“I started my ACSO journey in 2021 as a Forensic Case Worker at Restart in Victoria. I supported the DPFC, assisting female participants pre- and post-release.
“I was fortunate enough to relocate with ACSO to Queensland in 2022 to work in the CREST Program as a Pre Release After Hours Worker at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. I had a couple of opportunities in Acting Team Leader positions for the CREST Program before securing the Wacol Team Leader position in 2024.
“As CREST transitioned to MRS on July 1, I became the Wacol/After Hours Team Leader supporting both pre-release and the after-hours space. It’s been a rewarding and challenging ACSO journey. It’s been interesting to be part of a new program from conception to implementation in Queensland, and to see the differences between ACSO Victoria and ACSO Queensland.”
“My role is unique. I start my workdays at 12:00PM and work until 8:00PM. Starting at midday means I hit the ground running, responding to emails and checking in with my two teams.
“The Wacol Team provide Pre Release support through group session and 1:1 facilitation working solely in their respective correctional centres. As part of the implementation of the new model, the team have become workshop facilitators, delivering content, activities and discussions that cover six set modules such as housing, employment and AOD.
“I also oversee an AHRS team, who support clients released with no notice from the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and Lotus Glen Correctional Centre and require assistance with their immediate needs such as crisis accommodation, transport, material aid or community referrals. I have one team member who works in the After-Hours Space in Far North Queensland (FNQ), and we regularly TEAMS or call one another to ensure they are feeling supported.
“I also attend the correctional centres in person as often as I can to support my team in a group session or in the After-Hours space, and I have been fortunate to visit FNQ to work alongside my team member in Lotus Glen Correctional Centre.
“Working in my teams can be somewhat isolating as the roles are solely based in a correctional centre, Monday to Friday. Six months into the new ACSO MRS program, and we’re continuing to navigate how the program best fits into the correctional centres.
“My team and I continue to strive to provide the best re-entry and after hours support to our clients, and we continue to offer feedback to Queensland Corrections Services (QCS) to ensure we work collaboratively to provide the best outcomes.”
“Their resilience, hard work, can-do attitude, sense of humour and passion for their role makes me proud to be their team leader every day. They challenge me, they are easy to work alongside, and they do the most amazing work with our clients, in a very challenging environment.”
“Attending the correctional centres in Wacol or Lotus Glen. I enjoy being out with my team, watching and supporting the work that they do.
“As the Team Leader, it is important that I am also creating those QCS connections and this can be achieved by visiting the correctional centres and meeting those key departments that work alongside my team.
“I don’t mind the restrictiveness, and regimented routine of working inside a correctional centre – it creates structure to my day.”
“Living in sunny Queensland, it’s easy to stay active, and I love to go for walks along the Brisbane River, hit the gym daily for my dose of endorphins and am always up for a bottomless brunch with my girlfriends. For a quiet night in, I am a keen crime reader and Law and Order fan!”
“As CREST has transitioned to MRS, the model and my team have changed. I have continued to try to be innovative and creative to ensure I can best support and lead my team.
“AHRS support has been introduced into Lotus Glen Correctional Centre and having Dearne in my team from FNQ has required me to become adaptable, flexible in my approach to ensure she feels supported.”
“I have been given many opportunities since working at ACSO, that has both positively impacted my personal and professional life, and I will always be grateful.
“I encouraged a friend in Victoria to apply for ACSO, and she commenced with the organisation in the Restart Program this month.”