Minister thanks the unsung heroes of Corrective Services

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan has lauded Queensland Corrective Services’ unsung heroes and quiet achievers on National Corrections Day today.

Mr Ryan paid tribute to the hard work of over 4,500 QCS staff across Queensland, who manage more than 8,600 prisoners and over 20,000 offenders under community supervision.

“Correctional work is complex and highly specialised, and our QCS staff deal with many difficult issues behind the wire and in the community on a daily basis,” he said.

“They do so with tremendous commitment, sharing a singular purpose to keep Queenslanders safe.”

Mr Ryan provided perspective on the unique and challenging environment for the thousands of public service staff who secure the State’s prisons.

“The nature of the correctional environment means our officers selflessly put themselves into situations that may be dangerous to preserve security and safety,” he said.

“But those officers, along with the psychologists, counsellors, treatment, support and management staff, front up to work every day to make a difference.”

Mr Ryan said QCS was more than just jails.

“Our Probation and Parole workforce manages over 20,000 offenders, closely supervising parolees, probationers and people subject to community service orders, to effectively manage their risk to the community and reduce their chance of committing further crime,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to providing our hardworking QCS staff with the resources they need to do their jobs and to stay safe.

“That is why we are increasing prisoner bed capacity at Queensland correctional centres by commencing construction on 1000 new bunk beds, along with committing $16 million to Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre and $200 million to increasing the built capacity of the Capricornia Correctional Centre.

“The Government is also progressing the development of the business cases for cell expansions at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct.

“We have rolled out additional body worn cameras for Queensland government-run correctional centres and we are delivering improved staff safety initiatives by working with QCS and the Together Union.”

QCS Commissioner Peter Martin APM paid tribute to every member of his department on this special occasion.

“I have had the great pleasure of working for Queensland Corrective Services for a little over two months – I have been welcomed wholeheartedly – and I have travelled to every prison and every regional office and many of our key, specialised units to meet the people who make this department great,” Commissioner Martin said.

“Corrections Day is an opportunity for us to pause in thought – to consider the people who are drawn together to make a difference to the safety of our community.”

The Commissioner said the theme of this year’s Corrections Day, Corrections Up Close, was focussed on taking a more in-depth look at corrections to dispel the myths that abound in corrections, such as those portrayed in the movies.

“We launched a campaign over the past week to debunk some of the myths in corrections – we are an agile organisation that is sustained by a committed workforce of women and men who work every day to reduce the risk of reoffending,” Commissioner Martin said.

“Not only our custodial officers, but the psychologists, clinicians and Probation and Parole case managers who supervise the offenders are committed to getting the best outcome for both the offender and in turn the community.”

The Commissioner added that over the past week, prisons, probation and parole offices and business units across the organisation have taken the time to reflect and thank each other as they celebrate and recognise their work.

“Managers have cooked breakfast for staff at a number of our centres, including the Brisbane and Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centres, staff at Maryborough will enjoy an afternoon tea featuring a presentation of special recognition by their general manager, while Lotus Glen near Mareeba saw a staff breakfast and presentations on Wednesday,” Commissioner Martin said.

It was a similar story at many other locations, with Townsville hosting a family day today with an exhibition of historical artefacts in the heritage-listed gatehouse of the prison, which has stood on the same site in Stuart for over 125 years. Probation and Parole Offices from Weipa to the Gold Coast will be celebrating with their own local events for staff.

QCS has also opened its doors to the media in the past week, providing a look into the world of the women’s facility in North Queensland on Thursday, introducing the new senior operational leadership in Townsville, Peter Hall, General Manager, Townsville Correctional Centre and Regional Manager, Teena Ingram, from Probation and Parole, while on Friday, QCS has extended an invitation to media at the Numinbah low security farm in the Gold Coast hinterland.

National Corrections Day will continue to be celebrated on the third Friday in January every year.

National Corrections Day was endorsed after a meeting of the Corrective Services Administrators’ Council last year and approved by the Corrective Services Ministers’ Council.

ENDS

Media contact:

Emma McBryde 0447 155 332