Extra staff to bolster Far North Probation and Parole

Seven new staff members will join the Cairns Probation and Parole District Office as the Government beefs up its services in Far North Queensland.

The extra staff are in addition to more numbers promised in the wake of the most comprehensive overhaul of Queensland’s parole system in a century.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan announced the extra fulltime positions during a visit to the Cairns parole office today.

“The team here in the Far North is doing a fantastic job, and I am confident the extra seven staff will assist our Cairns team even further,” Minister Ryan said.

Minister Ryan said the Cairns office manages 44 community service projects in Cairns and surrounding towns in order for offenders to make reparation back to the community.

He said offenders overseen by the probation and parole staff completed almost 20,000 hours of community service valued at more than $450,000 in the last financial year alone.

“The Palaszczuk Government has committed to employing a total of 73 new Probation and Parole workers around the State as part of a $20.5 million commitment in this year’s Budget.

“Furthermore, the Government is spending $265 million over six years and employing an additional 329 full-time equivalent staff to Queensland Corrective Services and another 18 to Queensland Health for rehabilitation, drug, alcohol and mental health services.

“These additional resources are all geared towards reducing the risk of re-offending by parolees and for every reduction in crime means we have one less victim of crime in our community, which is a priority for this government.”

Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave, Curtis Pitt, said the region would benefit in several ways from the additional staff and resources.

“Programs like these provide a valuable and much-needed source of labour to local groups, while also providing offenders with an opportunity to make reparation to communities and gain valuable skills,” Mr Pitt said.

“The rehabilitative aspect of community service orders should never be underestimated as it can provide offenders with skills they can utilise in the workforce and their personal lives.”

Barron River MP Craig Crawford welcomed the boost to employment.

“These new jobs couldn’t have come at a better time when jobs and job security are more important than ever,” Mr Crawford said.

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Mark Rallings said the additional numbers would be put to good use.

“Our Probation and Parole officers do an outstanding job working to ensure offenders meet all their probation or parole conditions to reduce their risk to the community,” Commissioner Rallings said.

“The extra numbers mean our staff will be able to devote even more attention to the case management of every offender.

“Our staff are playing an important role in keeping the community safe now and in the future.”

The Cairns Probation and Parole District Office is the second largest in the State, falling within the jurisdiction of the Probation and Parole Far Northern Region.

More than 1050 offenders report for supervision to the Cairns District Office.

Those serving community orders are involved in various projects aimed at providing work to organisations that likely would otherwise not be completed.

Some of those projects include the Cairns Safe Night Out Strategy project, Cairns Jockey Club, Cairns Graffiti Reduction Project, Ozcare Hostel based in Cairns, Lifeline stores located at Cairns, Earlville, and Manunda, Cooktown Historical Museum, Hopevale Lutheran Church, Kowanyama Justice Group, Kowanyama Police Station, Wujal Wujal Clinic and Community Centre, Port Douglas Coast Guard, Pormpuraaw Police Station and Justice Centre, Douglas Shire Council and the Mossman Community Centre.

“Programs like these provide a valuable and much-needed source of labour to local groups, while also providing offenders with an opportunity to make reparation to communities and gain valuable skills,” Minister Ryan said.

“The rehabilitative aspect of community service orders should never be underestimated as it can provide offenders with skills they can utilise in the workforce and their personal lives.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister’s office             0478325738