TRAINEE
CORRECTIONAL
OFFICER
Recruitment information

Jointheterritory.nt.gov.au/corrections

Alice Springs attraction and
retention allowance
Correctional Officers who provide 12 months
continuous service in Alice Springs will receive
a $5000 lump sum payment.

New Alice Springs employees will receive
$2,500 after 3 months of service, $2,500
after 6 months of service, and $5,000 after
a further 12 months of service, with
$5,000 payable every 12 months
thereafter

2 | NTCS TRAINEE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER INFORMATION PACK

The role

Trainee Correctional Officers work as
part of a team that is responsible for the
safe, secure and humane management of
prisoners.

Your responsibilities

• Supervising, monitoring and managing

prisoners

• Employing appropriate security

measures to ensure the safe custody
of prisoners, including monitoring
property and equipment, and
conducting random searches for
contraband

• Advising prisoners of their rights and

responsibilities while in custody

• Ensuring prisoners maintain acceptable

levels of hygiene and cleanliness by
conducting regular cell inspections

• Assisting in determining a prisoner’s

rehabilitation plan and supporting their
attendance

• Providing reports on prisoner

rehabilitation, security, welfare and
behavior

• Undertaking escorts - transport and

supervision of prisoners outside the
correctional centre

• Preparing formal reports about

incidents

• Responding to emergencies, including

prisoner conflict, injuries and medical
crises

• Participating in ongoing training

to maintain currency of core
qualifications.

We’re looking for Training

To meet the demands of the role of a Trainee All Trainee Correctional Officers will undergo an
Correctional Officer we’re looking for people from intensive eight week, off-the-job training course,
all walks of life who demonstrate integrity, maturity followed by three weeks of on-the-job training.
and life experience. During training, you are required to establish

Australian visa with full work rights may be on a fixed term contract and required to successfully
considered for fixed period contracts whilst complete the nationally recognised qualification
they await the outcome of their visa application CSC30122 Certificate III in Correctional Practice.

• Hold a full Northern Territory driver’s licence This qualification is delivered internally by Northern

with competence in driving manual vehicles Territory Correctional Services RTO 1074 and is fully
upon commencement of training funded.

• Hold a first aid certificate (HLTAID011 There are also requirements for you to satisfactorily

Provide First Aid) valid for six months upon complete performance appraisals and assessment
commencement activities. Following this you will be offered ongoing

• Have completed Year 10 employment.

• Be of good character, with strong Benefits

communication and organisational skills

• Have skills and ability to work in a cross Trainee Correctional Officers enjoy a range of great

cultural environment benefits including but not limited to:

• Demonstrate a good level of fitness through

a fitness test and demonstrate the required • Flexible working conditions. Correctional

literacy, numeracy and aptitude through facilities operate on a 24 hour roster system,

testing. seven days a week• Minimum six and maximum seven weeks

If you are applying for a position in Tennant Creek recreation leave annually*

at the Barkly Work Camp, you must hold a light • A remuneration package of up to $107 825

Training salary

• A salary of $62 167plus 12%

superannuation applies for the first eight
weeks block training ($69 627
remuneration).

• 8-11 week $62 167 plus 40% consolidated

allowance plus 12% superannuation
($97 477 remuneration).

• After training $69 074 plus 40% consolidated

allowance plus 12% superannuation ($108
308 remuneration).

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Benefits of working at the
Barkly Work Camp and
living in Tennant Creek
Local Tennant Creek applicant’s residence

You will receive:

• Power subsidies

• Remote locality travel entitlement to assist

with costs, twice a year about $1100 per trip,
plus two days’ travel entitlement

• Flexible roster with rostered days.

External Tennant Creek applicants

You will receive:

• Free housing depending on availability
• Power subsidies
• Remote locality travel entitlement to assist with

costs, twice a year about $1100 per trip, plus a
two days’ travel entitlement

• Flexible roster with rostered days.

Prison Industries Important policies
Smoke free policy

Using your experience in trades to help prisoners
improve their work skills. All DoC premises are completely smoke free. This

includes electronic cigarettes and vaporisers.
An industry officer is tasked with supervising and Trainee Correctional Officers are not permitted to
training prisoners in a prison’s commercial and smoke anywhere on premises or in vehicles. DoC is
service industries. Our commercial industries making the Territory’s correctional facilities
manufacture a wide variety of products, including healthier and safer places to work, this also means
rural gates and panels, timber furniture, custom no cigarette breaks for the duration of a shift.
merchandise and car number plates; while
our service industries offer work in general Drug and alcohol testing
maintenance, kitchen, horticulture and laundry.

All DoC employees are subject to random drug and
The overall objective of Prison Industries is to alcohol testing.
provide training and employment opportunities
to prisoners, helping them learn new skills
and good working habits to enhance their job
prospects upon release.

This is considered to be one of the critical factors
in reducing re-offending.

NTCS TRAINEE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER INFORMATION PACK | 5

Fitness testing
Applicants shortlisted will be contacted via email
to advise of the date for fitness testing and
location.

Interstate applicants have the option to undertake
the testing via a locally based qualified fitness
instructor.

The NTCS Recruitment Officer makes these
arrangements on an individual basis. To progress,
you still must fulfil the requirements of all the testing
and you may be required to undertake the testing
again immediately before commencing the course.

You are responsible for costs associated with
attending these activities. DoC does not
reimburse the costs.

All queries call NT Correctional Services
Recruitment Officer on (08) 892 87392 or email
talentacquisition.DoC@nt.gov.au

Fitness assessment – respond to
emergency drill

To successfully complete this assessment, you
must complete:

• A continuous run comprising a series of Language, Literacy and

five laps (approx. 100m per lap), with a
stair ascent and descent of approximately Numeracy Testing (LLN)
10 steps at the end of each lap. The total
distance is 500 metres

• Arm thrusts x 10 (five from each arm) During the recruitment process, you will
• Leg raises x 10 (five from each leg) undertake an LLN test to identify your core skills
• Stand/push/sit drill (burpees) x 10 of learning, reading, writing and numeracy.
• 20 metre dummy drag (70 kg).

We determine your core oral communication skills
The emergency assessment response must be during different stages of the application process.
continuous and completed within five minutes.

The recruitment process and LLN test identifies
There will be a slightly revised assessment whether you may require any additional support
for those interstate applicants applying and to meet the qualification requirements of the
undertaking the test with a fitness instructor. Trainee Correctional Officer. If you pass the

fitness test you will be required to complete the
Further information will be provided at the time. Language, Literacy and Numeracy test.

Applicants will be emailed the LLN test with
instructions.

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Selection process
DoC uses a bulk recruitment process to attract Stage 3 – Online testing
and recruit Trainee Correctional Officers. There are
several stages in the selection process. If you progress from the fitness test and Language,

Literacy and Numeracy Testing, we will invite you to
All correspondence during this process will be complete an online abilities testing and
conducted via email unless otherwise advised. psychometric profiling. You will be given three days

in which to complete this profiling.
Stage 1 – Apply

As opportunities become available, positions are Stage 4 – Panel interviews and
advertised on the NTG jobs website (jobs.nt.gov.au). referee checks
For your application to progress you must submit a
one page cover letter, a detailed resume showing a If you are invited to attend a panel interview, the
minimum of five years’ work experience including panel will comprise at least three interviewers from
contact details of two work-related referees. senior management within Custodial Operations and

a representative of the DoC Recruitment Team.

Stage 2 — Fitness and Language, Your pre-employment questionnaire will be reviewed
Literacy and Numeracy testing and referee checks will be conducted at this stage.

In the screening phase of recruitment, we assess Stage 5 – Final selection
your application against the selection criteria for
the position. Applicants who we shortlist at this We will advise all successful applicants of the

stage progress to the Fitness testing and Language, outcome of their application and set a start date or

Literacy and Numeracy testing. confirm that we have added you to the Trainee Correctional Officer register awaiting a course date.
Those who are unsuccessful will be notified by
email. DoC does not provide feedback.

Interstate applicants can attend the interview online via Microsoft Teams.

NTCS TRAINEE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER INFORMATION PACK | 7

Criminal history

Given the nature of this role, you will be required
to complete a criminal history check confirmed
with a finger print check. A positive criminal
history check will not necessarily exclude you
from the process. However, you must make full
disclosure of all criminal convictions including any
traffic and driving infringements, spent convictions
or juvenile offences.

Failure to disclose means we may terminate or
cancel your appointment. It may be useful to include
the circumstances surrounding any disclosure you
make in the section provided in the pre-employment
questionnaire and any other associated paperwork
because this will assist us to make a fully informed
and fair judgement.

Factors considered in the assessment include:

• Nature of the offence

• Scope of an individual’s criminal history

• Period of time that has elapsed since the offence

Stage 6 – Suitability and took place
background checks • Age at which the offence was committed -

juvenile or adult
If you have not provided proof of completion of • Type and severity of any penalties and
your first aid certificates and Northern Territory punishment imposed and whether you
driver’s licence details, these will be required at successfully completed the court order
this stage.

• Evidence of an extended criminal history

All successful applicants will initially sign a 12 • Whether the offence is still a crime
month contract as a Trainee Correctional Officer.
Upon successful completion of all requirements • Mitigating or extenuating circumstances in

of the Trainee Correctional Officer program, we relation to the offence committed

recommend to the Commissioner for Northern • General character since the offence was
Territory Correctional Services that you be committed
appointed as a permanent Correctional Officer. • Degree of rehabilitation. We may obtain further

information with your consent
Note: holders of a current Australian visa with full
work rights may be considered for a fixed period • Other factors that may be relevant such as the
contract whilst they await the outcome of their level of risk for DoC.
visa application.

You will be subject to a six month probation
period from the time of being awarded ongoing
employment.

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Frequently asked questions
How many positions are you recruiting What if I have a criminal history record?
and when do the positions start?

A positive criminal history check will not necessarily
DoC recruitment is ongoing and we run Trainee exclude you from the process. It is important to fully
Correctional courses as required. If you are a disclose in pre-employment questionnaires and to
suitable applicant you may either be offered a the panel any incidents to assist them to determine
commencement date or be placed on a register. the relevance to the role. Integrity is something we

value in our employees as such we look for you to
Applicants can only stay on the register up to demonstrate this in the declaration of all relevant
12 months from the closing of advertising. information. Non-disclosure may in itself preclude

you from a position or offer of employment with

I don’t hold a Northern Territory driver’s DoC.
licence. Can I still apply? I don’t hold a first aid certificate.
Yes. However, you must hold a full Northern Can I still apply?
Territory driver’s licence with competence in driving
manual vehicles upon commencement of training. Yes, but you must hold a first aid certificate, which
Applicants for Tennant Creek must hold a light rigid is valid for at least six months, by the time you
licence prior to commencing. commence training. If you do not hold a first aid

certificate you must provide proof of enrolment

Will you reimbursed me for any in the relevant courses once you progress tothe interview stage. The course code required is
associated travel costs to get to or from HLTAID011 Provide First Aid.
fitness testing?

No. This will be at your cost.

NTCS TRAINEE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER INFORMATION PACK | 9

Frequently asked questions
If I apply and I’m unsuccessful can What are the shift patterns?
I try again?

Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Officers work
Yes. You can apply again after 6 months in the next a combination of twelve and eight hour shifts day,
recruitment campaign. You must submit a new night and weekends. You will be required to work a
application for each time because requirements, roster which includes a combination of these shifts.
policies or procedures may change. We are a 24/7, 365 day operation and your shifts

will reflect this.

I have a holiday booked during the 11
week training course dates. Does this I’m an NT Government employee.
make me ineligible to apply for this Can I transfer entitlements?
intake? Yes. If you are a Northern Territory Public Sector

employee, you can transfer your entitlements.
The Trainee Correctional Officer course is an
intensive 11 week training course. It is important
that all new starters complete the entire course. I don’t have a referee. What can I do?
Recreation leave will not be allowed during training
or immediately following training. Referees are important because they provide relevant information about your working history.

If you don’t have a supervisor, you should provide
a referee who has supervised you in the recent
past. We can work with you to identify your most
appropriate referees.

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Living in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory spans from the lush, No matter what the weather, the Territory offers
tropical Top End to the arid and spectacular residents an enviable lifestyle, with quality
Central Australia. Approximately 1500 km lie health, education, sporting and entertainment
between the Territory’s two major centres, Darwin facilities.
and Alice Springs – and there is plenty to see in
between. Darwin is closer to South East Asia than The Territory is a great place to be for outdoors
to many other Australian capital cities. enthusiasts, and people come from all around

Australia to enjoy our fantastic fishing, camping,
The culturally diverse Northern Territory bush walking and sightseeing. Darwin’s proximity
population is about 250 000 people with more to Asia makes the Top End a great base for
than 100 different nationalities. overseas travel.

With a rapidly growing economy, industries and The Territory has an entertaining schedule of
major developments, the Territory is an exciting, major events throughout the year, including
prosperous and vibrant place to call home. major horse racing events in Darwin and Alice
If other members of your family are also seeking Springs, the V8 Super Cars in Darwin, the Darwin
work here, the Territory is generally an easier Festival and other cultural festivals around
place to find work in comparison with some other the Territory, the Finke Desert Race, the Alice
parts of Australia. Visit careers.nt.gov.au to search Springs Masters Games and the regular Mindil
for positions vacant in the NT public service, Beach Markets in Darwin.
but of course there are plenty of private sector
opportunities out there too. Visit theterritory.com.au for extensive

information about living and working in the NT.
In the Top End there are two distinct seasons – To find out more about the range of things to see
the Dry, from May to October, and the Wet, from and do in the NT, visit
November to April. Central Australia has a hot https://jointheterritory.nt.gov.au
desert climate with dry summers and cold winters.

jointheterritory.nt.gov.au/corrections
talentacquisition.DoC@nt.gov.au
Recruitment Officer 08 8928 7392

Northern Territory Correctional Services
PO Box 56, Alice Springs NT 0871

(08) 8928 7392

nt-correctional-services