The work of the country’s correctional officers, who work with offenders in prison and on parole, is being recognised and celebrated on Friday 19 January as part of National Corrections Day.
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Among those workers being celebrated are the staff and officers at the local Mid North Coast Correctional Centre (MNCCC).
That’s why my colleagues and I do what we do
- Glen Murgatroyd
One of those dedicated workers being recognised is the Mid North Coast’s own Glen Murgatroyd, general duties officer at the MNCCC.
In 20 years of service with Corrective Services NSW, Glen has worked at nearly every correctional centre in the state and worked in a number of roles, most recently as a dog handler in the K9 Unit.
He is among 5,140 of CSNSW’s custodial officers, services and programs staff and psychologists - and more than 8,000 total staff - to be celebrated as part of National Corrections Day.
“No day is ever the same,” he says.
“Depending on rostering requirements, I could be working a wing, responsible for the security and wellbeing of up to 80 inmates. I could be working in the reception room, coordinating the transport of inmates to court, other centres, police interviews or releases.”
Glen says National Corrections Day is a great opportunity to let the public know about the variety of rehabilitation, education and training programs available to inmates to prepare them for release and reintegration into society.
“These courses – from educational programs to gaining technical qualifications in Corrective Services Industries’ workshops – mean that inmates can walk out of our gates with the knowledge and skills to turn their lives around,” he says.
Industries range from woodwork, bumper bar and car respraying workshops, or learning how to cook and prepare meals for all diets.
Glen said he hopes National Corrections Day gives the public an idea of the way many corrections officers keep the community safe in an often difficult environment.
“One of the biggest challenges is communicating with inmates, especially if they’re drug or alcohol dependent, or have just been sentenced. To be able to communicate with them on their level can sometimes be difficult. But that has never stopped me from keeping up the effort.
“Over the past two decades, I’ve run into several former inmates around the state who’ve turned around their lives to become law-abiding, productive citizens. And that’s why my colleagues and I do what we do.”
The prison is due to expand to 400 new beds in mid-2018 as part of a project estimated to add about 100 permanent new jobs at the jail.
