Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong is today visiting Junee Correctional Centre with Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) Commissioner Gary McCahon, to mark the Minns Labor Government's successful transition of the Junee Correctional Centre into public hands.
Minister Chanthivong will also welcome staff to the new agency and will see the new operational model first-hand, which will secure well paid public service jobs for locals while integrating the centre into the broader prison network, enhancing operations statewide.
Junee Correctional Centre transitioned to CSNSW's new operational model this week, marking the first time the centre has been run by the public sector since it opened in 1993.
CSNSW extended offers to existing GEO staff who wanted to remain employed, and continues a recruitment drive to fill staffing vacancies as the prison's inmate population increases.
Bringing the prison into the public system will allow CSNSW to integrate operations with the broader prison network, while continuing to support the local community through two minimum-security community project teams.
CSNSW, Justice Health, and the Forensic Mental Health Network have worked alongside GEO for the past 16 months to implement the transition, which provides higher pay, better job security and more employment opportunities to workers.
Minister Chanthivong welcomed the news that CSNSW will also continue to support the Junee branch of Meals on Wheels and looks forward to supporting local residents with this initiative.
The Junee Correctional Centre bakery is also expanding its operation and will provide bakery food items to all correctional centre facilities in the southern region.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong:
"We promised voters that we would reverse the trend of privatising public services, and we've successfully transitioned the Junee Correctional Centre to the public sector, delivering on that commitment.
"Not only do frontline staff at Junee Correctional Centre have better pay and conditions since the transition to public management, they're providing a service that will deliver better value for NSW taxpayers, as well as improved rehabilitation outcomes and education and training opportunities for inmates."
Quotes attributable to Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM:
"Corrective Services NSW has worked with GEO and other stakeholders to transition to the new operating model with minimal impact on day-to-day operations, while focusing on the key objectives to reduce reoffending and continue to support the local community.
"This transition of Junee Correctional Centre into public hands has provided us with a blueprint to successfully manage the private-to-public transition process, which is an experience we'll rely on when we bring Parklea Correctional Centre back into the public sector in October next year.
"I want to thank CSNSW's project team for their tireless work to enable this smooth transition, and I share a warm welcome to the new employees who will be joining the CSNSW family."
Quotes attributable to Justice Health NSW Chief Executive Wendy Hoey:
"As the current provider of health care services in all NSW public adult correctional centres, Justice Health NSW is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people in custody across the state.
"Expanding our health services to include Junee Correctional Centre is an opportunity to enhance health outcomes so that we can return people healthier to their communities.
"We were extremely pleased to see many of the existing health staff within the centre transition across to Justice Health NSW - their local experience and knowledge will greatly assist with a smooth transition."
Quotes attributable to Public Service Association NSW General Secretary Stewart Little:
"The PSA strongly endorses transitioning the Junee Correctional Centre into the public sector after 32 years.
"This major milestone in the life of the Centre is welcomed because we know that privatising prisons simply hasn't worked.
"Workers, inmates, and the broader community are always left worse off when prisons are driven to operate for profit rather than beneficial community outcomes.
"We wouldn't ever consider privatising the Police or the Courts, and it should be exactly the same standard for our Corrections system."
