Page 4886 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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(3) Does the ACT Government have an estimate or data on the number of ACT Public Service positions that do not require post-secondary qualifications; if so, (a) how many positions and (b) and in which agencies.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. In May 2018, the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) released guidance on: Employment of People who are Ex-Detainees, Parolees or Others With Serious or Extensive Criminal Histories.
The guidance supports the 2016 Chief Ministers’ Statement of Ambition which identifies that equity and inclusion are cornerstones of the ACT Government and reflect the value of Canberrans. The purpose of the guidance is to establish a risk management approach to the employment in the ACTPS of people who are ex-detainees, parolees or others with serious or extensive criminal histories.
Section 68(2) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 provides that the ACTPS has the responsibility of ensuring that all people it employs are capable of complying with the values and code of conduct to maintain the trust of the Government and the community – and that a risk management approach should be applied when assessing these applications for employment. The guidance:
• outlines that there is clear evidence that peoples’ lived experiences can have a positive contribution to their effectiveness in relating to members of the community who access government services (for example, peer workers in health services such as alcohol and drug rehabilitation);
• is based on national and international literature on corrections showing that detainees are confronted with an extensive range of disadvantages and obstacles to re-entry into society as positive contributors;
• outlines that applications for employment from people who are ex-detainees, parolees or others with serious or extensive criminal histories should not be automatically dismissed; and
• offers actions to verify the suitability of applicants such as liaison with managers of offender rehabilitation programs (such as Throughcare); discussions with parole officers; discussions with any other professional or personal referees the applicant nominates; or meeting with the applicant prior to any decision on selection regarding their criminal history in order to assess suitability.
An example of the ACT Public Service employing ex-prisoners and/or people leaving long term unemployment is the ACT Corrective Services’ Transitional Employment Opportunities Program (the Program), which aims for ex-detainees to obtain and maintain permanent employment upon their return to the community. Detainees identified as potentially suitable for external employment positions are encouraged to undertake relevant work experience and Vocational Training whilst at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
Over the past 12 months, nine detainees participated in the Program, and eight of the participants continued to maintain employment post-release. The types of employment undertaken by detainees include construction and builders labouring, carpentry, automotive mechanics, spray painting, tyre fitting, traffic control, horticulture, gardening and landscaping as well as several administrative roles.
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