The role
Make an ongoing impact
Corrections Officers are there with people in prison throughout their daily activities, providing ongoing opportunities to influence change and motivate positive decisions.
They supervise people's routines, help them to navigate prison life, escort them to hearings and appointments, and support them to engage in rehabilitation programmes.
Diverse environments
Our Corrections Officers work across a diverse range of settings, with different specialist units, security levels and site-specific activities all creating different day-to-day experiences. Some work in specific focus units such as our drug and alcohol treatment units, youth units, Pasifika units, Māori and Tikanga focused units, Mothers and Babies units and Special Treatment units.
Safety matters
Working as a close team, you'll play an important role in monitoring behaviour and maintaining safety within the prison. You'll patrol prison buildings and grounds, assess situations and take appropriate action.
Our Correction Officers are supported by other officers, and there is backup, training and equipment readily available for when they need it. From detection dogs to emergency response, negotiators to tactical operations – each situation that needs extra support has resource available. There are also opportunities to specialise in these areas as you progress in your career.
What you need to know
Time off & hours of work
5 weeks annual leave
Rostered rotating shifts including nights, weekends & public holidays
Salary
Starting salary $67,519, increasing as you achieve National Qualifications Level 3 ($72,197) and Level 4 ($77,713)
$4000 annual shift allowance
Career development
Opportunities to gain qualifications in Level 3, 4 and 5 in the National Certificate for Offender Management and to branch into more specialised areas (eg prison negotiation, dog handling, site emergency response teams, etc)
Progression opportunities to Senior Corrections Officer, Principal Corrections Officer
Skills and experience
Strong communicators, team players, ability to motivate others, work well under pressure
Observant, alert, resilient
Full NZ Driver Licence or be in the process of upgrading to a full licence (completion within 3 months)
Environment
Based at one of our prisons around the country, which each have different units, programmes, and site specific activities.
Want to check it's right?
We've got some online tools to help you make sure this role is for you.
Hear from our team
From writing about Corrections to becoming the subject matter
Michelle’s journey with Ara Poutama Aotearoa started with a story much like this one.
Reflections from our new recruits
Kyrah, Paige, Owen and Will are all recently graduated recruits. They share what they have learnt about the Corrections Officer role since they started - both through training and their time on the floor.
Where can your career go as a Corrections Officer?
For many people, becoming a Corrections Officer is just the start of their journey at Ara Poutama Aotearoa.
From flight attendant to Corrections Officer
Going from being a flight attendant to a Corrections Officer might not be a career change that people would expect, but it was a leap that Carlin, now a Senior Adviser…
Finding ways to give back
When Adeel first moved to New Zealand as a refugee in 2018, he was searching for a way to give back to the community.
Still learning 28 years on
After 28 years working at Corrections, Principal Corrections Officer Karl says that he’s still learning.
Still thinking it over?
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