Around 90% of our workforce at Ara Poutama Aotearoa is on the frontline, working directly with people in prison or those on community-based sentences.

The work they do to help turn people’s lives around is both rewarding and challenging. Our staff often give a lot of themselves to those that they manage and it’s important that we help our staff look out for themselves too.

We talked to Paul (a former Corrections Officer and current Staff Welfare Co-ordinator) to hear what was helpful for his resilience and wellbeing when working on the frontline. We also ask where our staff can go if they need support.

Building a supportive team

Paul says that his interest in supporting others’ wellbeing came from a background in working in emergency services.

“I used to be in the Police before Corrections, and I volunteer for Fire & Emergency New Zealand. In those sorts of roles, staff need a strong support network, so I believe in having that support available for them.”

In Paul’s experience, one of the biggest things that make a difference when working on the frontline is having a supportive team.

He emphasises that everyone – from managers down – can play a role in building the wellbeing of the team.

“It’s important to support each other and keep an eye out for each other… For new recruits, Corrections can seem like a big and overwhelming place at first. So, we ask more experienced staff to show new recruits how things are done and where they can go for support and advice.

And if an incident happens, it’s also about having those team meetings where you check in with each other and make sure everyone is alright.”

Maintaining your wellbeing

For Paul, goal setting plays a key part in wellbeing.

“I’ve found having goals to be helpful, knowing that you’ve got something you want to work towards – if you want to be in a particular unit, or you want to do a particular role, for example.”

Outside of work, Paul recommends doing hobbies you enjoy and keeping up whānau/social connections. His overarching message is that staff wellbeing is important, with avenues provided for staff support and general wellbeing.

“There’s resilience training, and most sites have gyms to support your physical fitness, which is a great perk of the job. We have staff wellbeing expos and an online vitality hub with resources and tips.

You can also come to me or one of the other staff welfare co-ordinators – we can offer confidential support and advice. There’s a range of different support options available for our frontline staff.”