Recommendation 177

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That appropriate screening procedures should be implemented to ensure that potential officers who will have contact with Aboriginal people in their duties are not recruited or retained by police and prison departments whilst holding racist views which cannot be eliminated by training or re-training programs. In addition Corrective Services authorities should ensure that all correctional officers receive cross-cultural education and an understanding of Aboriginal-non-Aboriginal relations in the past and the present. Where possible, that aspect of training should be conducted by Aboriginal people (including Aboriginal ex-prisoners). Such training should be aimed at enhancing the correctional officers' skills in cross-cultural communication with and relating to Aboriginal prisoners.

Context

The Royal Commission considered that the elimination of racist views among correctional officers is a pre-requisite to a humane custodial environment and stated ‘effective education and training provides the greatest promise for the elimination of more subtle forms of racism’. Recommendation 177 directed at achieving the elimination of racism through appropriate screening, education and training and that education and training is conducted by Aboriginal people.

Details of implementation

Recruitment

CSNSW currently use Operational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) psychometric testing in recruitment for custodial corrections which focusses on your behavioural style at work.

This process also includes an interview that has questions addressing inclusivity as well.

DCJ Racism Taskforce

With the establishment of the DCJ Racism Taskforce, the foundations have been laid to confront and eliminate racism from the DCJ workplace. The Taskforce will prioritise action on racism. It examines racism experienced by staff and those in contact with the department and it will lead the development of a strategy that provides a clear way forward to eliminate racism in all its forms.

Training

Primary training modules - Custodial Corrections

Management of inmates and risk of self-harm or suicide

Delivered in module 4 of the training program.

Aboriginal cultural awareness

Delivered by Aboriginal programs unit within the first 4 weeks of a staff member commencing their role.

This training provides the learner with knowledge regarding the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people while understanding the contemporary challenges they are facing today.  The training will enhance the learner’s communication skills in an Aboriginal context while improving their skills to identify and manage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders at risk.

The course will cover the following topics (but not limited to):

• Aboriginal culture and protocols
• Historical events that have impacted on First Nations people
• Intergenerational trauma and impact on First Nations people today
• Stereotypes
• Current statistics
• The criminal justice system and how it impact on First Nations people
• Closing the Gap and Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody
• Improved engaging with First Nations people in custody and on community-based orders.

The aim of the course is for the learner to gain an understanding of Australian Aboriginal history and culture. It will highlight historical government interventions and policies that continue to impact First Nations people today.  The learner will gain an appreciation of the contemporary challenges First Nations people are facing today and how these challenges influence the way Corrective Services engage with First Nations people. The training aims to enhance the learner’s cultural competency with a focus on communication, engagement and rapport building skills, in a First Nations context of being, doing and knowing.

The trainer also has the discretion to raise any culturally inappropriate behaviour which will raise further escalation actions.

Working with culture and diversity

The Working with Culture and Diversity course is a blended learning program that aims to explore respectful strategies to work with and overcome barriers amongst offenders and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

There are two parts to this course:

Learners are required to complete the online learning component prior to attending the face-to-face training.

The online component covers:

• key definitions, legislation, policies and procedures and justice values,
• how to work with specific groups including Culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, refugees/immigrants and various religious and spiritual beliefs.

The face-to-face training has a strong operational focus with key speakers and a consolidation of the learning with practical scenarios and strategies to effectively work with diversity and culture in the custodial and community setting. 

Trauma informed practice

This course is specifically designed for people who work directly with those who have experienced (or are highly likely to have experienced) trauma.

Trauma informed practices can assist in minimising the chances of an inmate/offender being re – traumatised whilst in the care of Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW), and by incorporating the trauma informed principles into daily interactions it can assist with the creation of a more rehabilitative environment.

This course is not designed to give people the skills and knowledge to treat trauma, however being trauma informed is about knowing how to identify trauma to better respond and refer appropriately.

This workshop will cover the following;

• Introduction to Trauma Informed Practice
• Understanding the nature and impact of trauma
• Recognition of safety
• Healing and recovery
• Responding to disclosure
• Vicarious trauma
• Emotional Survival

Doing the right thing-workplace ethics

Workplace Ethics - Doing the Right Thing training course. This course goes through the different aspects of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Code of Ethical Conduct and how it applies to Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW).

At the end of this course, you will be competent in the knowledge and skill required to:

• Identify the DCJ Code of Ethical Conduct
• Understand what a conflict of interest is and how to avoid it
• Describe your responsibilities in relation to conduct and ethics
• Explain how to identify the CSNSW guidelines to conduct and ethics
• Behave in a professional manner
• Understand how to report conduct and ethical issues.

Bullying and harassment

This course has been designed to provide staff with an understanding of bullying and harassment, the types of behaviour that should be avoided and what staff can do if bullying or harassment is occurring in the workplace.

• types of bullying and harassment behaviours
• identifying bullying and harassment
• the effects of bullying and harassment
• your responsibilities, and what actions can be taken

Serious Incident assessments

• Conflict Management scenario-Aboriginal focused
• Self-harm scenario-Aboriginal focused

Additionally, Community Corrections is currently delivering a program of work to improve performance in Community Corrections for Aboriginal people and communities. Under this program of work, Community Corrections is trialling different approaches to improving the Aboriginal cultural competency and local understanding of Community Corrections staff. Specific projects include:

• Local Aboriginal Cultural Engagement (LACE) Strategy in North NSW District which is led by a Project Officer and a steering group that includes ACECOs to provide frontline staff with localised knowledge and expertise and an opportunity to learn and Connect to Country in their local areas. This training commenced in 2022. LACE focuses on localised information, events, protocols and putting the knowledge into practical application, whilst incorporating cultural immersion. The being, doing and knowing in action.
• Western NSW District is currently recruiting an Aboriginal identified Project Officer to lead local work and are investigating local Cultural Awareness Programs for frontline staff

Additionally, Community Corrections is currently delivering a program of work to improve performance in Community Corrections for Aboriginal people and communities. Under this program of work, Community Corrections is trialling different approaches to improving the Aboriginal cultural competency and local understanding of Community Corrections staff. Specific projects include:

• Local Aboriginal Cultural Engagement (LACE) Strategy in North NSW District which is led by a Project Officer and a steering group that includes ACECOs to provide frontline staff with localised knowledge and expertise and an opportunity to learn and Connect to Country in their local areas.
• Western NSW District is currently recruiting an Aboriginal identified Project Officer to lead local work and are investigating local Cultural Awareness Programs for frontline staff

CSNSW Academy Training available to all staff through the training calendar or online learning

The Academy also provide the following courses to support the ongoing professional development of staff that relates to the concerns raised.

Unconscious bias

This course is designed to challenge the learner’s understandings of bias and stereotypes whilst providing strategies to identify and manage biases.

Cultural competency

Cultural Competency Program is aimed at building capability around cultural diversity in the workplace. Staff will be developing understanding in culture, diversity, and inclusion through consideration of meanings and definitions, ways that cultural diversity contributes to competitive advantage, unconscious bias in decision making and how to remedy it, different cultures’ ways of thinking, acting and communicating, how the above is affected by values, attitudes and beliefs, and how different people of different cultures adapt to new cultures.

Aboriginal cultural awareness

This course is designed to provide an overview of Aboriginal Culture and strategies that can be used when dealing with Aboriginal people within the Correctional setting.

Respectful workplace relationships

This interactive 3.5-hour training will have learners pairing up, moving around the room, role playing, debating, and presenting to the class. The content is underpinned by 'our values' and aligned to the Department of Communities and Justice's workplace behaviour policies. It has been informed by current research, including the Human Rights Commission's Respect@Work Report, and contextualised to the corrections environment.

CSNSW employees have a shared obligation to contribute to a healthy, supportive and productive work environment that fosters trust and collaboration. Throughout the training a variety of behaviours will be challenged and explored to foster professional and respectful interactions amongst colleagues. Available support services for people experiencing a workplace issue will also be examined.

Disability awareness

There have been a number of changes in the disability sector, two being the Disability Inclusion Act and the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. With the introduction of these changes, a major focus has been placed on empowering people with disabilities, assisting them to live their own lives and to make or be involved in making decisions which directly impacts the quality of their life.

The Disability Awareness training will give people the skills and knowledge required to effectively interact with and facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability.

Managing at risk inmates

• CSCINT010 Assess offender risks and needs
• CSCOFM035 Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders
• CHCCCS014 - Provide brief interventions

This training program is designed to give the learners the skills and knowledge required to be an effective member of a Risk Intervention Team (RIT), whether they are performing the role of the RIT Coordinator or RIT Member.

Learners enrolled in the course are required to complete a two-day workshop with work to be completed post-course.

On successful completion of the training component and related assessment portfolio, the learner will receive a Statement of Attainment in CSCINT010 Assess offender risks and needs, CSCOFM035 Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders and CHCCCS014 Provide brief interventions. These units are issued in partial completion of the CSC40122 Certificate IV in Correctional Practice.

Evidence

• DCJ Code of Ethical Conduct