Productive prisoners

1
1112

This Christmas, residents in Tennant Creek and its surrounds will benefit from more than $140,000 worth of community work undertaken by 44 Barkly Work Camp prisoners.
Correctional Services Minister Gerry McCarthy says since the $7 million work camp officially opened on September 8 under the new era of corrections, the prisoners had completed almost 10,000 hours of work across more than 30 projects.
“They’re working eight-hour days, five-days a week, just like they would if they were undertaking everyday employment,” he says.
“Over a full year, we expect the offenders to make reparation of up to $1.56 million through important work around the community including construction, maintenance and conservation.
“At the same time, they’re gaining nationally recognised qualifications through our partnership with Charles Darwin University and furthering their education so that they can return to their communities as productive members of society.
“My congratulations to the work camp staff for the great job they’re doing and I’m sure 2012 will prove just as successful.”
Some of the projects currently being undertaken by Barkly Work Camp prisoners include:
• Show and rodeo ground maintenance, fence and gate construction and function preparation.
• Shire Council grounds maintenance on verges, lanes, graffiti removal, litter collection.
• Grounds maintenance and tree lopping at various shire churches.
• Golf Club and Gun Club grounds maintenance and fire break creation.
• Turf Club grounds maintenance, function preparation and fence construction.
• Grounds maintenance and rubbish removal at pensioners’ residences.
• Desert Harmony Festival grounds maintenance and function preparation.
• Fire break creation in community urban living areas.
[Media release.]

1 COMMENT

  1. It’s heartening to hear such good news stories about prisoners and their reparation work to the community whom they have offended against. Barkly Work Camp prisoners made history earlier this year when eight successfully completed a Certificate I in Hospitality (Kitchen Operations) delivered by well known Catering Instructor Ingolf Eigenwellig of CDU Alice Springs.
    Another three completed a Certificate I in Resources and Infrastructure with a local mining company. On both occasions, the skills learnt will help those prisoners return to society as productive, contributing members.
    Hopefully, there will be more good news next year about BWC and the excellent outcomes being achieved.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here