More than 700 administration staff were recognised last Friday (7 May) for their work in keeping NSW prisons and parole offices running smoothly and efficiently.
The Department of Communities and Justice said Administrative Professionals Day had been marked in Australia since 1981 to recognise the important job of admin people, who often went unnoticed.
Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) Commissioner Peter Severin commended the professionalism and commitment of the commission’s administration officers, particularly for their work over the past 14 months.
“Most of our admin staff had to be reskilled in very tight time-frames so they could begin bookings for inmate video-visits during the pandemic,” Mr Severin said.
“They had to rethink how their workplaces needed to operate while being COVID-19 safe, and this was on top of performing a range of day-to-day vital tasks including managing purchases and invoices, administering sentences and orders, and processing staff wages,” he said.
“We wouldn’t be able to function without them so today’s an opportunity to acknowledge their signification contribution.”
Mr Severin said CSNSW employed 707 administration professionals, including payroll clerks; business managers; sentence administration officers; and executive assistants.
He said CSNSW staff had been encouraged to mark the Day by organising a morning tea or sending their colleagues a gift or message of appreciation.
“Some administration officers have been with us for decades while others are new; I thank them all for their service,” Mr Severin said.
