Four weeks ago CSNSW and the NSW Government announced that Grafton CC will close mid 2020 due to the Clarence Centre, privately run by Serco, being completed. This centre will accommodate 2500 inmates.
Yesterday Commissioner Severin informed POVB/PSA that due to other facilities, new builds that increase bed capacity by 6000, coming in 2020 the following centres will be closing:
Berrima – Early 2020
Illawarra Reintegration Centre – Early 2020
Ivanhoe – Mid 2020
Brewarrina – Mid 2020
CSNSW stated that HR will be attending all centres to discuss staff options. They will be giving staff and POVB/PSA all vacancies around the state by mid-October.
They stated that staff will have the option of TECA – transferred officer’s package and VR’s if all other options cannot be met.
Nicole Jess and Julie Bond – Senior Industrial Officer (representative for non-custodial and executive staff) will be attending Berrima and Illawarra Reintegration Centres today.
Next week, Monday 30 September 2019, Nicole Jess, Natalie Howes and Julie Bond, will be at Ivanhoe followed by Brewarrina on Wednesday 2 October 2019.
In the meeting with CSNSW we raised the following issues:
- HR – the recruitment process still continuing for casuals and permanent staff need to be assessed if not ceased. Complete list of vacancies for staff.
- Centres decreasing operation to facilitate staff moving once they have made a decision, if that is what members want.
Changes to Operations
CSNSW also discussed that there will be changes to some centre operations.
Kariong will go from a Correctional Centre to a transit centre, similar to Amber Laurel, for the North.
Emu Plains to focus more on the Mother and Children’s program and a work readiness program.
Commissioner Severin stated to date the finer details have not been completed for these two centres and that they will work closely with POVB/PSA and the staff in those centres.
POVB/PSA raised concerns about the operation of Amber Laurel, regarding Justice Health and screening. These issues need to be addressed for Kariong and Amber Laurel. Commissioner Severin stated if the POVB/PSA has any recommendations that will improve those processes, he will look at all suggestions.
When CSNSW were experiencing the overcrowding issues many centres took on extra inmates creating 3 out cells and an increase in 2 outs.
With the increase in beds around the state CSNSW want to decrease the 3 outs to 2 outs and in some minimum centres decrease 2 outs to 1 outs.
POVB/PSA raised with this announcement that the centres that took on the 3 outs cannot afford to lose the staff they received for the 3 outs. The main centres that this will affect, are South Coast CC, Wellington CC and Mid North Coast CC. CSNSW stated they will do a process similar to benchmarking where every post, that was given for the 3 outs, will be reviewed and risk assessed.
POVB/PSA will be in contact with all delegates from all centres, re surge capacity beds, to discuss posts, staffing and what we would like them to start doing too sure up positions for their centre.
The POVB/PSA will be attending Emu Plains and Kariong as soon as possible to discuss the changes in their locations.
Contact Details
Nicole Jess
Chairperson
0427 609 199
Jason Charlton
Vice Chairperson
0401 500 976
Amanda Cotter
Secretary
0404 042 600
Thor Sutherland
Assistant Secretary
0447 633 476
Darren King
Country Vice Chair
0407 935 039
Natalie Howes
Country Vice Chair
0407 011 441
David McCauley
POVB Industrial Officer
0419 022 767
David Bartle
POVB Industrial Officer
0418 425 976
Julie Bond
Senior Industrial Officer
0408 410 744