Prison Officers Vocational Branch: May 2026 update bulletin

  18 May 2026

Surge bed update 

Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) State Executive have continued to rally against the unsafe activation of surge beds during the current staffing crisis. Consultation has occurred at Long Bay Hospital (LBH), Metropolitan Special Programs Centre (MSPC), Junee, South Coast, Lithgow, Bathurst and Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) with an intention to have surge posts written into centres P28. Bathurst and South Coast surge beds have now been deactivated, and the respective subbranches declined to engage in further activation of surge beds at this time. CSNSW will provide a plan/schedule for the deactivation of the remaining surge beds by 19 May 2026.

Industrial Relations Commission matters 

POVB State Executive continue to support the following sub-branches with ongoing disputes at the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC)

• LBH/MSPC – RIT/Observation post, matter resolved on 14 May 2026 with a positive outcome for our members. All POVB bans from this dispute have now been lifted
• John Moroney – locker room dispute
• Shortland – Hybrid roster/WHS concerns, inmate cohort changes

Goulburn Correctional Centre

POVB/PSA/Local Delegates and members continue to advocate to CSNSW to review the proposed closure of the two Victorian Era wings seeking a reversal of this decision.

Goulburn delegates have presented the Commissioner with a proposal to keep the centre operational.

Management of female inmates

POVB State Executive continue to raise concerns with CSNSW over the proposed closure of Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre (SWCC) and the plans moving forward to house high need female inmates.

POVB has advised CSNSW of our formal opposition to the suggested closure of the purpose-built mental health units, and the transition of all these inmates into old, retrofitted buildings at Dillwynia CC, that are not built for purpose or appropriate for the housing of maximum-security mental health women.

PSA/POVB has not been consulted on the proposed restructure to the entire women’s system. This will be influenced by the remand model and the 24/7 MRRC proposal.

Impacts will be felt by Dillwynia, Mary Wade and Silverwater Women’s; we are now two months into a six-month consultation period and still no information has been provided.

Communication remains ongoing with CSNSW over this matter.

Casual to permanent talent pool 

POVB State Executive have been advised the Casual to Permanent Talent Pool will be advertised four times a year and be open for a period of 14 days. This will be advertised on the CSNSW Broadcast.

New Remand Model 

CSNSW have not provided any official documentation to the POVB, stating it will be received in the next couple of weeks. We have been told Surry Hills and Amber Laurel will be closed once MRRC goes 24/7 for fresh custody and Police Bail Refused inmates. Once we have been given the new model we will inform delegates.

Classification review

The POVB state executive have been invited into the working group to change the current classification system which will commence before the end of the month.

Parklea staffing and running

The POVB State Executive are consulting with CSNSW over staffing levels and purposeful day routines at Parklea CC. Proposed P28 has been forwarded to all POVB delegates. Initial feedback from working group has had AS numbers increased and SAS numbers decreased while SCO have remained in the wings. They are working off a lot of assumptions on what Parklea will and wont be doing the major one is Parklea won’t be taking fresh custody inmates.

Meeting with CSNSW managers

At the request of the POVB State Executive, CSNSW Senior Executive have confirmed Commissioner McCahon will address POVB delegates to inform staff of the 12-month Plan for Corrective Services NSW. We are still waiting on dates to be confirmed for this meeting to occur between POVB delegates and CSNSW managers.

POVB State Executive 2026 – Sub-Branch Responsibility 

 Vice Chair– Andrew Brown  

 Lithgow CC  

Kirkconnell CC  

Macquarie CC  

Wellington CC  

Broken Hill CC 

South Coast CC 

SOG / EHS Unit  

Secretary – Tori-Lee Taylor  

Mary Wade CC 

Long Bay Hospital/SPC  

MSPC  

MRRC  

Dillwynia CC 

Parklea CC 

Silverwater MEU 

Long Bay MEU 

Country Vice Chair 1- Liz Reid 

Junee CC 

Mannus CC 

Goulburn CC 

Cooma CC 

Nowra Court 

Batemans Bay CESU 

Goulburn CESU 

Albury CESU 

Wagga Wagga CESU 

Queanbeyan CESU 

Country Vice Chair 2-Anthony Haysom 

Cessnock CC  

Hunter CC  

Shortland CC 

Mid North Coast CC 

Northern Transport Unit 

Port Macquarie CESU 

Cessnock MEU 

Grafton CESU 

Lismore CESU 

Dubbo Courts 

Assistant Secretary Greg Clark 

Geoffrey Pearce CC 

John Morony CC  

Emu Plains CC 

CDTCC  

Silverwater Women’s CC 

Amber Laurel  

Silverwater Transport Unit 

CBD Courts 

Surry Hills Cells 

Kariong Transitional Centre 

Wollongong Court 

Metropolitan Courts 

Newcastle Courts 

State Overseer Delegates including Custodial/Courts -Gareth Ballard 

Bathurst CC 

Glen Innes CC 

Tamworth CC 

St. Heliers CC  

Moree Courts 

Overseers / Facility Maintenance Statewide  

Bathurst CESU  

Regards 

Darren King  Chair on behalf of the

POVB State Executive