Why work as a correctional officer

Benefits

ACT Corrective Services provide a host of benefits to support the challenging and demanding role of a correctional officer.

Pay

After training, officers at the Alexander Maconochie Centre earn about $95,000 per year.

After training, officers at the Court Transport Unit earn about $75,000 per year.

There is also potential to work overtime to earn more.

You will be paid a trainee salary while undertaking the 12-week training program.

Leave

Officers at the Alexander Maconochie Centre get up to 7 weeks annual leave per year.

Officers at the Court Transport Unit will get up to 4 weeks annual leave per year.

As a permanent full-time officer, you have access to other leave options as an ACT Public Servant. This includes 18 days of personal leave per year.

Rostered shifts

Working rostered shifts as a correctional officer provides flexibility to make more time for you and your loved ones.

As an officer at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, you generally work 12 hour shifts. You will have plenty of days off without having to use your leave. You may have the opportunity to work overtime.

As an officer at the Court Transport Unit, you generally work 8 hour shifts Monday to Friday. You will have weekends off and may have the opportunity to work overtime.

Job security

The ACT Public Service provides an ongoing and necessary service to the public. Because of this, correctional officer positions are generally a more stable job than similar opportunities available in private industry.

Training

As well as an initial 12 week training program, ACT Corrective Services provides ongoing mandatory and specialised training programs to employees. This will support you to perform your role and to build your career.

Team support

Performing a vital role for the community in an environment like no other enables our correctional officers to form a special bond. You will work closely with your colleagues providing each other with support and guidance and giving you a shared sense of belonging.

Wellbeing support

ACTCS provides a range of wellbeing support for employees. You will have access to the ACTCS Peer Support program established to provide informal and flexible support to employees regarding employment, personal or work-related stress and difficulties.

There is also our onsite counselling support service designed to assist employees in meeting the challenges and demands of their work and personal life. Further, as an ACT Public Servant, you and your immediate family will have access to free counselling and support services through the Employee Assistance Program.

Career progression opportunities

A career with ACTCS provides opportunity to progress into more senior or specialised roles.

There are opportunities to move across roles as a correctional officer, between the Court Transport Unit and the Alexander Maconochie Centre. There are also various non-custodial opportunities within ACTCS.

Rewarding

As a correctional officer, every day is an opportunity to motivate and create change through your day-to-day interaction with detainees. Being a positive role model, having a positive impact on the detainee’s lives, and seeing detainee behaviour change for the better can be very rewarding.