Prisoners graduate in trades

Twenty-seven Hawke's Bay prisoners have received certificates for qualifications relating to forestry and building. Months of hard work paid off for the prisoners, 15 of whom completed a National Certificate in Forestry Foundation Skills Level 2, and 12 a National Certificate in Building Construction and Allied Trade Skills Level 2 (BCATS). A graduation ceremony was held to acknowledge the work done by the prisoners and the instructors.

Corrections Inmate Employment forestry manager Graham Hardisty said it was the first time most of the prisoners had achieved any form of qualification. ``The acknowledgement from the prisoners at graduation is testament to the instructors' rapport with them and their ability to impart their knowledge in a way that the prisoners can understand and retain what they learn.''

Forestry training is conducted using Forestry Industry Training-based unit standards and assessments and provides the fundamentals for an employee to work within the industry.

Prisoners learn theory and get practical experience and the qualification can lead to work in sawmills, wood manufacturing and wood processing, as well as in other areas.

The BCATS qualification involves theoretical as well as practical unit standards associated with building construction and allied trades. The theory covers health and safety practices, interpretation of plans and drawings and application of mathematical processes. The practical unit standards in the course cover the use of carpentry hand tools and power tools which in turn are used to make oil stone boxes and saw stools.

The 16-week course was targeted at high/medium security prisoners and comprised 10 unit standards, totalling 41 credits.

The Department of Corrections said such training prepared prisoners to be ready for work upon release, which was important to achieving its overall goal of reducing reoffending by 25 per cent by 2017.-->