More officers boost community safety frontline

• 31 new Community Corrections case managers and probation services officers deployed around Queensland to target offender behaviour change
• Officers recognised for completing nation-leading training to deliver best practice in offender supervision

 

Queensland’s community safety frontline has been strengthened by deploying more officers around the state to work with supervised offenders in the community.

Corrections Minister Nikki Boyd celebrated the graduation of 31 Queensland Corrective Services case managers, senior case managers and probation services officers on Thursday 8 August after they completed the nation-leading Foundations training.

Foundations, co-developed with Swinburne University, provides officers with evidence-informed training and a solid toolkit of real-world skills and practices to work with offenders subject to community supervision.

The 200 hours of centralised training at the Queensland Corrective Services Academy means frontline officers have skills in best practice case management and the latest learnings in behaviour change to help individuals move away from crime and onto a better path in life.

The new case managers and probation services officers will work in communities across Brisbane and the southeast, in Toowoomba and Roma and along the coast from Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Cairns, Mackay, Townsville and up to Weipa in the Cape York Peninsula.

QCS has about 500 case managers and probation services officers serving Queensland communities, with more than 110 appointed since 1 July 2023.

Quotes attributable to Corrections Minister Nikki Boyd: 

“The safety of the Queensland community and Corrections Officers is a priority for the Miles Government and that’s what the nation-leading Foundations program is designed to deliver.

“Foundations equips Community Corrections officers with real-world skills to encourage offenders to change their ways and abandon a life of crime.

“This evidence-based training is another example of the Miles Government’s commitment to growing Queensland’s frontline services and building the capability of QCS.”

 

Quotes attributable to QCS Commissioner Paul Stewart APM:

 “Community Corrections officers play an important role in reducing recidivism and helping offenders rehabilitate towards a crime-free life, which helps keep Queensland communities safe.

“Every interaction we have with an offender under our supervision is an opportunity to encourage long-term behaviour change, including short, focused efforts that can lead to significant reductions in reoffending. The world-class Foundations training provides an exceptional platform to develop the key skills required to perform these roles.

“Our latest Foundations graduates come from diverse backgrounds and bring varied experiences and perspectives, which provides them with the empathy, insight and resilience to work in their roles and play a tangible role in preventing crime in Queensland.”

 Additional information:

• Recruitment for QCS Case Managers and Probation Services Officers is ongoing. For more information and to find out how to apply, head to  Queensland Corrective Services | Careers (corrections.qld.gov.au).
• Case Managers require a bachelor’s degree in human services or criminology fields, with final year students encouraged to apply for roles.
• Foundations training is one element of the broader FOCUS training, developed as part of a government-academic collaboration to reduce reoffending. It includes modules on legislation and the criminal justice system, human rights, communication skills, tools for case management, cultural and gender-responsive practice and working with individuals with history of substance abuse or family and domestic violence.

ENDS