The Tasmanian Government is delivering on our commitment to increase Correctional Officer numbers, with 12 new Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) recruits graduating at a special ceremony in Hobart today.
This latest batch of recruits follows the 23 new Correctional Officers who joined the TPS late last year, bringing the total number of new recruits since 2016 to more than 200.
I was pleased to attend the ceremony along with the recruits’ family and friends as well as our senior TPS Officers and Department of Justice officials at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre today.
The recruits undertook 10 weeks of intensive training, and all of the 12 graduates will soon begin work at the Risdon Prison Complex.
Further recruitment is now being planned as our Government continues to deliver on our $355 million investment in new infrastructure and upgraded facilities that will improve and future-proof the State’s corrections system.
This includes the construction of the $85 million Southern Remand Centre project which is on track to be completed at the end of this year.
Importantly, these latest TPS recruits will undertake duties that contribute to rehabilitation outcomes for prisoners, to ensure safer communities around the State.