SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – ACT INTERMEDIARY PANEL

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 $200 (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 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. The Program receives requests for intermediaries for matters involving a variety of vulnerable witnesses including child complainants in sexual assault matters, child witnesses in homicide matters and adults with disabilities and other communication difficulties. The Program model draws on the expertise of a 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://www.hrc.act.gov.au/intermediaries

About the intermediary role

Intermediaries directly facilitate the communication of vulnerable witnesses during criminal investigations and at trial. They ensure that a witness understands questions put to them and can communicate answers effectively in police interviews and court settings. 

Being an intermediary is a challenging role that involves working closely with vulnerable witnesses, police, legal professionals and ACT courts. Intermediaries are often required to assess a witness’s communication capabilities in short timeframes and with limited advance notice, requiring flexibility and an ability to operate under pressure.

The Program will ensure intermediaries are available at ACT courts and ACT police stations, particularly at Winchester Police Centre in Belconnen.

More information regarding the intermediary role can be found in the Procedural Guidance Manual (PGM).

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 (possessing a mental health accreditation is highly desirable);
• 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

Applicants must be available to attend:

•  A short interview in the week commencing 18 May 2026 (via phone or online via MS Teams); and
• Intensive in-person training and assessment over two days scheduled for Wednesday 3 June 2026 and Thursday 4 June 2026. This tier one training will be led by the ACT Intermediary Program with modules delivered in partnership with stakeholders including ACT Policing and is compulsory. Successful completion and passing of assessments for tier one training will enable intermediaries to undertake police referrals only.

Professionals who attend the above training and successfully complete the assessment requirements may then be appointed to the Intermediary Panel. The above training and assessment activities will be provided free of charge to participants, with a nominal $50 per day fee payable upon full-day attendance and completion.

Other important information

• The work of intermediary panel members is contracted on an hourly basis in accordance with operational needs;
• The majority of referrals made to the Program are received during business hours on weekdays. However, there are also matters received after business hours (after 5:00PM), on weekends and on public holidays. It is highly desirable if applicants have flexibility to meet this varied demand;
• In some circumstances, intermediaries will be required at short notice. However, it is expected that some panel members will be managing a range of professional commitments impacting their availability from time to time;
• Successful applicants must have the ability to participate in mandatory Continued Professional Development (CPD) provided free of charge by the ACT Intermediary Program;
• Intermediaries will require an ACT Working with Vulnerable People clearance and a National Police Check upon application; and
• Intermediaries will require sourcing and paying for their own insurance (indemnity and liability) to perform the role. The Program cannot provide advice regarding this.

There is a full-day interjurisdictional intermediary conference on Thursday 18 June 2026 which will contribute towards CPD hours intermediaries must record to remain accredited on the panel. The conference is free and attendees will be eligible for a nominal $50 fee for full day of attendance. More information will be made available closer to the date.