An employer information evening, held in March at Taupō Community Corrections, provided a valuable opportunity to share information with local employers about how we support people to reintegrate successfully into their communities.
Staff from the Reintegration team, Community Corrections, and Tongariro Prison came together to showcase the collective work underway across the region to support positive employment outcomes.
Employment and Training Consultants (ETCs) and Release to Work (RtW) brokers in the reintegration team support people we manage to access employment and training opportunities, either upon release from prison or while serving sentences in the community.
ETC Jaime Waho says the event, attended by about 16 employers and employment providers, was a meaningful opportunity to connect with employers and other providers face to face.
“Meeting in person really helps build understanding of what our roles involve, and highlights the importance of working together to support successful reintegration into the community.
“We also shared the different ways local employers can partner with us to create positive and sustainable employment pathways.”
Employers attending the evening were from a range of industries including construction, labouring, hospitality, driving, forestry, painting, agriculture industries. They were welcomed with a BBQ and received gift bags containing Ara Poutama Aotearoa-branded items, along with handcrafted products made by men at Tongariro Prison. These included wooden business card holders and cellphone stands, offering a practical example of the skills being developed through prison-based training.
The evening also showcased the breadth of training and employment opportunities available at Tongariro Prison. With the support of Principal Instructor Didrik Andersson and Building Instructor Jan (Hens) Viljoen, a range of items were displayed, including wooden coffee tables and spice racks.
Senior Practitioner Taupō/Tūrangi Emma Tindall found the employment expo thoroughly enjoyable.
It was valuable to see prison industries through a different lens and connect directly with employers. Events like this create real pathways into sustainable employment. This was a real success and all the employers I spoke to shared their optimism to work with us moving forward!
Taupō Community Corrections set up information tables covering the role of probation officers, community-based sentences, and electronic monitoring equipment.
At another table, the Community Work team shared photos from current projects and provided information about becoming an agency sponsor and offering placements for people serving community work sentences.
Meanwhile, the Employment and Training table promoted various work-ready programmes and offered details for employers to register their interest in supporting people into employment.
Ministry of Social Development staff were also present advising employers on the different funding options available when working alongside Corrections.
“It was really heartening that every employer who attended expressed an interest in working with Corrections to support people into employment,” says Jaime.