Administrative Professionals Day, celebrated this year on Wednesday 23 April, recognises the value that our administration officers and administrators bring to the workplace. Corrections employs around 320 administration officers or administrators who keep the wheels running at our sites around the country.

We meet some of our wonderful admin professionals at Corrections:

Tracey - Personal Assistant, Invercargill Prison

Tracey has been in her role since 2010 and, as well as the core duties of a PA such as managing calendars, booking appointments, and handling correspondence, she plays a key role in streamlining operations at the site. That's the part Tracey enjoys the most - the ability to contribute to the success of the site by creating an environment where the team can do their best work. The role requires a high level of organisation and flexibility and allows Tracey to "wear many hats."

Challenges are an increasing reliance on digital tools and technology and the need to stay up to date with the latest software and communication platforms. "Learning how to use these tools efficiently is vital to keeping everything running smoothly."

Tracey gets the most satisfaction in her role when she has the opportunity to solve a problem or an issue. "There's no such thing as a stupid question. I believe that asking questions is an essential part of both personal and professional growth and in the end, learning something new, no matter how small, is always a win in my book."

Hannah - Admin Support Officer Rimutaka Prison

Hannah has been at Corrections for three years and says her role is centred around providing support to the site's industry teams. This includes managing invoices and purchasing equipment. "Essentially, we are here to assist them in any way we can. Additionally, on Mondays and Tuesdays, we handle the' processing of canteen orders for the entire lower North Island."

For Hannah the invoicing process is what presents challenges. "Ensuring that our accounts team has everything they need to meet the needs of our external clients can be quite challenging. However, despite the complexity, the satisfaction of successfully managing these tasks and ensuring everything runs smoothly makes it all worthwhile.

"The experiences I’ve had and the relationships I’ve built along the way have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with some truly amazing people, and the friendships I’ve formed have made this journey all the more fulfilling.

"Even though I’m not on the frontline it is comforting to know that my attention to detail and ability to stay organised positively impacts this organisation. Being someone that people can turn to for help is something I take pride in.

"Corrections has a team environment that I like being a part of. This is meaningful work; I love that most about my job."