Parklea Correctional Centre has welcomed 16 new officers, 50 per cent of whom are women, at the first swearing-in ceremony for 2024.
Parklea Governor Wayne Taylor said he was pleased to swear in the latest MTC Australia graduates who will bolster the officer ranks and continue to ensure a safe, decent and secure facility.
“It is always an exciting day to welcome new officers into a career in corrections, as I’ve found my 34 years in the industry to be a rewarding career and no day is the same,” Mr Taylor said.
“Correctional officers play an important role in keeping the community safe and help reduce reoffending, yet they are often overlooked, as they are not as visible as other frontline staff.
“Today is an opportunity to shine a light on their work and thank them for taking this step to serve the community and make a positive impact on those in our care.”
Mr Taylor said the graduates were as diverse as the community they will serve, coming from various fields, different cultural backgrounds and ranging in age from 19 to 60.
“We recently celebrated International Women’s Day at Parklea, and many people don’t realise that corrections is now a popular career choice for women, with 40 per cent making up our workforce,” Mr Taylor said.
“Diversity is what makes Parklea strong and unique, as it enables us to work with inmates from similarly diverse cultures and backgrounds in what is often a challenging and dynamic environment, and women provide different skills and perspectives,” Mr Taylor said.
“The Parklea team bring all these things together to make a difference by employing MTC’s decency and respect principles and BIONIC (Believe it or Not I Care) philosophy.
“I’m delighted to welcome our new officers into the Parklea family and I look forward to working with them.”
MTC Australia’s Initial Training Course is a rigorous 10-week training program, which covers subjects such as policies and procedures, de-escalation and use of force tactics, mental health and general first aid. Trainees also participate in simulated search and emergency response exercises and weapons training.
To apply to become a correctional officer, go to: https://www.mtctrains.com.au/careers/
