National Corrections Day 2020 – We Are Family

Last published on 17 Jan 2020 

Today marks National Corrections Day, celebrating the 10,000 correctional staff in NSW - and the 25,000 frontline officers across Australia – who do an important job rehabilitating offenders and keeping the community safe.

Minister for Corrections Anthony Roberts said the We Are Family theme this year focuses on the camaraderie of Corrective Services NSW.

“Correctional staff do vital work rehabilitating offenders, in an environment that is often challenging and volatile,” Mr Roberts said.

“Every day they work together like one big family, to support one another and meet the challenges of the job. We saw this just recently during the bushfire crisis, as staff banded together to assist each other and their communities.

“Like all families they have different characters and perspectives, but it’s critical in a correctional environment that they come together to work as a close-knit team – and I’m proud to say Corrective Services NSW staff do a fantastic job of that.”

Staff across the state will today be holding morning teas and barbecues, and raising funds for chosen charities, including NSW Rural Fire Service, Australian Red Cross and the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).

CSNSW staff are deeply affected by the NSW bushfires with many officers volunteering for the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW State Emergency Service. Unfortunately, some staff lost their homes and property.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin praised staff for their dedication to their work and ongoing commitment to their communities.

“I’m proud to say our corrections staff are some of the world’s best,” Mr Severin said.

“Corrections is a tough environment and our staff are performing difficult work, which is mostly unseen by the rest of our community.

“Our teams work closely together and are also committed to their communities, fundraising and assisting where possible in times of need.”

In the lead up to National Corrections Day, CSNSW discovered about 200 family units working in the organisation – and there are likely more. This is mostly due to parents recommending the career to their children or people meeting their life partner on the job.

Corrective Services NSW employs 10,000 staff including custodial officers, security and intelligence officers, inmate services and programs staff, psychologists and parole officers.

Corrections Day was established by Corrective Services NSW in 2017 before it was adopted nationally and by New Zealand in 2018.

Download Media Release: National Corrections Day 2020 – We Are Family (PDF , 238.3 KB)