18 December
Sixteen new recruits today graduated from their six week course at the Staff Training College and are ready to join the frontline of community safety. One of them received the highest praise from Corrections Minister Hon Judith Collins. The recruits are destined for Otago, Spring Hill and Northland Region Corrections Facilities.
“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,” Chief Executive Barry Matthews said.
In the Minister’s absence Mr Matthews presented the Minister’s Excellence Award to one graduate who performed above the required level during their training.
The recipient of the Minister's Excellence award was Karen Timbs from Otago Corrections Facility.
The Minister of Corrections established the award 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.
“Karen was selected for exhibiting leadership qualities and a willingness to assist others in and out of class all while maintaining a good sense of humour and building rapport with her fellow classmates and instructor,” said Mr Matthews.
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, from dangerous and disturbed to rehabilitation-focussed quieter types.
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.
“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.”
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