ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) has welcomed a record number of female recruits as part of its latest cohort of 20 new custodial officers.
Minister for Corrections, Mick Gentleman congratulated the new officers on completing their 13-week training course and welcomed them to ACTCS.
“ACTCS is an integral part of the criminal justice system and staff do an important and challenging job,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The 20 recruits graduating today will join the dedicated ACTCS team who strive to keep our community safe,” he said.
“I’m also pleased to share that 10 of the 20 new recruits are female officers, while others are from diverse cultural backgrounds.”
Mr Gentleman said the implementation of recommendations in the 2022 Blueprint for Change report had given ACTCS the framework to continue to provide a safe, encouraging and inclusive workplace for all.
“I anticipate that the addition of the new cohort of recruits will only add to those commitments.”
ACTCS Commissioner Ray Johnson welcomed the new officers who are to continue their training over the next 12 months to complete national accredited Correctional Services qualifications.
“During the past 13 weeks, the recruits undertook training to prepare them for the challenges of working within a correctional environment each day,” Mr Johnson said.
“These 20 graduates were selected from more than 260 applicants and underwent a stringent selection process,” he said.
“They should all feel incredibly proud of how far they have come.”
