Elise Archer,Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation
Twenty-four new recruits have today commenced training to become Correctional Officers with the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS), as part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of staff, prisoners and the community.
This is the first of four more recruit schools that will occur this year, thanks to the significant recruitment campaign we began last year to encourage people to consider a career in corrections.
This latest recruit school will not only increase staffing across the TPS but provide a safer and more secure environment for prisoners and staff, while also improving rehabilitation outcomes for offenders.
The 10 female and 14 male recruits come from a diverse range of backgrounds with experience across a wide range of industries, and they will now undertake an intensive 10 week recruit course which combines classroom-based learning, practical activities, and job placements across various posts within the TPS system.
Following their graduation in July, the recruits will commence work in facilities across the TPS, including the new Southern Remand Centre, which is nearing completion, and the Burnie Supreme Court.
While this recruit school gets underway the TPS will continue its intensive recruitment campaign targeting people in Tasmania and interstate who are looking for a new and meaningful career, as well as existing Correctional Officers interstate who are attracted to the benefits of the Tasmanian lifestyle.
Pleasingly, applications are already coming in for the next recruit intake that will commence their training in July, with the TPS on track to recruit 100 new Correctional Officers during 2022.
We will continue recruiting more staff and doing all we can to ensure the safety of everyone within the TPS system, to keep our communities safe while also giving prisoners the care and opportunities to rehabilitate and successfully reintegrate back into our community.
