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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 QUEENSLAND 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 SPRINGSURE 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 Brisbane 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: Townsville 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.