Warwick Work Camp supporting the community for 30 years
- Warwick Work Camp was established as the first women's prisoner work camp in Australia in 1995
- Low risk women building employable skills and making reparations to the community
- 35 community service projects currently on the go
Queensland Corrective Services' Warwick Work Camp is celebrating 30 years of serving the local community as it reaches the significant milestone this week (June 26).
Established as the first prisoner work camp for women in Australia, Warwick Work Camp has been supporting low risk women to build employable skills and give back to the community since June 1995.
The work camp is a valuable resource for the community, providing labour and assistance to community projects and events, cleaning and maintaining fences, cemeteries, heritage sites, playgrounds and showgrounds in Warwick and the surrounding area.
They also assist with major events, including the regional agricultural shows and Warwick Horse Trials where each year they help paint more than 100 show jumps, build the cross-country jumps, set up and dismantle the dressage arena and keep the facilities clean and tidy.
Giving back to others, each week the women set up equipment and courses for children attending Riding for the Disabled and attend the local St Vincent de Paul warehouse to sort clothes for distribution and sew special projects as needed.
QCS Field Supervisor Kushla, who has worked at the camp for more than 10 years, said there were 35 projects the camp was currently supporting.
"You would be hard to find a community club, sports field or major event that hasn't had assistance from the women from Warwick Work Camp over the last 30 years," Kushla said.
"The work camp program enhances employment opportunities by building self-confidence and encouraging the women to learn skills such as horticulture, landscaping and woodworking, which help them avoid future reoffending.
"We are immensely proud of the contribution we make to the community, and it is always satisfying for us and the women we supervise to receive appreciation from those we help. It gives the women a great sense of pride and builds their confidence when they are thanked for the work they are doing to turn their lives around and give back to the community.
"I get great personal satisfaction teaching the women new skills and ways of working so that when they are released, they have the tools to go out and help themselves build a life that contributes positively to society."
Please attribute to Southern Downs Deputy Mayor Councillor Sheryl Windle:
"For three decades, Warwick Work Camp has been a quiet powerhouse behind many of our community's successes.
"The program is an inspiring example of rehabilitation, with women gaining practical skills and confidence while making a meaningful contribution to the region."
Please attribute to Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton:
"Thirty years of service is a milestone worth celebrating. Warwick Work Camp has been a steady support behind countless local projects, and we thank them for their dedication."
"Our community is strongest when we work together, and the Work Camp is a powerful example of how partnership can deliver lasting benefits."
Over the last few years, the Warwick Work Camp has also:
- Refurbished Tannymorel Hall and Mt Colliery Hall's timber flooring including sanding and varnishing the original 1918 timbers,
- Restored the 100-year-old church pews at the history St Matthew's Church in Leyburn
- Re-painted the Warwick Girl Guides and Killarney RSL Sub-Branch club houses
There are 13 work camps currently operating throughout rural and regional Queensland. In 2023-24, prisoners on the Work Camp Program completed 145,729 hours of community service across the State, equating to $4.51 million worth of labour provided to support regional Queensland.