Lollipop signs are showing the way for prisoners and community-based offenders to find employment in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Two years ago Waikeria Prison grounds instructor Willie Veale and horticulture instructor Katy Kiwara both became registered trainers for Traffic Controllers and Site Traffic Management Supervisors.

Since then they've guided more than 208 prisoners from the prison and 111 community workers through a Traffic Controller L1 course to be certified by the New Zealand Transport Agency as Traffic Controllers or, as they are more often called, lollipop men.

Corrections' top priority is to reduce re-offending and research shows prisoners with stable employment have more success at remaining crime-free on release from prison.

Training helps increase a person's opportunities for employment, and instils the work habits and resilience needed to maintain a crime-free life.

'Although it may seem like a simple job, for many of the prisoners it is the first qualification many of them have ever had,” explains Willie.

'It is a real boost for them to have the ability to secure a Release to Work job or permanent employment upon release.”

The one-day course covers an array of cones, signs and, of course, a lollipop for practical demonstrations. The attendees learn about Health and Safety, site layout, site checks, legal requirements, communication and what to do if something goes wrong.

There are four tests to sit with a pass mark of 60 per cent in each test. All information is based on the Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management which all roading contractors use as best practice to be able to do their job within the law.

Several community-based offenders from Hamilton have already taken up positions with their newly acquired qualification and as further road works are rolled out, there are plenty of opportunities for more trained staff.

WAIKERIA PRISON ACHIEVING GREAT RESULTS

Waikeria Prison is a working prison which offers prisoners a range of opportunities to learn new skills to help with their rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.

This includes the ongoing farming operation, where they can undertake farming-related training such as working in the milking shed.

Prisoners can also study towards primary-industry related qualifications. Others opportunities for training at Waikeria include hospitality, horticulture, logistics, mechanics, asset and ground maintenance.

Industries training staff at Waikeria Prison have worked together to achieve some great results across the prison and in the community, since the beginning of the new financial year.

Horticulture, Grounds and Agriculture learners have achieved over 2450 credits – equivalent to over 1500 hours of learning a week. This includes:

• 9 National Certificates in Horticulture (Level 1),
• 8 National Certificates in Horticulture (Level 2),
• 1 National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) and
• 1 National Certificate in Horticulture (level 4).
• 15 National Certificates in Agriculture General Skills (Level 2).
• 5 National Certificates in Agriculture Introductory skills (Level 2),
• 4 National Certificates in Agriculture General Skills (Level 2) and
• 1 National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Level 3).