Careers In Corrections
There are a variety of career paths to follow in the Department of Corrective Services.
Within correctional centres, people work as custodial corrections officer, trade instructors, education officers or social workers and policy and administrative officers.
People interested in a career in Corrective Services need to have the skills and abilities relevant to the position for which they are applying. Many people who join the department have a tertiary degree in a relevant area such as criminology, psychology or social work.
The department is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and encourages women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities and people from non-English speaking backgrounds to apply for positions.
Some examples of the various positions within the department include:
Custodial Correctional Officers
are responsible for supervising offenders in correctional centres. They also actively participate in offenders' work and program
pursuits while monitoring and maintaining the security of the correctional centre.
Trade Instructors are responsible for the day-to-day management and scheduling of activities within a correctional centre's industry area. This position is also responsible for training offenders in accordance with national accreditation guidelines, as well as managing and coordinating industry activities to meet production requirements. They are also responsible for safety and security in the industry workplace.
Intelligence Analysts assist Intelligence Officers to develop, coordinate and manage the centre's security and intelligence collection plan; analyse all security-related information to provide timely intelligence; and support the department's Intelligence activities.
Psychologists provide psychological assessment, treatment and intervention to prisoners. They also assist with offender reception, carry out security risk assessments and ongoing case management of prisoners. Individuals applying for this position must possess a degree in a field relevant to the position, for example, social work, psychology or the behavioural sciences as well as current registration, or eligibility for registration, with the Psychologists' Board of Queensland.
Staff Development Officers coordinate the training and development operations within correctional centres and liaise with staff in the delivery of training and development activities.
Workplace Health and Safety Officers have a dual role encompassing occupational health and safety and rehabilitation management. A strong focus is placed on rehabilitation management and this position is designed to create a greater balance with occupational health and safety through the implementation of risk reduction strategies.
Community Correctional Officers supervise offenders in the community and assist and encourage them to
change their behaviour and attitudes. Community correctional officers also advise the courts, community corrections boards,
correctional and other authorities about offenders and liaise with, supervise and train community groups and volunteers.
Individuals applying for this position must possess a degree in a field relevant to the position, for example, social
work or the behavioural sciences.
Support Officers provide executive support and undertake clerical and other administrative duties, all of which contribute to the efficient operation of the work area.
Legal Coordinators are responsible for the delivery of legal instruction from Executive Officers to legal representatives defending common law actions, and assist in the coordination of external advice for less complex matters. The Legal Coordinator will also collate and enter data pertaining to the Legal Services Unit and be responsible for the maintenance of an ongoing legal history of the department.
Freedom on Information (FOI) Officers assess and process FOI requests for the department in accordance with FOI legislation.
Activities Officers develop, manage and deliver cultural, recreational and specialist activities to inmates. Individuals appointed to this position are required to successfully complete Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace training during their probationary year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers provide advice to management and staff on
specific cultural and management issues pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners. In addition, they
contribute to prisoner case management and sentence management as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and are responsible
for consultation and cooperation with the local community and specific program implementation. Due to a number of factors,
including the gross over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody, some positions are
identified as suitable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals only.
Correctional Counsellors provide assessment, treatment and counselling to individuals and groups of prisoners, to assist with assessment of security risk, case management, sentence management and parole processes, and to assist prisoners and their families with welfare needs. Individuals applying for these positions must possess a degree in a field relevant to the position, such as social work or behavioural science.
Regional Programs and Training Officers develop, coordinate, facilitate and evaluate the delivery of offender programs and staff training throughout the region. Individuals applying for these positions must possess a degree in a field relevant to the position, such as social work, psychology or the behavioural sciences, as well as the required accreditation to deliver offender programs.
Specialised Systems Coordinators provide an efficient and effective service to the Department of Corrective Services in management and administration of specialised systems including weapons, security and communications equipment, and processes for the transportation of extremely high-risk prisoners. These positions also maintains consistency in emergency response group training and correctional negotiator training.
Operations Officers provide overall management, planning, organisation, supervision and monitoring of staff, programs, sentence and case management and other prisoner services. These positions also develop and maintain secure, safe and positive institutional environments within which intervention strategies, aimed at correcting offending behaviour, can be successfully delivered.
Last Updated: 12 December 2005
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© The State of Queensland (Queensland Corrective Services) 2008.