FROM Kempsey and across the land - Australia's 25,000 corrections staff are being applauded for their work in keeping the community safe, as part of a global campaign to recognise their dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and many non-government associations around the globe have come together to thank the world's prison and parole officers for their commitment and professionalism.
ICPA president and Corrective Services NSW Commissioner, Peter Severin, said custodial and community corrections staff should be applauded for their ongoing work during this challenging time.
"Even at the best of times, Australia's corrections staff go to work each day and face often dangerous situations when managing inmates in prisons and offenders in the community," Mr Severin said.
"Now our officers are adapting to the new challenge of COVID-19 by keeping our prisons and parole offices safe from the disease, while also ensuring the smooth and safe running of our facilities - for this they should be truly applauded."
The community is being asked to share the #WeApplaud message on their social media channels to show their support for the nation's 25,000 correctional staff, who combined, manage more than 43,000 inmates in custody and 83,000 offenders in the community. These numbers include the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre at Aldavilla.
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Comm Severin said the State's 10,000 corrections staff had done an outstanding job navigating new COVID-19 procedures and keeping the system virus-free.
"I'm very proud of the way our staff have gotten on with the job while navigating new routines, changes to procedures and all kinds of other obstacles," he said.
"I hope the wider community will join us in saying, we applaud them."