New paws on the community safety frontline

• Six Corrective Services dogs graduate to the frontline
• Four-legged recruits join 70 new Correctional officers.
• More than 700 officers trained in the last year for Queensland Corrective Services careers.

 

It’s tails up for Harvey, Shadow, Shaq, Jet, Forest and Derek who are embarking on new careers with paws firmly on the frontline of community safety as new Queensland Corrective Services recruits.

The canine pack is among six Queensland Corrective Services dogs and two Dog Squad Instructors graduating from 12 weeks of General-Purpose and Passive Alert Drug Detection training on Wednesday 19 June.

In all, 70 new Custodial Corrections Officers graduated at a ceremony in Wacol, led by Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh, after successfully completing a 10-week Custodial Officer Entry Program.

The former mine workers, restaurant managers and real estate agents have trained in conflict management, tactical skills, intensive operational deployment and prisoner rehabilitation.

In coming days, 70 new Custodial Correctional Officers will start postings to Arthur Gorrie, Brisbane, Brisbane’s Women’s, Maryborough, Southern, Wolston, Woodford and Borallon Training, and Correctional Centres and the Escort and Security Branch.

Graduating General-purpose corrections dogs and Passive Alert Drug Detection dogs, like Forest and Derek, and their handlers will be assigned to Arthur Gorrie, Brisbane, Woodford, Lotus Glen and Townsville.

Quotes attributable to Member for Mount Ommaney, Jess Pugh:

“This contingent of furry new recruits has been specially selected for intensive Queensland Corrective Services training designed to maximise the unique, more than 14,000-year bond between dogs and their human handlers.

“These are good, rewarding Queensland jobs on the frontline of community safety delivering innovative, effective, evidence-based correctional services and rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.

“The Miles Government supports our Corrections Officers, service dogs and their handlers for the amazing frontline work they do to keep Queenslanders safe.”

“The 70 new Custodial Corrections Officers, Corrective Services dogs and instructors graduating today join more than 700 new QCS officers trained in the last year for fulfilling frontline safety careers.

“Over the last 12 months, Academy instructors have collectively clocked up more than 250,000 hours of intensive, new officer training to boost safety and reduce reoffending.

“The Miles Government Budget is investing more than $1.8 billion in Corrective Services to keep Queensland communities safe.”

Quotes attributable to QCS Commissioner Paul Stewart APM:

“Congratulations to all our new colleagues graduating today and thank you to all the trainers and instructors for equipping our new officers with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively deal with challenging situations.

“Our officers are our greatest asset, and we thank them all for their commitment to protecting the safety of Queensland communities.

“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 David Hurikino, Acting Dog Squad State Manager, QCS:

“It is a privilege to welcome the new handlers and dogs to the QCS Dog Squad knowing they will be a vital asset to their correctional centres.

“The three months of rigorous, specialised training culminates with the “Tactical Dog Team”, operational deployment training phase of the course. It has been designed to equip handlers with the skills necessary to resolve security incidents.

“The bond between a corrective services dog and their handler is a deep one, built over countless hours of training, working, and living together. It is a bond unlike any other and is something that will stay with the officer forever.”

“Together with their general duties and passive alert drug detection dogs, the officers will be providing the highest security and response capability, responding to emergency situations and keeping our prisons safe every day.”

Further information:

For more information Queensland Corrective Services careers, 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 be eligible for a relocation assistance package up to the value of $7,000.
• Since 1 July 2023 seven Corrective Services’ Dog handlers and General Purpose dogs have graduated.
• Since 1 July 2023, two handlers and Passive Alert Drug Detection dogs have graduated.