Hon Louise Upston
Minister of Corrections
17 March 2017
Corrections officers graduate from training
Corrections Minister Louise Upston has congratulated 53 new Corrections officers and offender employment instructors on
their graduation from training.
“I thank these men and women for stepping up to this very challenging job. We need dedicated and committed people to
give offenders the support and encouragement they need to turn their lives around,” Ms Upston says.
The 53 new staff will be based at prisons around the country.
Ivan Ddumba of Northland Regional Corrections Facility was presented with the Minister’s Excellence Award by Chief
Custodial Officer Neil Beales.
Before joining Corrections, Mr Ddumba worked in Whangarei as a community support worker, helping people with mental
health disorders.
He has carried these skills to his new role, with his Corrections instructors noting his life skills and calm presence
in stressful situations would make him an exceptional officer and role model.
The latest graduations brings the total of new Corrections officers and offender employment instructors graduating so
far this year to more than 230.
Corrections is on a recruitment drive to ensure prisons are safe for staff and prisoners, and to keep the community
safe.
“I have visited 10 prisons and I am always impressed that Corrections staff go to work every day planning to make a
difference in the lives of the people in their care. The successful rehabilitation and the reintegration of offenders
back into their communities is a challenge we need to face together if we are to achieve a meaningful reduction in
reoffending,” Ms Upston says.
ends