More than 2000 prisoners across the Northern Territory have taken part in education and skills training through a Charles Darwin University partnership with NT Corrections.
More than 500 prisoners have enrolled in NT White Card training, which covers essential workplace health and safety practices required for working on construction sites in Australia. Other popular courses include food handling courses, forklift licences, and construction pathways.
The program has an almost 85% completion rate and has highlighted the positive impact of education and skills training.
Charles Darwin University Acting Vice-Chancellor Brendon Douglas said the successful program is providing practical skills with pathways to employment following prison.
“The program is providing meaningful education and training opportunities that can support rehabilitation, workforce readiness and successful reintegration,” Mr Douglas said.
“The program has developed training plans that align with the workforce needs across the NT, and we are seeing successful completions of skills and qualifications that meet those needs.”
Training has been delivered at the Darwin Correctional Centre, Berrimah Correctional Centre, Alice Springs Correctional Centre and Datjala Work Camp, with a major focus on short courses and skill sets.
These courses and skill sets offer practical, employment-relevant skills that can be completed within shorter periods and stacked over time to support individual employment and further training pathways.
The success of the program was recently acknowledged by winning the 2026 Northern Territory Training Awards’ Industry Collaboration Award.
Deputy Commissioner Adult Operations Kymberley McKay said the award reflects the commitment of staff and educators who work together every day to support rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.
“At its heart, this partnership is about using time in custody productively and helping people build the skills, confidence and workplace behaviours needed to succeed after release,” Mr McKay said.
“This award recognises a collaboration that has moved well beyond a traditional training arrangement. It brings education, correctional operations and prisoner industries together to create meaningful opportunities for prisoners.”
