New Toowoomba Community Corrections office opens

Minister for Corrective Services, Mark Ryan MP and the Commissioner of Queensland Corrective Services (QCS), Paul Stewart APM officially opened the new Toowoomba Community Corrections office at a ceremony yesterday.

The new office provides staff with purpose-built facilities to safely supervise more than 750 offenders from across the region as far north as Crows Nest, west to Goondiwindi, south to Stanthorpe and east to Helidon.

Minister Mark Ryan said the Government remained committed to supporting QCS officers by improving officer safety, building capacity for service delivery and providing fit for purpose facilities.

“Community corrections officers play an important public safety role and are skilled in offender rehabilitation. It is important that they have a workplace that supports their efforts,” Minister Ryan said.

“Every day these officers act as agents of change, addressing offending behaviour and engaging in their local communities through the delivery of 20 community service projects. Their work is often unseen by the community, but they are extremely skilled in rehabilitation and provide a vital public service.”

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart APM said that the office space provided greater safety for officers, offenders and community members and addressed the growth in offender numbers in the region.

“As part of our commitment to the safety of our officers, it is important that we as an organisation provide safe work environments that are fit for purpose,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“The new Toowoomba regional office provides our officers with a purpose-built facility which can accommodate a growing number of officers to supervise offenders in the Darling Downs community.”

The Toowoomba Community Corrections office is currently staffed by 30 officers, contains seven interview rooms, three interview pods as well as a range of programs and urinalysis rooms.