Corrections excellence celebrated across Queensland
- QCS Commissioner's Awards for Excellence held today
- Awards reflect commitment to restoring community safety, reducing reoffending, safe workplaces and community partnerships
- Top award handed to multiple teams for their response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Individual and team distinction were celebrated at the 2025 QCS Commissioner's Awards for Excellence in Brisbane today (27 November).
Winners were recognised by Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart APM for their commitment to restoring community safety by holding offenders to account, reducing reoffending through rehabilitative services, supporting a safer workplace and building strong partnerships with community stakeholders.
The highest accolade - the Commissioner's Overall Award – was awarded to multiple teams for their joint efforts that went above and beyond when responding to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in early 2025. Officers led by example in challenging conditions, including leaving their families, to maintain the safety and security of correctional facilities across southeast Queensland during the weather event.
Ten officers were also awarded the Commissioner's Meritorious and Ethical Service Medal in recognition of service performed with meritorious conduct, including one posthumous award for highly regarded Correctional Supervisor Peter Luker who sadly passed away a few months ago.
Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber MP congratulated the award recipients.
"Queensland Corrective Services officers perform extraordinary work in service of community safety, often in difficult and confronting circumstances, and these awards recognise the exceptional individuals who lead by example," Minister Gerber said.
"Their integrity, compassion and professionalism embody the highest ideals of public service. From emergency responses to day-to-day custodial work and supervising offenders in the community, these recipients have strengthened our communities and supported safer outcomes for victims and families.
"I congratulate all award winners and acknowledge the thousands of officers across the State who give their all, every single day, to help deliver a safer Queensland."
QCS Commissioner Paul Stewart APM said the awards were an opportunity to highlight the critical work of more than 9000 QCS officers around the state.
"Our officers play a vital role in keeping the community safe and supporting victims of crime, and it is an honour to recognise their outstanding efforts over the past year," Commissioner Stewart said.
"Every award recipient today has demonstrated unwavering professionalism, innovative thinking and a steadfast dedication to service that underpins our collective commitment to a safer Queensland for everyone.
"I want to congratulate all of the award recipients again and thank all of our officers around the state for their day-to-day dedication to working together to deliver a safer, stronger Queensland for everyone."
Commissioner's Awards for Excellence Recipients:
Restore community safety by holding offenders to account
- Capacity Management Group, Custodial Operations
- Surveillance Officers, South Coast Region Community Corrections
- Catherine Moynihan, Professional Standards and Governance Command
- Paige Harrington-Karaitiana, Parole Board Queensland Secretariat
Reduce reoffending by delivering rehabilitative corrective services
- Colin Christie, Queensland Corrective Services Academy
- Micheal Lentini, Palen Creek Correctional Centre
- Samuel Spindler, Beenleigh District Office
Supporting a safer workplace for officers
- Fiona Patterson, Strategic Policy Group
- Stevi Byron, Rebecca Palmer, Ebony Georgiou, Anna Casey and Tanya Guild, Workforce Culture, Integrity and Capability
- Beth Fulton and Talitha Ames, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre
- Matthew McGregor, Woodford Correctional Centre
- Townsville Tactical Response and Dog Squad, Townsville Correctional Complex
Build strong community partnerships to support community safety
- Jessica Laing, Office of the Commissioner
- George Muir, Townsville Correctional Centre
- Lotus Glen Correctional Centre NAIDOC Week 2025 Celebrations
- Ann Vains, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre
Commissioner's Overall Award - Collaborative response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred
- Assistant Commissioner Eloise Hamlett ACM
- Numinbah Correctional Centre
- Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre
- Escort and Security Branch
- High-Risk Offender Management Unit
- Capricornia Correctional Centre's Dog Squad handlers Neil Grossman and Alexander Brady
- Townsville Correctional Centre's Dog Squad handlers Tony Tarlowski, Wayne Nicholls and Tane Hutana
- Disruptive Events Management Unit
- Digital Services and Information Technology Command
- Infrastructure Command
Commissioner's Meritorious and Ethical Service Medal
- Karen McGregor, Organisational Capability
- Donna Weigel, Serious Offenders Unit
- Jennifer Runge, Sentence Management Services
- Rebecca Bates, Numinbah Correctional Centre
- Chief Superintendent Alan Houchin, Capricornia Correctional Centre
- Superintendent Stephen Wright ACM, Wolston Correctional Centre
- Nicole Walker, Mackay District Office
- John Edwards, Townsville Correctional Centre
- Patricia Gilmour, Logan City Community Corrections
- Peter Luker, Wolston Correctional Centre (posthumous)
