9 April 2026
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is strengthening community safety by boosting the Corrections frontline with 38 new officers and 11 experienced recruits.
A strong, well-trained workforce is critical to safe, secure prisons and supporting rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.
In 2025, the government recruited and trained 128 trainee correctional officers and 68 experienced officers from other jurisdictions and are continuing that momentum in 2026.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to strengthen community safety, with the first cohort of Trainee Correctional Officers (TCOs) for 2026 graduating this week and joining the frontline.
A total of 38 new officers will graduate following the completion of their 11-week training program and will continue working towards a Certificate III in Correctional Practice over the next 12 months.
29 new officers will attend a 'march out' ceremony in Darwin today and nine in Alice Springs tomorrow, alongside 11 experienced officers who have already commenced duties, delivering an immediate boost to staffing across the Northern Territory.
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said the first cohort to graduate this year reflects the CLP Government's commitment to restoring confidence in the corrections system and ensuring facilities are safe, secure and focused on rehabilitation.
"Keeping Territorians safe starts with a well-trained corrections workforce, and that's exactly what we are delivering," Mr Maley said.
"These new officers will play a critical role on the frontline ensuring our prisons operate safely, while also supporting rehabilitation through access to programs, education and skills training that help reduce reoffending."
Selected from more than 500 applicants, the new recruits come from across the Territory, interstate and overseas, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Uganda and Kenya, bringing a diverse range of skills and life experience to the role.
Their backgrounds span health, administration, trades, security, retail, small business, teaching, policing and the military reflecting the breadth of capability required to manage complex correctional environments.
Mr Maley said the strong interest in the program highlights growing confidence in corrections as a career and the important role officers play in the justice system, with the current retention rate for uniformed officers more than 90 per cent.
"This is one of the largest intakes of recruits we've seen, which shows people are stepping up to serve and make a difference in our community," Mr Maley said.
"Our uniformed officer headcount has increased from 620 in July 2023 to 841 in March 2026, a 36 per cent increase.
"In Alice Springs alone, numbers have grown from 174 to 235 officers, ensuring more support on the ground where it's needed most.
"In 2025, we recruited and trained 128 trainee correctional officers and 68 experienced officers from other jurisdictions, and we're continuing that momentum in 2026."
Among the graduating cohort is Alice Springs-based TCO Ashley White, who will join her father and two brothers on the frontline at Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
"What inspired me to join Corrections was a career that can help secure the safety of others, having that important role of helping encourage prisoners to do better in their lives as well as keeping them safe and secure is such a rewarding thing to do," said Ms White.
"Another thing that helped inspire me was my family, both my older brothers and father work for Corrections and I got to see how much they enjoyed their jobs at Alice Springs Correctional Centre and was a big factor in me joining. I'm great full for the opportunity to make this my career."
The next TCO training courses will begin on 27 April in Darwin and 1 June in Alice Springs, as the CLP Government continues to invest in a stronger corrections system and safer communities.
