The Education and Vocational Training Unit (EVTU) within the Department of Corrective Services works towards assisting students to acquire, develop, practice and apply knowledge, skills and attitudes they need now and in the future to take responsible control of their own lives. Service delivery is through nationally accredited education and vocational training courses. EVTU operates as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) called Auswest Specialist Education and Training Services (ASETS).
What does the job involve?
Correctional education staff work in one of the 12 public prison education centres in a variety of roles:
- education clerical and administration staff
- casual tutors (Adult Basic Education and Vocational Education and Training)
- Aboriginal education workers (AEWs)
- project training officers (PTOs)
- prisoner education coordinators (PECs)
- campus managers (CMs)
- prisoner education assessors (PEAs)
Correctional education staff can also work at EVTU head office at 68 Milligan Street, Perth in a variety of roles:
- managing director
- prisoner education manager – personnel
- prisoner education manager – curriculum
- curriculum area coordinators (Adult Basic Education, Driver Education, VET, Traineeships, Indigenous Education, Curriculm Compliance, Arts, Professional Development and Community Employment and Training)
- education clerical and administration staff
- IT staff – information systems and technical support
All education staff work within a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and service delivery is through nationally accredited courses and training packages.
Education staff deliver a quality assured service to prisoners. The challenge is working within both education and corrective service models. Education staff must create a welcoming and encouraging educational environment to reconnect with disengaged learners, many of whom have negative experiences with formal education, training, and employment. Correctional educators need to be flexible and able to provide tuition to individuals or small groups (6 – 10 students) and cater for a wide range of abilities and levels.
Prisoner education assessors work with the prisoner to design a customised education and training plan for inclusion in the prisoner’s individual management plan. At each prison education dentre, staff are responsible for implementing, monitoring and adapting the plan as required. Staff and education and vocational training programs in prisons are supported by head office staff , including assistance for prisoner re-entry into the community.
What are the pay and conditions?
Benefits
- Making a difference in the lives of prisoners
- Protecting the community by contributing to a reduction in recidivism
- Rewarding career as a correctional educator
- Flexible working conditions – particularly for casual tutors and those in a job share role.
- Career development opportunities
- Prison based Teaching and Training positions have parity to TAFE (extra salary and 8 weeks leave per year)
Shift workThere is no shift-work involved. Centres and Head Office operate Monday – Friday between 8.00 am – 4.00 pm, 50 weeks of the year.
Salary
This depends on the role and level being undertaken, formal qualifications and years of experience. Prison Based Salaries are as follows:
Education Clerical and Administration Staff (Public Service Levels 1, 2 and 3)
Entry Level 1 $16, 694 - $40, 609 FTE ($640 – 1556.90 per fortnight) or Casual Rate $10.23 - $24.90 per hour
Level 2 $42, 017 - $46, 686 FTE ($1,610.90 – 1,789.90 per fortnight) or Casual Rate $25.76 - $28.63 per hour
Level 3 $48, 409 - $52, 560 FTE ($1,855.90 - $2,015.10 per fortnight) or Casual Rate $29.68 - 32.23 per hour
Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs)
Level 2 $42, 017 - $46, 686 FTE ($1,610.90 – 1,789.90 per fortnight) or Casual Rate $25.76 - $28.63 per hour
Level 3 $48, 409 - $52, 560 FTE ($1,855.90 - $2,015.10 per fortnight) or Casual Rate $29.68 - 32.23 per hour
Casual Tutors (Teachers, Trainers and Tradespeople) -
paid a TAFE casual rate under a casual contract depending upon their qualifications and the AQF level of the course they are delivering and can be $35.35, $50.07 or $61.63 per hour.
Project Training Officers (PTOs)
Level 4 Public Service with Parity to TAFE $ 54,510 – $57, 609 ($2089.80 - $2,208.70 per fortnight)
Prisoner Education Coordinators (PECs)
Level 4 Public Service with Parity to TAFE $ 54,510 – $66,030 ($2089.80 - $2,539.62 per fortnight)
Prisoner Education Assessors (PEAs) Level 5 Public Service with Parity to TAFE
Level 5 Public Service with Parity to TAFE $60,6038 – $67,017 ($2,324.80 - $2,569.30 per fortnight)
Campus Managers (CMs – Level 1 and 2)
Level 5 Public Service with Parity to TAFE - ($68,370 and $70, 684)
All EVTU head office staff are standard public service positions and are paid according to the standard Public Service Award. Parity to TAFE conditions do not apply.
Salary packaging
The following benefits can be included in salary packaging:
- Additional superannuation, laptop computer, novated car lease, membership and subscription fees, financial planning advice, income protection insurance (other than that provided through a superannuation plan), self-education expenses and work-related travel expenses.
For Education staff employed at Eastern Goldfields, Roebourne and Broome Regional Prisons, the following additional benefits can be included in salary packaging:
- interest payments on purchased properties in remote locations
- private rent paid for employee sourced housing in remote locations
- residential fuel costs (i.e. electricity and gas) in remote locations.
Education Staff employed at Broome and Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison are able to salary package their rental payments for Government Regional Officers Housing (GROH).
Additional Incentives
The following incentives are available for Education Staff employed at Eastern Goldfields, Roebourne and Broome Regional Prisons only:
- district allowance
- home loan subsidy scheme
- payment for reasonable water usage
- subsidised payment on air conditioning usage (applies to Roebourne and Broome Regional prisons only).
Education Staff employed at Roebourne Regional Prison who are allocated Government Regional Officers Housing (GROH) receive rent free accommodation.
Leave Entitlements
- Annual Leave – 4 weeks per year for Head Office FTE Staff 8 Weeks per year for Prison Based FTE Staff
- Personal Leave (cumulative) – 10 Days per year(incorporates sick leave and carers’ leave)
- Parental Leave (paid) - 12 weeks effective from 1 July 2007, and 14 weeks effective from 1 July 2008
- Parental Leave (unpaid) - up to two years (includes any period of paid parental leave taken)
- Ceremonial/Cultural Leave
- Study Leave
- Long Service Leave - 13 weeks (upon completion of 7 years continuous service)
- Purchased Leave - two or three weeks (reduced salary over 52 weeks).
Additional leave entitlements for Education Staff employed at Roebourne and Broome Regional prisons only:
- Annual Leave – 1 week
Travel Leave – calculated on mode of travel (e.g. road or air).
Who are we looking for?
The EVTU service delivery requires a professional approach. It needs people who take pride in their role and appreciate the importance of being part of a correctional education team. Our Education staff come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing personal strengths, individual skills and life experience to the job. They can be qualified Primary or Secondary teachers, ESL teachers, Indigenous Teachers, Qualified Trainers or TAFE Lectures or Tradespeople working under supervision. They can be Indigenous people with or without formal qualifications or clerical or administrative staff with an education background.
A good Correctional Educator must be alert and observant, able to work effectively within a justice paradigm in addition to an education and vocational training paradigm. They need to be able to think calmly and clearly, and use their initiative. They need to be proficient in their field of expertise and work flexibly within both the classroom and wider prison environment. They need to establish positive and encouraging relationships with their students whilst maintaining an appropriate professional distance at all time.
Eligibility, assessment, selection and appointment processes
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to apply for any Education Staff position you must:
- be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status
- have an unrestricted C-class (manual) driver's licence (must not be on P-plates)
- have the equivalent of year 10 literacy (e.g. trade certificate) – or be willing to undertake a literacy test
- be prepared to undergo criminal history screening and possibly Departmental integrity checking for convictions or associations that may compromise your employment within the prison industry. There are certain offences and or associations that can disqualify your application.
Specific Roles will have specific conditions eg:
Campus Managers and Prisoner Education Assessors must hold a 4 year teaching qualification or equivalent recognised in Australia with at least 5 years teaching experience, preferably in Adult Education. They must hold a Cert IV Workplace Training and Assessment or agree to complete one within 6 months.
Prisoner Education Coordinators must hold at least a three year teaching qualification if primary trained and a four year qualification if Secondary Trained (ie an undergraduate degree and Graduate Diploma in Teaching) with at least 5 years teaching experience, preferably in Adult Education. They must hold a Cert IV Workplace Training and Assessment or agree to complete one within 6 months.
Project Training Officers may be qualified or unqualified, but must have significant training experience in the field of expertise requiring delivery.
Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs) – must be Indigenous
Casual Tutors (Teachers, Trainers and Tradespeople) – will hold related formal qualifications recognised in Australia.
Education Clerical and Administration Staff (Public Service Levels 1, 2 and 3)
Entry Level 1 – Must pass the Public Service Test
Level 2 and 3 – hold relevant qualifications/expertise.
How to apply
FTE Vacancies
Advertised according to HR Standards either as EOIs – Expressions of Interest or Substantive Vacancies. Applicants apply by following instructions in the advertisement. Generally this means addressing selection criteria related to the JDF and usually including a CV and two referees. If contacted as a short listed applicant there is generally an interview process resulting in a recommended applicant. There is usually a two week appeals process before the final appointment to the position.
Casual Tutor Vacancies
Direct contact with either the Prisoner Education Manager Personnel or the Campus Manager at the prison site. Usually a CV accompanied by a covering letter indicating – availability, service delivery area (expertise), prisons of interest. Applications will be added to the Casual Tutor Register at the prison site. Contact is made as and when vacancies arise that match the skill set of the application.
Contacts
Offender Services Directorate
68 Milligan Street
PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9229 6574 or (08) 92229 6550
Facsimile: (08) 9324 1834
Email: Karen.Herriott-Evans@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au
