200 new jobs created with the opening of Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence today commissioned Queensland’s first stand-alone women’s prison outside of South-East Queensland, the new $130 Million Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.

Ms Spence said: “This state-of-the-art prison underlines the Bligh Government’s commitment to building the prison infrastructure required for Queensland’s future growth.

“Projects like Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre create jobs – approximately 2000 people have been employed in the construction of the Correctional Centre and another 200 new jobs have been created to staff this facility and the neighbouring refurbished $142 Million Townsville Correctional Centre which is scheduled for completion later this year.”

New jobs have been created for people across North Queensland from Townsville, Thuringowa, Innisfail, Ayr, Bowen, Ingham, Cairns and Charters Towers.

The new employees have joined Queensland Corrective Services from a variety of backgrounds including security, the military, mining, retail, hospitality and trade industries.

Ms Spence said: “The 154-bed centre features the latest security technology with independent systems such as video, audio, staff duress tracking, movement control, and perimeter security integrated into the one system.”

During the commissioning ceremony Ms Spence also launched a new women offender’s policy and action plan, Improving Outcomes for Women Offenders.

“Women offenders have distinct needs and characteristics,” she said.

“Centres such as Townsville Women's Correctional Centre, which includes a double unit, equivalent to eight beds, for mothers with babies, are one example of improving infrastructure to meet the needs of women offenders.”

Townsville Women's Correctional Centre is the first prison in Queensland to offer a nationally-accredited training program for trade instructors working in correctional centre tailorshops.

“Lotus Glen trade instructors were the first to return to their Correctional Centre and will soon deliver Certificate 2 in Clothing Production to prisoners,” Ms Spence said.

“QCS will then look at rolling out the certificate to other centres, giving prisoners the opportunity to develop recognised skills that will help them find work upon release.”

During the ceremony Ms Spence also presented Make-A-Wish Australia with $25,000 and Angel Flight Australia with $3,152 which was raised during commissioning events Stars Behind Bars and public open days.

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