NRCF prisoners and staff rewarded for hard work
Seven Northland Region Corrections Facility prisoners have graduated with construction trade skills and painting qualifications.
The prisoners graduated with the Level 3 Certificate in Construction Trade Skills and Painting from NorthTec on January 26.
Nine staff also received their long service awards during a ceremony presented by Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis at the facility at Ngawha near Kaikohe.
Davis told the prisoners they should be proud of themselves and what they had achieved. The qualification equips the men with skills and qualifications that will help them find sustainable employment on their release.
‘‘This qualification gives them a much better chance of finding work in the construction industry once they’ve served their sentence,’’ Davis says.
‘‘It’s a big foot in the door. They can start out as a labourer, brush-hand or apprentice, and then go on to work as a painter with some further training and experience.
‘‘The graduates should be proud of what they’ve achieved and I have urged them to make sure they put their new skills to good use once they’re outside the wire. That’s the only way they can build a better life for themselves and their whanau.’’
Davis also congratulated staff on their long service awards, which ranged between seven and 28 years service.
‘‘Education, employment and rehabilitation are crucial to reducing re-offending and our prison population but it can’t be done without the dedication of Corrections’ staff,’’ Davis says.
‘‘Staff work in an environment which requires them to be adaptable, resilient, and the daily decisions they are required to make can have a profound impact on how successful we are in reducing a prisoners’ likelihood of reoffending. It’s a difficult job but the fact that today’s recipients have served seven or more years is a testament to their commitment to keeping our communities safe.’’
NRCF has worked with NorthTec for over eight years, providing a range of programmes at the prison, including carpentry, forestry and horticulture.
A 12-week literacy programme for prisoners is also proving successful.