Queensland shines blue for extraordinary corrections officers

• National Corrections Day marked across Australia and New Zealand
• More than 30 landmarks will light up blue tonight to support frontline officers
• Inaugural Minister’s Award for Excellence presented by Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber MP

 

Frontline officers were recognised today (Friday 15 May) as Queensland Corrective Services celebrated National Corrections Day.

Officers working both in correctional centres, in the community, and in support functions were honoured with awards for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.

The Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services, Laura Gerber MP, presented the inaugural Minister’s Award for Excellence to Custodial Correctional Officer Rebecca Bates, who was praised for going above and beyond the call of duty and exemplifying professionalism in her role delivering reform and rehabilitation for women prisoners at Numinbah Correctional Centre.

The QCS Academy team, which celebrated its 40-year milestone last month, received the Commissioner’s Overall Award for demonstrating exceptional impact and leadership and its contribution to the future direction of corrections. Since it began operating in 1986, the QCS Academy has played a critical role preparing thousands of correctional officers to manage prisoners and offenders across the state.

Under the National Corrections Day theme Extraordinary Work, Extraordinary People, 15 other individuals and teams were awarded for delivering community safety and rehabilitation, reducing reoffending and supporting safer workplaces. Several officers were also acknowledged for their dedication and professionalism, receiving the Meritorious and Ethical Service Medal.

Tonight, more than 30 landmarks across Queensland will glow blue in a show of support for the state’s correctional officers, acknowledging their often-unseen but critical contribution to safer communities.

Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber said National Corrections Day was an opportunity to honour the thousands of correctional officers who make Queensland safer every day.

“National Corrections Day is about celebrating the more than 9,000 officers working every day to drive down crime and keep Queenslanders safe,” Minister Gerber said.

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many dedicated officers right across the state who go above and beyond the call of duty and today is about acknowledging their extraordinary service.”

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many dedicated officers right across the state who go above and beyond the call of duty and today is about acknowledging their extraordinary service.”

QCS Commissioner Paul Stewart APM said National Corrections Day was an opportunity to show appreciation for the work correctional officers do every day to make Queensland a safer place for us all.

“We have extraordinary people working for QCS on the frontline and behind the scenes to support victims and deliver reform and rehabilitation programs that make a real difference in changing offending behaviour,” Commissioner Stewart said.

“Today we join our correctional colleagues across Australia and New Zealand to celebrate the extraordinary work being delivered by extraordinary people united by their shared commitment to community safety.”

ENDS

Queensland National Corrections Day Award recipients:

Delivering community safety

• Zoe Sturgess, Far Northern Region, Community Corrections
• Palen Creek Correctional Centre
• Cassie Harland, Southern Region, Community Corrections

 

Delivering rehabilitation and reducing reoffending

• Offender Development, Maryborough Correctional Centre
• Izabella Kendall, Drug and Alcohol Court, Community Corrections
• Steven McDowall, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre

 

Delivering safer workplaces

• Cherie King, Sentence Management Services, Specialist Operations
• Jennifer Marinkovic, Injury Management, Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre
• Jacqueline O’Brien, Community Corrections
• Nathan Bucci, Townsville Correctional Complex

 

Delivering strong partnerships for community safety

• Enterprise Strategy Group, Organisational Capability
• Cultural Team, Townsville Men’s Correctional Centre
• Heather Valentine, Northern Region, Community Corrections

 

Commissioner’s Overall Award

• Queensland Corrective Services Academy

 

Ministers Award for Excellence

• Rebecca Bates, Numinbah Correctional Centre

 

LIST OF QUEENSLAND LANDMARKS LIGHTING BLUE

Brisbane City Council:

• Story Bridge (blue and white)
• Kangaroo Point Bridge (blue and white)
• Wickham Terrace Car Park architectural wall
• Breakfast Creek Bridge, Newstead

Blackall-Tambo Regional Council

• Ram Park

Bundaberg Regional Council

• Bundaberg School of Arts

 

Logan City Council

• Wineglass Water Tower
• Telfer Street Water Tower

 

Townsville City Council

• Townsville Sign
• Wharton Reef Lighthouse
• Victoria Bridge
• George Roberts Bridge
• Old Magistrates Court House
• Little Fletcher Bridge

 

Cook Shire Council

• Paperbark Tree and Fountain

 

Croydon Shire Council

• Heritage Precinct

 

Fraser Coast Regional Council

• Maryborough Town Hall

 

Gladstone Regional Council

• Civic Centre

 

Hinchinbrook Shire Council

• Fountain
• Council Foyer

 

Isaac Regional Council

• Town Square

 

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

• Gatton Administration Building
• Laidley Cultural Centre

 

Mackay Regional Council

• Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building

 

Maranoa Regional Council

• The Big Rig (Roma)
• McDowall Street (Roma)

 

McKinlay Shire Council

• Water Tower

 

Scenic Rim Regional Council

• DJ Smith Park (Canungra)

 

Sunshine Coast Council

• Beerwah Meeting Place, Beerwah – Entrance way
• Caloundra Library Plus, Caloundra – Building
• Coolum Civic Centre, Coolum – Building
• Landsborough Museum, Landsborough – Building
• City Hall, Maroochydore – Building
• Eddie DeVere, Nambour – Building
• Bulcock Street (Lamkin Lane), Caloundra – Street
• Village Green, Montville – Trees
• Lake Kawana Bridge – West, Kawana – Bridge
• Lake Kawana Bridge – East, Kawana – Bridge
• City Centre Park Lighting, Maroochydore – Park
• Mayes Canal, Mooloolaba – Bridge
• Sippy Downs Entrance Wings, Sippy Downs – Entrance way
• Lions Park, Nambour – Trees