30 September
The first brick and block laying training course at Rimutaka is reaching the halfway point, and the prisoners involved have been producing an impressive standard of work.
Run by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) in partnership with Weltec, the course offers prisoners the chance to gain their Level 2 National Certificate in brick and block laying.
“The course involves prisoners learning the basics of brick and block laying, progressing to building walls, windows and other small structures to practice their newly gained skills,” says CIE Area Operations Manager Kathleen Masoe.
“I’ve been really impressed with how enthusiastic the prisoners in this first course have been, and by the attention to detail in their work.”
“Our research has shown that often the greatest barrier to reducing an offender's risk of re-offending is a lack of support throughout the reintegration process. Our aim through Corrections Inmate Employment is to help prisoners gain the skills and experience to find sustainable employment on release.”
“Having a job can help with many reintegrative factors – for example accommodation and building support networks in the community,” says Kathleen.
The brick and block laying training is offered through the T3 – Trade and Technical Training - partnership with WelTec at Rimutaka Prison. Other courses offered as part of the T3 programme include Painting, Automotive, Small Engines and Building, Construction and Allied Trades (BCATs).
The current brick and block laying course is scheduled to finish in November. The Department will run each T3 training progamme twice a year, all of which are 17 weeks in length except for BCATs, which runs three times a year and is 12 weeks in length.
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