5 August 2010

Eight prisoners will graduate at Rimutaka Prison next Thursday from Building, Construction and Allied Trade Skills courses with Level 2 National Certificates - gaining 41 credits each towards full trade qualifications.

"The course, in partnership with WelTec, has allowed these eight prisoners to gain experience of what polytechnic and apprenticeship training can offer them," says Corrections Inmate Employment National Training Manager, Saen O'Brien. 

"These prisoners have done well gaining these qualifications - it's the start of a positive change that, if they keep it up, they'll find themselves with much better employment options than they've previously had," said Mr O'Brien.

"WelTec's Building, Construction and Allied Trade Skills course teaches real world work skills, from basic carpentry skills to building industry trigonometry and calculations. It's functional learning that prisoners can use to help them gain employment upon release."

"The majority of those who enter prisons do so with very limited education and no formal qualifications. Offering practical work skills teamed with achievable qualifications gives them the chance to start changing that. Our aim is to provide realistic training opportunities to as many suitable prisoners as possible, and as such we're opening two new trade and technical training workshops at Rimutaka Prison," says Mr O'Brien.

"The new workshops have recently been completed and a bricklaying course has commenced in one of the workshops. An automotive servicing course will start in the new purpose built workshop in mid-August. Both of these courses are being delivered in association with our existing training partner WelTec."

"By expanding the training facilities at Rimutaka Prison, Corrections and Weltec will be helping more prisoners turn their lives around by building their skills and confidence. Giving them the skills to find sustainable employment on release helps reduce reoffending, ultimately making our communities safer," says Mr. O'Brien.

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:
Phone: (04) 460 3365      Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz

Previous Next Show Contents