16 Dec 2010
Twelve new Corrections Officers, a Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Manager and a CIE instructor graduated from their six week course at the Staff Training College yesterday.
The graduates are now set to join the frontline of community safety and are destined for positions at prison and Corrections Inmate Employment sites across the country.
One recruit also received the Minister’s Excellence Award at the ceremony, which has been established by the Minister of Corrections to promote and honour the leadership, professionalism and all-round excellence of one particularly outstanding graduate of the Department’s six week live in training course.
“Hard working and conscientious people such as yourselves are essential in an organisation like ours and I’m pleased to welcome you to the Department of Corrections,” said Corrections Chief Executive Barry Matthews upon presenting the new Officers with their certificates.
The recipient of the Minister's Excellence award was Whanganui Prison graduate Graeme Isted, who was selected for the academic achievement, commitment and dedication he demonstrated throughout the course. The Minister of Corrections Hon Judith Collins was at the graduation to present Graeme with his award.
“Graeme’s performance and conduct throughout the course highlighted his professionalism, responsiveness, integrity and diversity – all the skills needed to have a successful and rewarding career with the Department of Corrections,” said Minister Collins on presenting the award.
Notes to journalist
Corrections Officers are responsible for ensuring prisoners are safely, securely and humanely contained during their sentence and they actively work with prisoners to make positive changes to their behaviour.
The new recruits have spent the last six weeks living at the Staff Training College adjacent to Rimutaka Prison where they have learnt the basics in actively managing all types of prisoners.
Graduates have covered modules in Corrections legislation, the Sentencing and Parole Acts, site and perimeter safety, managing prisoners’ visitors, drug reduction in prison, gang management and avoiding being compromised – or ‘getting got’ by prisoners, among others.
During their career in Prison Services the graduates will continue to undertake workplace training toward National Certificates in Offender Management, refresher training and specialist role training as required.
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