The Drive Home is our article series that focuses on real experiences of our staff – the meaningful moments and challenges that shape a day working at Corrections.

In this article, we hear from Louise, a community work supervisor who works with people on community work sentences to deliver meaningful projects in schools, community groups, marae, and churches across the country.

Leaving work and driving home, I smile. Exhausted, but thankful. I think about the challenges we faced as a team – how we can learn from them and what we could do differently next time.

I reflect on all the positives and wins for the day. Even the bite-sized conversations that made me smile, or learning something new about a person in the work team.

Daily rhythm

Arriving at the office at approximately 6:45am, I plan to have my breakfast and a cup of tea. Well, that doesn’t always work out as desired – the phone rings, I’m approached by colleagues for assistance, or there’s a sudden change in the weather that means we need to pivot plans for the day.

As a community work supervisor, I oversee people serving court‑ordered community work sentences – unpaid work completed in the community as part of their accountability. Depending on the day, that might mean working with crews on projects like park maintenance, cleaning public spaces, supporting community organisations, or helping with local improvement work. Our community partners – who we call sponsors – rely on us to deliver this work safely and to a good standard.

Believe me, no two days are ever the same. We can plan and prepare as much as we like, but when we arrive at work, we don’t know what will be waiting for us.

Before long, I’m heading to the community work garage to ensure that the day’s plan is fully shared with the team of supervisors. We review all the ‘what ifs’, the uncertainties and the weather, always ensuring there is a back-up plan, should the day not go as expected.

Influencing change

I love talking to people on community work sentences. This work gives me the opportunity to hear them, understand them, and challenge them to recognise the impact of their offending behaviour on others.

Sometimes success is big and visible, like someone making a complete lifestyle change. Other times, it’s the smaller wins – someone turning up, completing their hours, staying on track, and following through on their sentence. Those steps all matter.

My biggest joy is not only hearing that a person has removed themselves from the negative influences in their life, but when I actually see the change in their face, their smile, their talk, their mannerisms, and their attitude. As frontline staff working with people who have offended, we know that these changes do not come without difficulties, so it’s encouraging to see people choosing to prioritise their rehabilitation.

Working as a team

The community work team is a great team, that supports each other in every way possible. I am proud to be part of such a collaborative team.

Working in the community, we need to consider the health and safety of staff, crews, vehicles, sponsors, and the community, ensuring that everyone’s safety is our highest priority. There are always circumstances we need to consider carefully, such as a person becoming suddenly angry or agitated, or leaving site without permission – this is when teamwork is vital.

We’re trained to manage risk and de‑escalate situations safely, and we follow clear processes to make sure both staff, the community, and people on sentence are protected. That training, combined with experience and teamwork, is what allows us to respond calmly when things don’t go to plan.

The work we do doesn’t just impact the people on sentences; it contributes to safer communities. Holding people to account, while supporting them to make better choices, helps reduce harm in the long run.

I’m grateful to be a part of the daily challenges and changes I experience in this role.