Overseer

Corrective Services Industries

A division of Corrective Services NSW, Corrective Services Industries (CSI) operates workshops and factories in NSW prisons which design, manufacture and provide a diverse range of products and services to a number of organisations. The most common industries are laundry, catering, ground maintenance, general industries and buy ups (warehousing and distribution of products).

Overseers are trade or vocationally qualified Correctional Officers with the essential role of supervising inmates in their work related activities within correctional centres. This will involve managing, coaching, instructing and encouraging inmates as members of a team in order to gain experience and qualifications.

Prior to employment at a correctional facility, Overseers must successfully complete a 10 week full-time Primary Training course that equips them with program delivery, weapons training and survival training.


"Our role is to supervise inmates in their work related activities within correctional centres"

A person in a blue Correctional Officer uniform watches as a person in a green T-shirt operates a machine on a table.

Working as an Overseer

  • Supervise, coach and train inmates to develop work experience skills
  • Deliver commercial production standards in quality and efficiency
  • Manage resources efficiently and effectively to achieve positive outcomes
  • Encourage positive values such as honesty, ethics and integrity
  • Provide case management reporting duties
  • Create and maintain a safe working environment for staff, contractors, inmates and visitors
  • Receive an incidental allowance in addition to an attractive salary
  • Ensure workplace health and safety of all stakeholders.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders People

Corrective Services NSW provides services to various communities across the state, making it important to have a diverse and inclusive workforce that contributes to safer outcomes for our communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make a significant impact to the organisation by improving the way we interact with Indigenous communities and help inform and shape cross-cultural services.

Key skills

  • Speak clearly when presenting ideas and arguments
  • Respectful when listening to others
  • Monitor body language and adapt where necessary
  • Prepare written material that is structured and easy to follow
  • Open to new ideas and adjust well to change
  • Determined to not give up easily and calm under challenging situations
  • Take initiative to complete tasks under set timeframes and guidelines
  • General office software skills.

Role requirements

  • Current Certificate III in Correctional Practice or capacity to complete Certificate III in Correctional Practice in accordance with specified CSNSW timeframes
  • Current driver’s licence and preparedness to drive a vehicle in the course of performing the role
  • Relevant trade qualifications.

Pre-employment checks

  • National criminal history check including fingerprint checks
  • Contact with offender check
  • Medical and fitness assessment
  • Reference checks (minimum of 2 referees)
  • Conduct and performance checks (for existing public service employees).
Last updated:

29 Nov 2022

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We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future. 

Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.

You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.

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