New correctional officers improve community safety in Far North Queensland

• 12 Custodial Correctional Officers join the public safety frontline in Far North Queensland
• All 12 have completed an intensive, 10-week Custodial Officer Entry program
• Over the last year, more than 700 new Queensland Custodial Correctional Officers have graduated from training

 

A former chef, tradies, interstate correctional officers and a croupier are among 12 new officers successfully completing a 10-week Custodial Officer Entry program in North Queensland.

The new Custodial Correctional Officers are starting new careers on the frontline of public safety at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre following a graduation ceremony on Monday, 24 June with family and friends.

Led by experienced instructors from the Queensland Corrective Services Academy, the entry program includes training in conflict management, tactical skills and QCS policies and legislation to assist with prisoner rehabilitation.

Queensland Corrective Services is actively recruiting for good, public safety focused jobs and careers including trade instructors, dog squad officers, psychologists, counsellors, cultural liaison officers and administration.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

‘These newly graduated Custodial Correctional Officers for Lotus Glen Correctional Centre are an important investment in the safety of Queenslanders and a great credit to the QCS Academy’s quality team of instructors.

“Over the last year, QCS instructors have clocked up in excess of 250,000 hours training more than 700 corrections officers, with a strong focus on reducing prisoner reoffending.”

Quotes attributable to Corrective Services Minister Nikki Boyd:

“After 10 weeks of intensive training, today’s 12 Custodial Correctional Officers graduates start rewarding careers in Far North Queensland delivering world-class, evidence-based correctional services to the community and prisoner rehabilitation.

“It’s terrific to see interstate correctional officers among the graduates committed to training for good jobs on Queensland’s community safety frontline.

“Community safety and the well-being of Queensland’s Custodial Correctional Officers are paramount and that’s why the Government has included an additional $246 million in this year’s Budget for Corrective Services and more than 1,000 new full-time corrections jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Eloise Hamlett ACM, Assistant Commissioner, Central and Northern Region Command QCS:

“Thank you to all our trainers for supporting and equipping our new graduates with the knowledge and skills they need in the frontline public safety to perform their roles safely and effectively.

“Every interaction our officers have is an opportunity to address offending behaviour and to improve the vocational and life skills of prisoners, assisting in their rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.”

Quotes attributable to Chief Superintendent Gabrielle Payne ACM, General Manager, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre:

“Our officers are our greatest asset, and we strive to ensure they are supported as they carry out their often-unseen duties.

“Correctional officers make public safety the priority every day, striving to ensure prisoners and offenders are less likely to return to crime.”

Further information:

• Queensland Corrective Services has a careers page online. For more information and to find out how to join, head to: Careers | Queensland Corrective Services (corrections.qld.gov.au).
• Eligible candidates who relocate from interstate or South East Queensland to Capricornia, Townsville or Lotus Glen Correctional Centres may also be eligible for a relocation assistance package up to the value of $7,000.