Cath and Kimba accept Premiers Award
NSW first Pups in Prison Program, which has run at Kirkconnell Correctional Centre for the past 7 years as a partnership between NSW Department of Justice and Attorney General, Corrective Services NSW and charity Assistance Dogs Australia, was tonight announced in Sydney as joint winner of the Engaging With the Community Category in the Premier’s Public Sector Awards.
Hosted by Jennifer Byrne and Premier Nathan Rees the prestigious event focused on outstanding examples of quality service and acknowledged excellence and innovation within the public sector.
On accepting the Award, Kirkconnell Correctional Centre officer Catherine Turner, accompanied by 15 week old black Labrador puppy in training Kimba, talked about the immense positive benefits that the program had brought to the centre for both staff and inmates. The program unites the officers, inmates and community representatives to train and socialise the pups for 16 months under the supervision of Assistance Dogs Australia. “Prisoners train and socialise dogs in the centre and the local surrounds, giving them fantastic opportunities to take on new levels of responsibility, which will lead to greater self-esteem, teamwork and communication skills.†Said Officer Turner
Assistance Dogs Australia’s “Top Dog†Richard Lord who was on hand at the ceremony commented that The Pups in Prison program has had a profound effect on all involved in the correctional centre and truly makes the atmosphere more positive through giving the opportunity for inmates to give back to the community. “The dogs are known to help reduce stress levels, and the program also improved life skills such as patience, compassion and cooperation,
“At the end of their 16 month sentence in the program, the dogs return to Assistance Dogs Australia who l finish their training to work with people with disabilities.†“These remarkable dogs change the lives of many people who have suffered quadriplegia as a result of traumatic accidents†concluded Mr Lord
