Corrections PRIDE Awards puts the spotlight on staff achievements

29 March 2007

Seven Corrections staff were singled out today for their outstanding actions and behaviour in what Chief Executive Barry Matthews described as a “challenging environment, always very much under the microscope”.

Before presenting Graham Booth, Leanne Forward, Telisa Jacobsen, David Sarich, Chas Thompson, Phil Cullen and Sister Teresa Donworth with their Corrections PRIDE Awards, Mr Matthews said that despite the difficulties and challenges of working with offenders, some staff had the ability to rise above those challenges, setting ever higher standards for all to meet.

“I consider it extremely important that we have a vehicle to acknowledge and reward those people and that is why the PRIDE Chief Executive Awards were established in 2005,” Mr Matthews said.

Addressing the winner’s family members, Mr Matthews explained that the PRIDE Chief Executive Awards took their name from the core values that guide Corrections - Professionalism, Responsiveness, Integrity, Diversity and Efficiency and Effectiveness.

Mr Matthews thanked the seven recipients for being role models for everyone in the Department.

"Your high standards help create an environment in which we can all develop our skills to the benefit of the wider organisation," he said.

The PRIDE Awards acknowledged staff and work across a range of Corrections services:

• Service Centre Manager Graham Booth and Probation Officer Leanne Forward for their success in achieving compliance among their Napier Probation clients.
• Human Resource Adviser Telisa Jacobsen for her hard work in revamping and enhancing recruitment processes throughout the Northern Region and the strong, highly positive relationships she had developed through her efforts to raise the Community Probation Service profile.
• Probation Officer David Sarich for his strong efforts in reducing offending in Maori.
• Senior Property Adviser Chas Thompson for the rapport he had fostered with people across many groups and services in the organisation.
• Principal Corrections Officer Phil Cullen and Chaplaincy team member Teresa Donworth for their professionalism and outstanding skills during the Auckland hostage situation late last year.

ENDS

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:

• Phone: (04) 460 3365
• After hours: (021) 761 828
• Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz