By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
RETRENCHED Ford and Alcoa workers are targeted for prison jobs as part of a wider recruitment campaign launched this week.
Barwon Prison general manager Jonathan Howe said expansion of Geelong’s two prisons near Lara required about 180 extra staff.
Corrections Department recruiting staff attended two “jobs fairs” at Ford and planned others at Alcoa as it wound down its Point Henry operations, he said.
“The local community is going through a tough time with Alcoa and Ford closing but we realised there was a whole load of people with skills that would appear to be transferrable,” Mr Howe said.
“It made a lot of sense and meant we might be able to help our local community.”
Corrections Victoria launched an advertising campaign aimed at recruiting 750 new prison and community corrections officers over the next 12 months.
Mr Howe said Ford and Alcoa workers would be directly targeted with the assistance of job-support agencies.
“This is a workforce with proven skills. Workers might just think they make cars or smelt aluminium but actually they have skills that make a lot of sense in the corrections environment.
“They’re part of a team, are safety conscious, a disciplined workforce, with life experience and are reasonably physically fit.
“They also have a capacity to learn because they work in evolving environments with new technology as part of large workforces used to dealing with lots of people.
“We can train people and provide those skills but if staff have preset skills in those areas it’s a big advantage.
“Out of this dire story there might be a silver lining for many for a second career they never imagined they’d ever have.”
Mr Howe said Barwon Prison already employed ex-Alcoa workers who had encouraged former colleagues to consider corrections positions.
“They’ve been fantastic. We have a former Alcoa fitter who’s been here for seven years and is now an acting senior prison officer.”
