August 2010
Building a successful career
In 1997 Jim Sanders was a content bricklayer with a secure job in a stable industry. But then he saw an advertisement for employment as a correctional officer at Fulham Correctional Centre. The job intrigued him and the position description he considered challenging. He thought he would give it a try.
Thirteen years later Jim knows he made the right decision and it has just been underlined by his selection as GEO’s Employee of the Year for 2009.
“Jim’s efforts have clearly demonstrated that the ‘GEO Builds Better Lives’ guiding principles of service, innovation, relationships, integrity, people and community can be incorporated into everything we do,” said The GEO Group Australia’s executive general manager of human resources, Pierre Langford.
Throughout his career at GEO, Jim has held a number of roles that have enabled him to develop his skills. Starting as a correctional officer, he progressed to correctional supervisor and during the past few years has used this experience to develop into a skilled trainer, coach and mentor to other officers.
He says there are many facets of his role that he could describe as being the best part of his job but confirms the interaction with staff and prisoners are the most rewarding.
“Taking time to provide structure and guidance to inmates encourages an improvement in prisoner attitude and definitely adds value to their lives,” he said. “On the other hand, while you hope the best for an inmate for whom you have responsibility, it is extremely disappointing to see them return to prison when they have worked so hard in programs to improve their lives.”
Jim received a $4000 travel gift card, $1000 spending money and two weeks special leave as Employee of the Year. He shared the spoils of victory with three impressive colleagues — selected from more than 1500 employees — at a special function held at head office in Sydney.
Amongst the four finalists was Andrew Keys, Arthur Gorrie’s food services manager. Andrew was acknowledged for his ‘best practice’ kitchen management and his ‘out of the box’ thinking, which has earned the respect of prisoners, colleagues and external agencies.
Junee correctional supervisor intelligence Jason White was another finalist. He was nominated for his diligence, innovation and leadership. Jason was recognised on numerous occasions in 2009 for his outstanding performances, exemplary searching technique and results following the seizure of contraband.
Melbourne Custody Centre court security officer Sharyn Keogh-Davies was also praised. In her nomination Sharyn was described as “an outstanding employee with a calm, consistent and methodical approach to her role”. It also said she was “a positive role model whose personnel file is highlighted by a number of letters of appreciation”.
Each finalist in the 2009 GEO Employee of the Year received an interstate trip with a partner and $500 spending money.
500 eucalypts provide koala fodder
Inmates at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre have taken another step in their mission to help save the koala. Representatives of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary recently attended the centre as Julie Atwood, the Queensland MP for Mt Ommaney, planted the last of 500 eucalyptus saplings at the facility.
Inmates will nurture the saplings for the next 12 months after which the trees will be harvested biannually. The fodder will be used to feed the resident koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and others that are injured and brought to the sanctuary for care.
Sanctuary curator Jacqui Brumm said that increased urbanization meant that in a matter of only a few years koala numbers would be critically low. “This project means that we can have access to a stable supply of food for the koalas,” she said.
At the planting of the 500th sapling ceremony a prisoner participating in the project said that he was proud to be involved. “It is a way of giving back to the community and being involved in animal conservation,” he said.
A Pacific welcome
The Pacific Island ethnic groups at Parklea Correctional Centre recently came together to promote their culture and to informally welcome new general manager Peter Ma’a.
Apart from the inmates' participation, guests enjoyed the performance of visitor groups from the Cook Islands and Tongan communities.
A song from staff, followed by a Samoan dance and a haka from inmates welcomed everyone. There were further dances from the Cook Island visitors as guests enjoyed Maori cuisine.
The successful event was organised by GEO cultural officer Pita Tagituimua.
“It was particularly pleasing to see the staff, inmates and community groups come together to participate in the performances,” she said. “This was an outstanding example of GEO’s theme: ‘Learning to respect diversity. Many cultures, one people.’ in practice.”
Since GEO took over the management of Parklea there has been a strong emphasis on introducing the company’s cultural programs. In 2010, the centre has celebrated Australia Day, Chinese New Year, Polynesian Day, NAIDOC Week and Ramadan.
A Samoan born New Zealander, Peter Ma’a takes up the position of general manager at Parklea following an outstanding career with Corrective Services New South Wales.
He was previously at the Long Bay Correctional Complex where, for three years, he was general manager of the metropolitan special programs centre which manages therapeutic programs for violent offenders, sex offenders, inmates with self- harm or addiction issues as well as inmates with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Peter, like Parklea, has made the transition from the public sector to private management. “The private sector offers a range of different challenges and I am looking forward to grappling with them with the support of a wonderful team,” he said.
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