24 October
Prisoners working in the Wanganui Prison nursery now have a better chance of staying on the straight and narrow with qualifications that could help them gain employment on their release.
This morning the Department of Corrections and the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (NZHITO), presented eight prisoners with National Certificates in Horticulture, three prisoners were awarded level 4 National Certificates and five prisoners were awarded the Level 2 National Certificate.
Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Nursery Instructor Major Meta says he is proud of the efforts the prisoners have put in towards achieving their certificates.
“These guys are really passionate about the work they’ve been doing, and have worked really hard to earn these qualifications. It’s really satisfying for staff to help these prisoners connect with something that provides them the opportunity to set themselves up with a life free from crime once they leave prison.”
The Wanganui Prison nursery currently provides employment and training to up to 37 prisoners who learn a variety of different horticulture skills aimed at helping them find meaningful employment upon release.
The last prison census showed that 55 per cent of prisoners did not have a job before entering prison and that 52 per cent had no formal qualifications. Research shows that prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend, which ultimately helps keep our communities safer.
CIE joined up with NZHITO last year to increase the quality of horticulture training provided to prisoners and to up-skill CIE Instructors as qualified assessors.
“Working with an Industry Training Organisation has really helped us to develop a successful framework to train and assess prisoners. It gives the prisoners the opportunity to gain industry recognised qualifications from field experts”, says Major.
“Throughout the horticulture training the prisoners learn the skills and responsibilities involved with operating a nursery, they learn about plant propagation, plant maintenance, weed and pest control and how to monitor the growth of each plant species by adjusting temperature and water supplies.”
“The aim is to train these guys within a working environment that matches as closely as possible to a commercial nursery.”
NZHITO training Advisor Laurie Gallagher says up-skilling prisoners will have a long term benefit to the horticulture industry.
“There are horticultural labour shortages in all regions, including Wanganui, although this varies between sectors.”
“I fully support the training of prisoners, in horticulture as well as other trades. From the horticulture industry point of view, we need the addition of trained or partly trained people in the workforce, and prisons can help provide a supply of such trained people.”
“From a social point of view, teaching people skills that might enable them to get a job makes very good sense. Gaining skills improves people's self esteem and gives them a better chance to make a contribution to their community and live a good life.”
ENDS
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