. These are identified on an individual basis.

In accordance with section 22(6) of the Public Service Act 1999, Services Australia requires applicants to be Australian citizens to be eligible for employment with Services Australia. 

An applicant’s suitability for employment with the agency will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes but is not limited to a national police history check, referee checks, code of conduct check and an employment history integrity check.

Some positions within Services Australia may be required to work in settings where mandatory vaccinations are required. Staff in such positions will need to demonstrate that they meet the vaccination requirements or have a relevant exemption.

About the agency

We touch the lives of nearly every Australian. We’re responsible for helping people meet life’s challenges, but we don’t just serve the community we work with, we’re part of it. As one of Australia’s largest public sector employers, we offer meaningful work in every corner of the country. We’re one agency with many possibilities. When you work with us, you’ll be doing something that matters, and you’ll be valued for the unique views and skills you bring to the agency. We embrace and celebrate our diversity, and we’re proud to be a leading employer of First Nations Australians and a Platinum tier LGBTQIA+ inclusive employer. Are you interested in being part of a large organisation with a strong future? We’re looking for people who want to work with us to deliver our vision of making government services simple so people can get on with their lives. - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/why-you-should-work-with-us?context=22

Notes

Services Australia’s workforce operates using an agile approach, and all staff should be prepared to redeploy to critical frontline functions as required. Should you need to redeploy as part of the agency’s surge workforce, all learning and development and technical/pastoral support will be provided to you to enable you to undertake that work.