Our instructors help people in prison to learn new trade skills and knowledge, teaching and providing instruction within the prison environment. Their work plays an important part in helping to increase the likelihood of people gaining employment after prison and making a positive contribution to their communities.

If you’re curious about the part that they play within Corrections, here are some of the key things to know.

The different trade areas our instructors can work in

With over 130 business-like industries around the country, our instructors teach a range of skills come from a variety of backgrounds. Some teach mechanical engineering, while others run a kitchen as a catering instructor, or pass on skills in horticulture. Different prisons have different trade focuses and areas. For example, Christchurch Men’s Prison has a piggery, Rimutaka Prison has a carpentry training workshop, and Christchurch Women’s Prison has a hairdressing unit. Instructors bring their previous trade experience to these industry areas, passing on their skills and knowledge to people in prison.

“We have horticulture, grounds which is essentially landscaping, maintenance of the plants around corrections. They can work in kitchens, with the understanding, too, that every job within in the industries group is underpinned by NZQA training. We also have a barista where there's a cafe on site and prisoners work in there… There are a lot of options of terms of what industry you might be involved in or have skill in.”

The links to the Corrections Officer role

While the role is about supporting people in prison to learn new trade skills and knowledge, instructors are still managing people and safety situations. That means that there is significant overlap with the Corrections Officer role, and instructors need to undergo the same initial 10 weeks of training as part of the Corrections Officer Development Pathway. They may also be asked to work as a Corrections Officer when needed.

“We are NZQA assessors. But we also have to be trained as Corrections Officers because there is that component of the job where we work with prisoners. So, we do all of the training the Corrections Officers do, so that essentially whenever we're required or needed, we’re ready to go and help out.”

The skills you need

Given the links to the Corrections Officer role, many of the core skills (problem-solving, communication, resilience, and safety awareness) are similar. Alongside these, industry knowledge, teaching skills, and the ability to motivate and nurture people’s talents are also important. Instructors take people through the unit standards and theory work for a qualification, while also supporting them with the practical side of the requirements.

“I think the number one tool we do have is our mouth. Having good communication skills will help you get through. Listening skills comes a long way as well.”

“In this role, you need to have good problem-solving skills and being able to adapt to the changes that we have to deal with often.”

“Obviously, industry knowledge helps, but the other skill sets would just be a resilience. The ability to feel comfortable in a prison environment and be offender facing, being able to be solution focused when challenges arise. To be able to maintain your own safety and the security of the department, and just having good situational awareness. And I think all of that really comes with life experience as well.”

“In terms of what type of person you need to be, really you just have to be someone who's open minded, patient, willing to listen and willing to work. If you can do that, then I think you could do well here.”

The challenges of the role

Like many of our roles with a rehabilitation focus, some of the challenges involve working with individuals who may struggle to maintain motivation and the desire for positive change.

“Some of the main challenges is that you've got to unpack a lifetime full of bad habits. And sometimes that's not necessarily easy to do. So, it's unpacking those bad habits and trying to fill them with better ones and getting them to understand their real potential and the value that they have.”

A sense of purpose

While challenging at times, an aspect of the work that instructors say is rewarding is the strong sense of purpose. Instructors closely support the people on their programmes, providing the opportunity to be part of their learning journeys and successes.

“We try and replicate a workplace on the outside, so it’s not so daunting upon release.”

“Give back your why. There was a reason, right? For why you got your trade qualification. Give it back. Give it back to the people on your programmes. You want your people to leave as better individuals than what they were when they first came in. You want them to realise their full potential. You may not get it the first time, nor the second, but we’ve got to keep trying.”