Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Correctional Services Awards CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AWARDS The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AWARDS The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about the recent 2008 Correctional Services awards ceremony. Leave granted. The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I understand that the Minister for Correctional Services attended the Department for Correctional Services awards ceremony on 11 February this year, held at the Adelaide Town Hall, to present awards recognising outstanding professionalism and conduct by the staff of the department. Will the minister provide some details of the awards presented? Members interjecting: The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Road Safety Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:12): Isn't it a shame that those opposite are not interested in what our public servants do and their good work? I thank the honourable member for his important question. It gave me great pleasure to attend the third Correctional Services awards ceremony, and I congratulate all the award recipients, not only on behalf of the government but also personally, for their hard work and achievements. I recognise the six individual award recipients in this place. Individual commendation awards were given to Ms Carmen Bryan, Mr Warren Elliott, Mr James Rutter, Ms Kerry Gregory, Mr Mark Humphrys, and Ms Tracy Watkins. The Meritorious Service Award was given to Ms Dee Stevens. Australia Day Achievement awards were presented to Mr Stephen Deane, Mr Seng Lim, and Mr Sel Proctor. I also recognise the outstanding efforts that were recognised by the team excellence awards. The Professional Services Unit at the Adelaide Women's Prison has approached the task of developing strategies for reducing recidivism of female offenders in an innovative, professional and creative manner. The unit is widely acknowledged within the Department for Correctional Services, and by external agencies, for its commitment to best practice program delivery and for its holistic approach to the rehabilitation of female offenders. The Edwardstown Special Needs program is attended by up to 100 offenders at the Edwardstown Community Corrections Centre. The program has resulted in the rehabilitation and significant improvement in the living skills of offenders. The award recognises the innovative approach to the continual development and achievement of outstanding results by a highly dedicated and motivated team. Members of the Mobilong Prison Swim for Kids Organising Committee have raised $117,000 for Novita (formerly the Crippled Children's Association of SA) over the past 12 years. The award recognises the committee for its outstanding commitment and selfless and exceptional service, for its valuable partnership formed within the community, and for its dedication to the special needs of children and their families. The Mount Gambier Community Corrections and Regional Project Office is a community service program, which has brought great benefits to the community, the department (Forestry SA) and community service offenders through the removal of bridal creeper—a noxious weed impacting on the health of forests. The award recognises the team's high standard of work, initiative and dedication, ensuring the program's success. The Operations Security Unit is a small but highly trained and specialised unit providing a strong security management focus for South Australia's prisons. Emerging from the original dog squad, the unit has broadened its responsibilities in recent years and supports all prisons with a range of predominantly security-related tasks and activities. These include the operation of the successful passive alert dog program through which the introduction of illicit drugs into prisons is prevented, and support for prison-based emergency response teams. The unit ensures that prisons can better identify and target security issues and risks and therefore achieve a safe environment for staff to work in and for prisoners. The Port Lincoln Prison bushfire recovery team was a unique program that provided tremendous benefits to prisoners and the community. The assistance ranged from erecting and replacing fencing, clearing farm areas, creekbeds, building retaining walls, concreting and painting, water pipe trenching, tree planting, landscaping and welding. The award recognises the selfless commitment and dedication of the team in assisting the community in times of great trauma and desperate need. It is clear from the responses received that the team has been very much appreciated and held in high regard by the community and the Port Lincoln prison. I am sure members opposite will also join the rest of us in this chamber in congratulating those public servants.