Prisoners working in the Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Canon Copier Assembly and Refurbishment workshop at Rimutaka Prison are learning valuable skills from an award winning Field Technician.

Canon NZ’s Basil Cousins, who provides technical training and guidance to Rimutaka prisoners, was one of only four New Zealanders to receive Canon’s prestigious Shogun award out of 1200 Australasian nominations.

The award recognises Canon employees who “go above and beyond” and was given for Basil’s cost-saving and recycling initiatives within the Rimutaka Prison’s CIE Canon Copier Assembly and Refurbishment workshop. He was also acknowledged for the difference he makes in training and coaching prisoners, instilling a work ethic and change in attitude amongst those he mentors.

“The impact of Basil’s new initiatives is clearly seen in turnaround times and product quality. In fact, his development initiatives at Rimutaka Prison have been applied to other areas of our operation with similar success,” says Canon’s Services and Support Manager Ben Archer.

The CIE programme is aimed at upskilling prisoners so that they can find employment on release and CIE’s Activity Manager Steve Luey says that Basil’s success in prisoner technical training has made a significant difference in the lives of the many prisoners he has taught.

“Basil has received some fantastic feedback on his coaching style and has brought about notable changes in attitude and work ethic amongst the prisoners he works with,” Mr Luey says.

For more than three years CIE has assembled, refurbished and dismantled copiers for Canon. Prisoners working on the Canon machines will earn New Zealand Qualifications Authority accreditation which can be put towards a national certificate in Distribution Level 3.

“The prisoner employment partnership between the Department of Corrections and Canon New Zealand has been a very successful one, and we are very grateful for the work that Basil has done with us,” says Mr Luey.

ENDS

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