Queensland Corrective Services is calling on community members in the far north, northern, central and south-east regions to play an important role in the state’s correctional system.
QCS’ Official Visitors Scheme has 20 vacancies for community members keen to assist prisoners to manage and resolve complaints while in custody.
Positions are available at Lotus Glen, Townsville Men’s and Women’s and Capricornia Correctional Centres, as well as several centres in the south-east corner.
Official Visitors are paid for their services and attend correctional centres to hear and investigate prisoner complaints, review safety orders and maximum-security orders among other tasks required under the Corrective Services Act 2006.
The Official Visitors Scheme was introduced in 1989, following the Commission of Review into Corrective Services in Queensland conducted by Mr J J Kennedy.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Catherine Moynihan, Professional Standards and Governance Command, QCS:
“If you are empathetic and have excellent communication skills and can attend a correctional centre located near you, one day each month, we encourage you to apply.
“As community representatives, Official Visitors assist us by being accessible and independent to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners is in line with the Corrective Services Act 2006 and the Human Rights Act 2019.”
