When Nerice Low took an administration job with Nowra Community Corrections a year ago, she never expected to be making a difference in offenders’ lives.
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Reflecting on her time in the role so far, the former South Coast Correctional Centre roster clerk was surprised to see the impact court-ordered community work can have on offenders’ rehabilitation.
“This role is about making the right connections, ensuring that offenders in the community are provided work opportunities so they can learn new skills and give not-for-profit organisations a helping hand,” Ms Low said.
“I had a single mum placed with the Salvation Army who thought she wouldn’t succeed because she worked casually, was studying and had child-minding commitments. With some support she completed the order and was taken on in a paid position afterwards.
“The work not only gives them new skills, it improves their self-esteem and really strengthens their connection to the community.”
Ms Low is among the more than 9000 Corrective Services NSW staff being celebrated for their commitment to community safety on National Corrections Day, on Friday, January 18.
CSNSW staff includes custodial officers, inmate services and programs staff, psychologists and parole officers.
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Ms Low started a career with Corrective Services NSW in 2010, after moving to the Shoalhaven for a sea-change.
The former Sydneysider had previously worked for NSW Agriculture and looked forward to taking up another government role.
The 42-year-old now works as a Community Service Order Administration Assistant alongside Community Corrections Officer Allison Horlock and several field officers, to ensure offenders have enough support to complete their court-ordered community work.
“From the initial induction through to the end of their order I am in regular contact with offenders, giving them encouragement, communicating with them and reminding them of the importance of completing their order,” she said.
Nowra Community Corrections has a variety of work opportunities for offenders on community-service orders, including groundskeeping, maintenance, clerical work, retail assistance with not-for-profit organisations and crocheting blankets for the homeless.
The 2019 National Corrections Day theme is Working Corrections, focussing on inmate industries and the work of Community Corrections officers, who supervise offenders on court-ordered community work.
There are nearly 1600 Community Corrections staff working at more than 130 reporting locations across the state, supervising offenders on parole and court-ordered community work.
Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said National Corrections Day was a good opportunity to acknowledge and thank corrections staff for their dedication and hard work in keeping the community safe.
“Our staff are varied and talented, and include custodial officers, security and intelligence officers, inmate services and programs staff, psychologists and parole officers. They are the unsung heroes of our communities and we should all stop and thank them,” Mr Severin said.
Community Corrections officers supervise almost 10,000 offenders on court-ordered community-service work annually for more than 560 non-profit organisations.
Around 650 Corrective Services Industries staff oversee inmates undertaking work, training and other qualifications to help reintegrate them into the community and reduce reoffending.
Corrections Day was established by CSNSW in January 2017 to pay homage to frontline corrections staff and provide the community with a better understanding of the challenging and often dangerous work they do each day.