More than 25,000 frontline correctional officers across Australia – including 10,000 correctional staff in NSW – will be celebrated today for their work in rehabilitating offenders and keeping the community safe.
Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said National Corrections Day was an opportunity to applaud the vital work of correctional officers.
"Today we acknowledge the exceptional efforts of Corrective Services NSW staff in keeping our prisons and communities safe and secure," Mr Roberts said.
"CSNSW staff not only manage offenders in custody and the community, they also work together with other government and non-government agencies to ensure people are given the skills and support to stop their offending behaviour."
CSNSW Commissioner Peter Severin applauded the efforts of staff across the organisation, who face a tough and often dangerous job each day.
"I'm very proud of our staff, who are world's best, and today gives us an opportunity to publicly recognise their efforts," Mr Severin said.
"Workplace culture plays a significant role in staff morale, mental health and offender rehabilitation, so National Corrections Day is also vital in helping build positive and supportive workplaces, which encourage staff to do their best."
The 2021 National Corrections Day theme is Working together to reduce reoffending, focusing on the ways our staff assist offenders through programs, education and positive interactions.
CSNSW includes about 5,000 custodial officers, 1,800 Community Corrections staff, 750 industries workers, 720 psychologists and programs officers and 1,170 Security and Intelligence staff.
Corrections Day was established by Corrective Services NSW in 2017 before it was adopted nationally and by New Zealand in 2018.
