Newest Townsville custodial correctional officers graduate into frontline roles
• Eighteen officers start new career at Townsville Correctional Complex
• Opportunities available throughout the state to join the frontline of community safety
Queensland's newest custodial correctional officers graduated onto the frontline this week as Queensland Corrective Services held its first Townsville ceremony for the year.
Eighteen recruits will start their new careers working to reform and rehabilitate offenders at Townsville Correctional Complex and play an essential role in delivering safety for Queensland communities.
Coming from careers in Defence, community service, IT, retail, hospitality and tourism, the new officers have completed 10-weeks of paid training to equip them with skills in conflict management and tactical operations as they step into their new roles.
More than 200 new officers will graduate from QCS' Custodial Officer Entry Program training over the coming weeks and be deployed to correctional centres across the state, from Lotus Glen in Mareeba to Queensland's newest prison, the Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre, in Gatton, southeast Queensland.
Assistant Minister for Community Safety, Defence Industry, Veterans and North Queensland and Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole APM MP congratulated the graduating officers for their dedication and commitment to community safety.
"Queensland's Custodial Correctional Officers play an integral role protecting the community and holding offenders to account to make Queensland safer," Ms Poole said.
"These new graduates will soon be working on the frontline, to ensure the security of our prisons and safety in our communities and I commend them for the hard work and wish them the very best as they step into their new roles."
Acting General Manager Townsville Correctional Complex, Chief Superintendent Silvi Barretta welcomed the officers to their new frontline role.
"We welcome our first new group of custodial correctional officers for the year and look forward to seeing their careers develop with QCS," Chief Superintendent Barretta said.
"Every interaction our officers have is an opportunity to address offending behaviour and to improve the vocational and life skills of prisoners, assisting in their rehabilitation and safe reintegration back into the community.
"Working in corrections can be challenging but also extremely rewarding, and I encourage anyone looking for a career that supports community safety to take a look at the opportunities available."
There is a wide range of career paths and opportunities with Queensland Corrective Services working in custodial environments and in the community.
QCS is actively recruiting for positions across Queensland, including custodial officers, programs and education officers, case managers, occupational therapists, psychologists and counsellors working in correctional mental health.
Applications for custodial officers can be submitted via the careers page of the QCS website, which will be followed by a phone interview, group assessment and fitness test.
