APRIL 2016 CORRECTIONS news

The QCS Work Camp Program Taking a look at one of the most successful prisoner rehabilitation schemes in Australia MARK RALLINGS COMMISSIONER 8 CORRECTIVE SERVICES

I hope you enjoyed the fi rst issue of Corrections News 3 CHARLEVILLE 7 INNISFAIL WORK for 2016 as much as I did. It is always a pleasure to This Issue WORK CAMP CAMP read about and acknowledge the continued great Supervisor Mark Innisfail Work Camp was work being performed by QCS staff throughout Queensland. Providing an insight into the many Gillam talks established to assist in the divisions of QCS and recognising the devoted about getting clean up after Cyclone Larry individuals that make QCS a national leader in prisoners ready for corrections is what Corrections News is all about. reintegration into WORK In this issue, we continue to explore the different society CAMP sectors of QCS with an in depth look at our successful 9 Supervisor Mark Hunt Work Camp Program. Operating now for 26 years, the MITCHELL WORK celebrates 10 years at Work Camp Program originated from an emergency 5 CAMP Springsure Work Camp this response effort in Charleville to become one of the most successful prisoner rehabilitation schemes Front Cover: Lotus Glen Supervisor Phillip may in Australia. The Work Camp Program in regional Correctional Centre Farm Manager, Les Elliott, and Innisfail Work Camp Somerville has been Queensland ensures QCS continues to provide to Supervisor, Colin Watson with QCS since 1984 WARWICK WORK the surrounding rural communities and offer an CAMP opportunity for prisoners to give back to society. CORRECTIONSnews 11 is published bimonthly Assisting prisoners to We also meet staff from Charleville, Mitchell, Innisfail, by the Offi ce of the Commissioner develop confi dence and Springsure and Warwick Work Camps as they discuss Queensland Corrective Services gain the community’s what working at work camps means to them, the appreciation prisoners and the surrounding communities. The GPO Box 1054 dedicated men and women who manage the work State Law Building, 50 Ann Street QLD 4001 5 camps are a further testament to the success of the (07) 3239 3158 13 JULIA CREEK WORK Work Camp Program. [email protected] CAMP Offi cers and prisoners have Thank you again for your support and I hope you enjoy reading our latest edition of Corrections News. assisted in restoring a vital transport link to Western Queensland

ROBERT WOOD Editor ALEX BURTON 9 Designer and Features Editor page page 3 4

Prisoners from Charleville Work The QCS Work Camp Program is one of the most nominate and assess priorities for community Camp are assisting with repairs to Augathella Racing Club successful prisoner rehabilitation schemes in service projects, provide information and Australia, injecting around $3.5 million worth advice about the views of the local community, of labour into regional Queensland through and promote effective relationships between community service in the last fi nancial the community and QCS. year. There are currently 13 work camp sites across Queensland, with 11 camps of male The work camp program began in 1990 as part prisoners and two camps of female prisoners. of an emergency response effort in Charleville Geographically, they are spread from as far following devastating fl oods. Since this time, south as Dirranbandi, near the New South the work camps continue to provide emergency Wales border, to as far north as Innisfail. assistance across Queensland after fl oods, The work camps are annexed to correctional storms and other disasters, however, their centres and in 2014-15, they accommodated work extends beyond emergency response. 74 low risk male prisoners and 11 low risk The work completed by prisoners also includes female prisoners. the ongoing maintenance of cemeteries, parks and showgrounds, to the restoration Work camps provide valuable labour for of signifi cant landmarks and buildings of community service projects in regional historical importance. Queensland, while also providing prisoners with an opportunity to make reparation. Throughout Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are 2014-15 made up of members of regional councils, prisoners at work camps of community service police, local business owners, community contributed valued at over groups and local residents, as well as the

work camp fi eld supervisors. It is their role to 156,657 hours $3.5 million to assist regional communities across Queensland

Lotus Glen Prisoner progression to skills for life work camps: The QCS Work Camp Program Capricornia Secure Correctional provides valuable labour for Centre Innisfail community service projects Bowen across regional Queensland Julia Creek Work Work Winton Camp Low Security Camp Clermont Correctional Boulia and promotes successful Brisbane Centre Springsure Women’s Blackall prisoner rehabilitation Charleville Mitchell St George Dirranbandi Correctional Centres Work Work

Warwick Male work camps Camp Camp

Female work camps page page 5 6

Charleville Showgrounds and Work Camp Supervisor, Racecourse Reserve Originally known as the Work Outreach Camps Mark Gillam (WORC) program, the QCS Work Camp Program initiated with a focused recovery effort from a crew of offi cers and prisoners after the fl oodwaters of the Warrego River inundated the western Queensland town of Charleville in early 1990.

Current projects for the camp include ongoing mowing and maintenance of the Charleville Showgrounds and Racecourse Reserve, as well as the refurbishment of the rails and jockey rooms at the Augathella Racing Club, the re-painting of the Augathella Catholic Church and maintenance at the Prisoners are stripping and re-painting the Augathella Morven Race Club. Catholic Church Throughout 2014-15

prisoners at of community service CHARLEVILLE Charleville Work Camp valued at over contributed Work Camp Supervisor, Mark Gillam day. It’s alright saying thanks to the started his career with QCS in 1981 prisoners, but when the locals walk

19,491 hours $443 after being discharged from the army. past and say “Thanks fellas,” – a thousand Over the years, he has spent time thanks every now and then makes Morven Race Club working at the Boggo Road Gaol, them feel really good.” Woodford, Wacol, Darling Downs, Sir David Longland Correctional Centres, To earn the right to stay at a work Brisbane and is now based at the Palen Creek camp, prisoners must demonstrate Correctional Centre Correctional Centre. positive behaviour and attitudes. Mark is passionate about the work In his current role, Mark assists with camp program and the opportunities relieving permanent work camp staff. it opens up for the prisoners who “I’m lucky in a way – I get to work at learn valuable work skills and all of the camps. This is my fi rst time become engaged in communities, Mitchell to Charleville, but I’ve completed while making reparation. “It’s about Charleville Palen Work Camp three rotations in Mitchell, and three breaking the cycle of them being Work Camp Creek or four in St George. I’ve also worked ‘bad guys’. They’re doing good work Correctional at the Dirranbandi Camp. So I get around the place and saving millions Centre around and it’s good for me,” he of dollars. I don’t get them out of bed says. every day, they get up themselves and have breakfast and they’re ready He acknowledges that appreciation to go at seven. It’s a good thing, and is one of the key motivations for the when they leave, they’re ready to Dirranbandi St George Work Camp prisoners in their community service reintegrate into society and hit the Work Camp work. “It’s hard labour. It’s hot. It’s workforce.” dusty. We’re helping the community

Prisoners from Charleville Work and they’re happy with the work and Camp are assisting with repairs it makes me happy at the end of the to Augathella Racing Club page page 7 8

Work Camp Supervisor, Phillip Somerville Among various other projects, Mitchell Work Camp provides ongoing assistance to the Mitchell Show Society, including the refurbishment of railings and construction of jump trailers. The work camp also supports organisations including the Woodlands Pony Club and the Mitchell Rodeo Association.

Throughout

Prisoners are assisting with the refurbishment of railings at the 2014-15 Mitchell Show Ground prisoners at of community service Prisoners have constructed jump Mitchell Work Camp valued at over trailers for the Mitchell Show contributed Society

18,392 hours $418 thousand MITCHELL Brisbane Correctional Centre Mitchell Work Camp Supervisor, Phillip the value in the program for both Somerville, has been with QCS since prisoners and the local community. 1984. A builder by trade, Phillip spent “I just think the Work Program is such time at the Wacol and Sir David Longland a great enterprise. It gets guys out of Prisoners maintain vegetable Correctional Centres, focussing on the system where they’re behind bars, gardens at the camp developing prisoner industries. He has and they reintegrate them back into a Mitchell Charleville Palen been stationed at the Mitchell Work community where they are accepted. Work Camp Work Camp Creek Camp for close to 14 years. It’s quite gratifying to see that it turns Correctional people’s lives around, and that’s why Centre “I enjoy the challenge, I really do. I still I’ve stayed with the Work Program for so gravitate back to the building side of long – because it works,” he says. it. I’ve always kept my building licence current. I built Dirranbandi and Julia Phillip highlights the signifi cance of Creek Work Camps and I’ve completed the work camps’ history, in assisting Dirranbandi St George maintenance on all of the camps over communities to recover from natural Work Camp the years,” he says. disasters. “The Work Program started Work Camp after the fl oods in Charleville and The Mitchell community is very we’ve always maintained an emergency Mitchell Work Camp supportive of the camp and the response group. We’re ready to go at the prisoners’ contributions. “I get very drop of a hat – whether it’s chopping up positive feedback from the local people trees after a mini tornado, or re-fencing and these fellas are treated as normal to get farmers back on their feet. That’s human beings, which is good for their what we’re about – giving back to the reintegration back into society,” says community.” Phillip.

Having been at the camp for many years, Phillip has seen fi rst-hand page page 9 10

The Warrina Lakes grounds are Lotus Glen Correctional Centre Farm maintained by the work camp A signifi cant project for the Manager, Les Elliott, and Work Camp prisoners at Innisfail Work Lotus Glen Supervisor, Colin Watson Camp is the maintenance Correctional Centre of the local community gardens, where they carry out mowing, whipper snipping and mulching, and Lotus trim the tropical fruit trees. Glen They have also installed Correctional drainage and an all-weather Centre Farm access road throughout the gardens.

Innisfail Community Garden Prisoners have also assisted with tasks such as relocating Innisfail Work Camp the local council library and community events, including the Innisfail Agricultural Field Day. INNISFAIL Throughout Innisfail Work Camp was established to submit to random drug testing deployed to the small community 2014-15 as a permanent camp in 2006 to and the QCS Probation and Parole of Cooktown after Cyclone Ida assist the community in the clean Service and local Police also play devastated the town. It was prisoners at of community service up after the devastation of Cyclone an important role in the camp’s interesting to see the change in Innisfail Work Camp valued at over Larry. Lotus Glen Correctional Centre operation. the community perception of the contributed Farm Manager, Les Elliott and Work prisoner group and the amount of Camp Supervisor, Colin Watson, are The northern region of Queensland work we were able to achieve in the

19,259 hours $438 passionate about the program and is prone to severe storms and four weeks there,” he says. thousand assisting the community. cyclones and the Innisfail camp has played a signifi cant role in the clean- “This reparation to the community Les and Colin are responsible ups of recent years. “All aspects of develops a work ethic and sense of for the operation of the camp, the community engagement that worth in prisoners that sets them from maintaining relationships have occurred in the region after up for a positive reintegration back with community stakeholders, the cyclone events have been into the community,” says Les. Prisoners maintain the to communicating with and special. The prisoners have all Innisfail Showgrounds supervising the prisoners. Colin worked beyond the expected hours highlights the importance of in all sorts of weather conditions the process by which prisoners and really showed they wanted to involved in the work camp program assist the community in any way are screened. “Probably the most they could. The leadership and important aspect for the smooth mentoring of the staff during these running of the camp is the selection clean up events has been nothing process to identify which prisoners short of inspiring,” says Les. are suitable for the work camp,” says Colin. All prisoners must be Colin mentions the clean up classifi ed as low risk and their after Cyclone Ida as a signifi cant The work camp assists the council in behaviour is constantly monitored. achievement for the work camp. carrying out general mowing and whipper snipping throughout Innisfail Prisoners are regularly required “In 2014, Innisfail Work Camp was page page 11 12

Work Program Coordinator, The Springsure Work Camp has Dave Russell and Work Camp conducted signifi cant restoration Prisoners rotate between the Springsure and Supervisor, Mark Hunt to the heritage listed Springsure Clermont Work Camps every few weeks. Hospital Museum site The site of the heritage listed Springsure Hospital has been a project for the work camp since 2006. The council has plans to reopen the site as a museum to attract tourists this year. Work that has been conducted by prisoners has involved signifi cant restoration, including the replacement of stumps, beams and a signifi cant portion of the verandah.

Prisoners are involved in the ongoing maintenance of the Hoods Lagoon precinct in Clermont, and last year installed a new memorial to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

SPRINGSURE AND Prisoners have also played a signifi cant role in the clean-up after natural disasters within the region. On 21 April, the Capricornia Correctional Centre Cyclone CLERMONT By Dr Bridgette McKelvey and Alex Burton Marcia Recovery Team received the Divisional Excellence Award for Promoting QCS. The team was Work Program Coordinator, Dave signifi cance to Dave is the clean- communities. “I would like to think responsible for coordinating the efforts for restoring Russell, and Springsure Work Camp up effort after the devastation of I am passionate about any project the coastline to a usable state after Cyclone Supervisor, Mark Hunt, have spent in Yeppoon. “Good that when completed provides the Springsure Hospital Museum Marcia and has built a strong relationship with the years embedding the work camp things can come out of misfortune,” community with a lasting benefi t Livingstone Shire Council. program in the says Dave, one year on from the – whether it be the construction towns of Blackall, Springsure and destructive weather event. He of a shade shelter in the local Throughout Clermont and their surrounds. describes the traumatic impact it park, laying turf and improving the had on the local community, but community sporting oval for locals “There are not too many streets says it has also allowed QCS to in a small town like Rolleston, or 2014-15 here in Springsure I can’t drive build a strong relationship with helping the local Country Women’s down and identify work completed the Livingstone Shire Council. Association maintain their crisis prisoners at of community service by the work camp,” says Mark. Capricornia Correctional Centre support accommodation,” he says. Sprinsure and Clermont valued at over “We’re available to the community and the Council are now exploring Work Camps contributed seven days a week, and as far as future opportunities for projects Mark talks about his very fi rst

the community’s concerned, we’re to benefi t the community and give work camp being stationed in Mark Hunt, Paul De Beus, Dave Russell and Garry Gordon 10,107 hours $230 invaluable to them.” prisoners the opportunity to gain Innisfail after Cyclone Larry. “There accepted Divisional Excellence Awards as part of the Capricornia thousand practical vocational skills they can were many special personal and Correctional Centre Cyclone Marcia Recovery Team Dave explains the importance of use later in their life, including the memorable moments at Innisfail Capricornia working with Community Advisory manufacture of waste bins at the while providing assistance to the Correctional Centre Committees (CACs). “I’m the Centre’s industries workshops for community,” he says. “I think the link between the agency and prisoners in high security. one thing I remember most is being the community,” he says. Dave able to see a community come Clermont provides whatever QCS resources When asked about his experiences together to help each other and Capricornia Work Camp are available to the community and passions for the work camp having offenders be part of the Correctional and to work camp staff so they can project, Mark has many. He solution and not the problem.” Centre Farm achieve successful results with their celebrates 10 years as Work Camp community service projects. Supervisor this May and takes great pride in the invaluable efforts his Blackall One project of particular team of prisoners contributes to the Last year, prisoners from Clermont Work Camp installed a new memorial Work Camp Springsure to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landings Work Camp page page 13 14

The work camp maintains the Suzette Burton-Wright, Field Offi cer and Killarney Showgrounds The Warwick Work Camp was Kushla Gage, Work Camp Supervisor established as Australia’s Brisbane Women’s fi rst female work camp in Correctional Centre 1995.

Prisoners maintain the Killarney showgrounds and recreation grounds through Numinbah mowing, whipper snipping Correctional and tidying the facilities. Centre They play a signifi cant role in assisting with community events each year including the Border Rangers Trail Bike Warwick Work Camp Ride, the Leyburn Historical Motor Sprints, the Warwick Gold Cup Camp Draft and Rodeo, and most recently, By Dr Bridgette McKelvey the Warwick Horse Trials WARWICK One Day Event.

Throughout At Warwick Work Camp, 130 that’s why I love it.” too. So I like to be out. I like to kilometres south-west of Brisbane, teach the women how you work Kushla Gage, Work Camp Supervisor, Working together, they assess because everything comes into 2014-15 and Suzette Burton-Wright, Field what projects will help the women it, time management and taking The work camp carries out mowing and whipper snipping Offi cer, work together to get the job grow through the development responsibility for the equipment. prisoners at of community service done. of horticulture skills, budgeting, This is the last step before their Warwick Work Camp valued at over contributed independence and taking release so they need skills to go out Kushla has been at Warwick for responsibility for a job from start to there and help themselves.” six years, after transferring from fi nish.

14,763 hours $336 Brisbane Women’s Correctional What’s most satisfying for Suzette thousand Centre. Previously she worked at Working between the fi eld and offi ce, and Kushla is seeing the women Rimutaka Prison, a male correctional Kushla manages the women, liaises develop confi dence and the centre in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, with council and stakeholders, community’s appreciation. “We for 10 years. and runs the work camp. Suzette get a big bunch of fl owers for the liaises with community, sets up women, and they say thank you. Suzette has been with Queensland projects, and supports Kushla and That’s great!” Suzette says. It’s a Corrective Services since 2006. the prisoners when they come into job well done by everyone. Prisoners assist with community events, including the Warwick Horse Trials Before that she worked in adult camp. education for disabilities, and workplace health and safety, “I think we complement each training and assessment. Suzette other in that I’m a little more into says her previous roles really education and learning, and Kush complement this role. keeps me grounded because she’s from a secure background and has “I like people, and I think women a really great grasp on managing have got a lot to offer,” says Suzette. the prisoners,” says Suzette. “This position allows us to develop women in a lot of different roles. So Kushla adds, “I like physical work page page 15 16

Townsville Correctional Complex General Manager, Jon Francis-Jones South-east Queensland Women’s Re-entry Service

JULIA CREEK

Julia Creek Work Camp offi cers and prisoners have Prisoners assist with the clean-up after the train derailment assisted in restoring a vital transport link to Western Queensland after a train transporting approximately 819,000 litres of sulphuric acid derailed near the town late last year. The closure of the rail line impacted on the ability to transport food, materials and other important resources to and from western Queensland towns, causing a serious disruption.

The closure of the Flinders Highway in several places due to fl ooding also hampered efforts to get cleanup July 2016 crews to the area and the work camp stepped in to assist as possible. Throughout On top of the work carried out in assisting with the clean-up, prisoners contributed to the construction 2014-15 of two temporary roads to access the site to enable Greater support and better outcomes for prisoners at of community service Queensland Rail to move machinery in to clean up Julia Creek Work Camp valued at over the derailment. all women contributed On April 21, Townsville Correctional Complex General Manager, Jon Francis-Jones accepted Divisional 5,387 hours $126 thousand Excellence Awards on behalf of Julia Creek Work More information available soon Camp in recognition for the leadership and work with other agencies undertaken with the Julia Creek train derailment recovery. “This is a fantastic illustration For enquiries please email: [email protected] of the good work that is being done by prisoners within our care, for communities,” said Jon. Department of Justice and Attorney-General Queensland Corrective Services

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CORRECTIONS news is published bimonthly by Queensland Corrective Services GPO Box 1054 State Law Building, 50 Ann Street Brisbane QLD 4001 (07) 3239 3158 [email protected] news.correctiveservices.qld.gov.au