Three senior Correctional officers received their certificate in Diploma’s in Corrections during the recent JMF and NMT meeting held at the Tetere Correctional Centre.
The Commissioner CSSI Gabriel Manelusi had the pleasure of presenting Diploma’s in Corrections to Superintendent Steve Machaiah, Commandant Tetere Correctional Centre, Superintendent Robert Gada, Director Professional Standard Unit CSSI Headquarters and Staff Sergeant Catherine Nalakia, the CSSI Gender Officer was also successful in gaining this Diploma but unfortunately could not be in attendance to receive hers on this day
Speaking during the certificate presentation Commissioner Manelusi said these significant awards are the results of great commitments by both senior officers to continue to strive and work through the various assessments and project development requirements of the Diploma over the past two years
Manelusi said this was achieved in the midst of work commitments for each officer and within the impacts of the current COVID-19 situation here in the Solomon Islands, the further added constraints of great distance and an inability to directly engage “in person” with supporting twinning agency in this professional development space, the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) in Queensland Australia, made the tasks of completing these Diploma all the more challenging
Commissioner Manelusi remarked that this commitment by the Superintendents demonstrated their personal and professional willingness to complete the set task, even though there were significant challenges and difficulties along the way
Manelusi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Commissioner QCS Mr. Paul Steward and the chief Superintendent, People Capability Command and Organisational Capability (QCS Training Academy General Manager) Mr. Alan Butler and his training staff at the QCS Academy for their ongoing support and commitment throughout all phase of this important program for CSSI
“Especially so in relation to ensuring those officers from CSSI, who were enrolled in the Diploma program prior to the impacts internationally of COVID-19, were able to seek advice, guidance and assistance in a remote capacity over the past two years, which see’s them today successfully receiving their Diplomas” he adds
Manelusi said Diploma in Corrections is a recognise senior qualification for senior officers working in Queensland Correctional Centre environments and is an integral professional development required for officers who manage a number of staff on a daily basis as part of their roles and responsibilities
“This significant ongoing development has been strongly supported since its inception in 2018 by the Australian Government and is embedded in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Commissioners of QCS and CSSI”. Manelusi told the managers and graduand officers.
Commissioner Manelusi also wish to acknowledge ASIJP/DFAT (Solomon Islands) team for their great support.
Manelusi said in relation to the future developments and needs of this important professional development initiative, scoping work is presently being undertaken to look at possible options for re- enforcing and sustaining the ongoing delivery of the Diploma in Corrections, through possible models of Distance Learning Programs, using as required agreed models of engagement, through the possible use of remote support systems, such as video conferencing and email/internet capability.
-CSSI press