G4S Staff Begin NT Corrections Duties
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has bolstered NT Corrections with the first cohort of G4S staff commencing orientation, site inductions and security registration this week, before taking the oath as Special Correctional Officers (SPCOs).
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said the partnership between the Department of Corrections and G4S was a crucial step in ensuring the Territory’s correctional system had the necessary workforce to meet increasing custodial demands and support existing staff.
“From next week, G4S staff will assume custodial operations at the Darwin Local Court and by the end of April begin managing medical escorts,” said Mr Maley.
“By early April, up to 20 G4S staff will be operational, having undergone the same vetting of a Correctional Officer, ensuring that our existing Correctional Officers can focus on their core duties within the prisons.”
G4S staff hold the equivalent qualifications and training in Correctional Practice as our Correctional Officers, with extensive experience in prisoner escort operations, interstate prisons and custody centres.
The company has 25 years’ experience in prisoner escort and transport across Australian correctional jurisdictions.
The partnership enables the Department of Corrections to issue work orders covering Darwin Local Court cell and custody management, prisoner escorts and transfers, hospital bedsits, and watch house support.
Initial deployments will focus on Darwin-based operations, with the potential to expand support to Alice Springs.
“Our priority is ensuring an adequately resourced and staffed corrections system that improves safety, reduces recidivism, and supports rehabilitation,” said Mr Maley.
“This partnership allows NT Correctional Officers to focus on critical custodial operations, while G4S ensures high-quality service delivery for prisoner movements outside the wire.”
G4S will not escort high-risk prisoners, with those transfers continuing to be managed by NT Correctional Officers.
Mr Maley said the rapid progress from planning to implementation reflected the professionalism and dedication of NT Corrections staff, led by Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley.
“The speed and efficiency of this rollout highlights the hard work of our staff and their commitment to a stronger, safer corrections system for the Territory,” he said.
“The Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to invest in the people, infrastructure, and resources needed to deliver a corrections system that supports safer communities across the NT.
“We promised 2025 would be a year of action, certainty and security and that’s what we’re delivering.”
https://nt.gov.au/