Paul Reet: Otago's 'gold nugget'

Volunteer counsellor at Otago Corrections Facility, Paul Reet, has been described as a ‘gold nugget’ because of the value placed on the important work he does with prisoners there.

Paul began his voluntary work at Dunedin Prison in 2006 and every weekend since its closure, he has travelled 132 km to Otago Corrections Facility to counsel prisoners.

Paul is the primary mental health nurse for the Taieri and Strath Public Health Organisation. He and his wife came to New Zealand from the United Kingdom in 2005. Although a fully registered mental health nurse and counsellor in the UK, Paul had to accumulate a certain number of counselling hours in New Zealand in order to register with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. He discovered that the quickest way to achieve this was to volunteer as a counsellor. Prison counselling provided him with a perfect opportunity.

“Many prisoners experience grief, stress, anxiety and depression, just like any member of the community,” explains Paul. “However the prison environment can intensify their effect on people and access to counselling services can often prove slow and difficult.”

Since receiving his full registration, Paul has continued to volunteer at OCF. “I realise that many prisoners have a long road to recovery and full reintegration,” says Paul, “but I believe no-one is beyond change. Small, sustained steps can reap benefits for the prisoners, their families and our communities.”