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Jacqui Hatzivalsamis

From: Samantha Cubillo

Sent: Thursday, 5 May 2016 9:01 AM

To: Ntl Deposit

Subject: ~UPDATED~ NTDCS Staff Newsletter - May 2016

Follow Up Flag: Follow up

Flag Status: Flagged

ISSUE 11 | May 2016

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Welcome to the NTDCS Staff e-Newsletter. There are a number of interesting stories from across the Territory this month, so happy reading!

In this issue

• Correctional Industries Boom!

• NTCI open for business in Alice

• Correctional Services in the Community

• Commissioner's Note

• Cultural knowledge passed on in ASCC

• Gift to a fellow warrior

• Art Escape opens in Alice Springs

• NTDCS in the media

• Changing lives: Datjala Work Camp supporting Djarrak FC

• People Matter Survey

Correctional Industries Boom!

Prisoners in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre have put skills learnt in their training programs to use in the restoration of a historic World War Two 25 pound gun. The ‘Ordinance-QF 25 Pounder’ is a significant piece of Australian Military History and was in use with Australian and Commonwealth forces from 1940 well into the 1980’s. Australian Army units used variants of the 25 pounder in World War Two as well as the Korean War and Malaysian Emergency. Prisoners in the Construction and Development program who have been developing their engineering and metalwork skills restored the split-rim wheels, while prisoners in the carpentry and furniture program built ammunition boxes, a seat, display stand and other timber fittings. The restoration project finished with a bang when the gun was fired in a ceremony near ANZAC Hill on February 29 before being donated to the RSL.

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Doug Dreager from ASCC Correctional Industries (at rear) commands the firing party at the ANZAC Hill ceremony. CREDIT: Photo courtesy of Damien Ryan, Mayor of Alice Springs.

The same piece before the restoration.

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NTCI open for business in Alice Springs

Chief Minister Giles visits the NTCI retail outlet at the Old Goal in Alice Springs.

NTCI has opened a new retail outlet at the Old Gaol in Alice Springs selling arts and crafts produced by prisoners in the ASCC. The shop opened on 1 February after a successful Business at Sunset night held 29 January. The shop is open 7 days per week and shares shop space with the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. A range of goods produced by prisoners are available for purchase and the store has the capacity to train prisoners towards vocational qualifications in retail.

Correctional Services in the Community

NTDCS were presented with a certificate of thanks from Bees Creek Primary School for the NTCI-made furniture donated to the school. Teacher in Charge Nicole Grant said the equipment had been a hit with the children. “The children enjoy the rocking horse, they pretend that they are in races and there is a line-up to get on them.”

Stuart Park Primary school has also presented NTDCS a board filled with children's artworks.

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Kristina, Shannon, Peter, Tina and pre-school children

Commissioner's Note

The Chief Minister met with representatives from several Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) earlier this year and heard their concerns about the certainty and timing of their funding agreements with the Northern Territory Government. The Northern Territory Good Practice Guidelines for funding non-government organisations is the NTG guidebook for dealing with NGOs on funding and all staff who work with external funding should be familiar with it. We need to keep in mind that NGOs who partner with us need to be able to plan ahead with a degree of confidence. The Good Practice Guidelines state that we should aim to begin negotiations with external funding recipients six months before existing agreements expire and have arrangements concluded three months out. Sticking to these timelines will make life easier for ourselves and our partner organisations and reflect well on the professionalism of the Department. Don’t hesitate to talk to your Managers if you have any questions or concerns,

Mark Payne APM

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Commissioner

Cultural knowledge passed on in ASCC

A peer mentoring program for Indigenous prisoners at Alice Springs Correctional Centre is giving young and old Aboriginal men a sense of purpose and connection during their incarceration. The program allows Indigenous inmates to share their own knowledge, language and culture. For older Indigenous men it’s a chance to pass on their traditional knowledge and skills and for the younger generation, a chance to learn from figures with genuine cultural authority. Participants share stories and explore their own culture through painting and bush crafts. While still in the very early stages it is hoped this program will grow and eventually become part of a much bigger concept centred on an Indigenous Cultural Precinct allowing Indigenous inmates while in custody the opportunity to take ownership in the pursuit of their own cultures, languages, traditions, teachings and learning.

Tony takes a young prisoner outside the wire to teach him to find the right timber for a boomerang.

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Prisoners carving the timber in the Cultural Precinct

Gift to a fellow warrior

A ‘number 7’ boomerang is presented to Takahshi Shihan, Shotokan Karate Master visiting from Japan. The boomerang was among the first produced using traditional methods by ASCC inmates in the Indigenous Cultural Precinct Program.

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Art Escape opens in Alice Springs

Bush Toys, handcrafted figurines made by an Alice Springs Correctional Centre prisoner

Alice Springs Correctional Centre prisoners have been toiling over canvas and workbenches for a several months preparing for the annual Art Escape exhibition. Alice Springs Correctional Centre Manager Bill Yan said the exhibit was a real motivator for the prisoners’ efforts. “To put their work on display, and have people come to view and purchase that work is a real validation of their effort and great boost to their self-worth,” Mr Yan said. “It’s a chance for prisoners to reconnect with the skills many of them had before they ended up in here.” Mr Yan said this year’s exhibition would be the first to feature work that had come through the Indigenous Cultural Precinct within the prison. “This peer education program helps the teachers and the students, and means this years’ Art Escape will feature some fantastic traditional carvings and crafts.” Art Escape opens on April 29 at The Art Shed, 10 Crispe St and will run from 10-4 every weekend and 10-2 weekdays till May 8.

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A prisoner puts the finishing touches on a landscape of his homelands ahead of the Art Escape

NTDCS in the media

It’s been a high profile month for NTDCS with Sentenced to a job attracting national attention from ABC’s flagship current affair show Lateline. ABC Lateline on ‘Sentenced to a job’ The crew interviewed prisoners and employers involved in the program at several businesses around Darwin. They also visited DCC to see NTCI and the prisons’ educational programs. The Centralian Advocate and ABC’s TV and Radio services are all covering Art Escape. ABC TV are also expected to film a segment on ASCC’s Kungka Stopping Violence Program and SBS are making enquires about a documentary on the iTalk program.

Changing lives: Datjala Work Camp supporting Djarrak FC

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The Djarrak Football Club has committed to offering prisoners from Nhulunbuy's low risk Datjala Work Camp with an ongoing opportunity to play in the local Gove AFL and gain positive experiences and associated rewards through a disciplined and structured football environment. In 2015, prisoners from Datjala Work Camp played for Djarrak Football Club with feedback from participants and camp staff indicating a positive experience for those involved with the team. The camp provided some key position players that went on to win the premiership in early September and it is hoped that 2016 Gove AFL season will offer similar positive outcomes for future participants. Football is a privilege for participants and they adhere to strict behaviour guidelines set by the Department of Correctional Services staff.

The relationship has had ongoing support from Djarrak Football Club manager Danny Beadman. Djarrak Football Club is proud to offer structured guidance and empowerment opportunities through using football as a vehicle for improved social behaviours for Datjala Camp participants and locally based players alike. Below is a Q and A session with 2015 Gove AFL Premiership Player Jayson Wilson:

Hi Jayson. 2015 was your first season playing AFL football. Did you enjoy your experience with Djarrak Football Club? "Yeah, I sure did. It was a great experience. Obviously I was still learning a little bit about the game but I love challenges, if you put your mind to it you can do anything and winning the premiership last year was just a bonus. Not many people can achieve that in their first season of AFL. I just feel blessed." Would you say the discipline of a team environment has helped you personally? If so, how?

"Well I believe that discipline is a key factor in all team sports. Having the support of the Camp and the Club has helped me to believe in myself and to get the best in life and the need to work hard

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for it."

What is your impression of the Gove AFL supporters. Football is like a religion here on the Gove Peninsula would you agree? "Yeah, I definitely agree, they go crazy for footy out here. It’s amazing how many people come out to the game for such a small town and you think to yourself - where did all these people come from haha, and hearing Djarrak FC supporters screaming your name and cheering you on! It’s overwhelming to be recognised in the community." Playing football is a privilege for participants from the camp. Would you recommend playing football for Djarrak Football Club to other camp members? "Yeah I already have. I told them to come and play for Djarrak FC and in saying that, half the players in the team are from the camp. I also told them we won the competition last year so that helped with their decision. I honestly recommend it to anyone that wants to play AFL and loves sport and wants to stay fit and active. It's a great club. Everyone is friendly and everyone gets along with each other, that's what it’s all about." Has your family heard about your 2015 Premiership win. Were they surprised to hear you are now an AFL player? "Oh yeah, they definitely heard about it! I called them as soon as I got back from the game. It was my Mum's birthday as well, so they were very happy and proud of me. It was a great day and a memorable one too! Yeah they were a little bit surprised that I'm an AFL player now, coz coming from Sydney it's all about Rugby League down there, I've been playing since I was 9 years old but up here it's all about AFL. I love it. It’s the fastest sport in the world and can go from one end to the other, so yeah, I'm really enjoying it at the moment." What are you hoping to achieve with Djarrak Football Club this season? "Hopefully another premiership haha, winning it back to back would be one of the greatest achievements in Djarrak history. It hasn't happened since the 70's or 80's so yeah, it would be great to be kept in the record books." H RICKARD HEAD COACH |DJARRAK FC

People Matter Survey

People Matter Survey 2016 will be opening soon The People Matter Survey is an employee perception survey run by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) to gain an understanding about what it is like to work in an agency.

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The Survey will be open from Wednesday, 18 May to Wednesday, 8June 2016 and should take no longer than 25 minutes to complete. This is an opportunity to have your say on a broad range of workplace issues. The survey seeks public sector employee opinions about agency performance in terms of culture, values and well-being. It asks questions about change management, employee engagement, workplace well-being, job satisfaction, service delivery, leadership, team work, personal accountability, communication (including feedback) and the extent to which behaviours, such as fairness and respect, are valued in your workplace. Participation in the survey is voluntary. However, all employees are encouraged to participate because the insights collected through the survey provide a powerful basis for making Northern Territory Public Sector agencies better. How is my confidentiality protected? The People Matter Survey is conducted on a confidential basis. OCPE engages an external provider to collect and process responses on its behalf. The survey does not seek to collect personal information and will never be used to identify any individual. For more information about the survey, please visit www.peoplemattersurvey.nt.gov.au

www.correctionalservices.nt.gov.au

Remember, we welcome any interesting news stories you may have, large or small, to enable us to inform all staff members of the good work that is happening across the different areas. We are also interested in personal staff stories, announcements etc. Please email details and photos to NTDCS.mediacommunications@nt.gov.au or call us on 08 8935 7579.

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