Capricornia jail: More details about toxic workplace culture exposed

Employees have raised significant concerns about the behaviours of some staff within the centre, union officials claim.

The union backing prison employees has welcomed the announcement an independent review that will take place at Capricornia Correctional Centre, claiming multiple employees had successfully settled compensation claims for mental health injuries sustained from working at the Rockhampton jail.

Together Union Industrial Relations director Michael Thomas told The Morning Bulletin union members had had concerns for a long period of time and a review was a something they had been really pushing for.

Michael Thomas from the Together Union (purple shirt) as a prison protest. Pic Jono Searle.

“We are very supportive of the review taking place and clearing up the matters there,” he said.

“There has been big issues on people taking Workcover claims and the like.

“For a long period of time there has been significant concerns raised about cultural behaviours of some staff within the centre.

“It has had significant effects on people’s mental health and there has been a number of successful Workcover claims.”

This type of behaviour and concerns were not acceptable, Mr Thomas said.

“Everyone deserves to go to a safe workplace and deserve to be treated with respect.”

Queensland Corrective Services was unable to comment on queries about the Workcover claims due to privacy constraints.

Capricornia Correctional Centre is run by Chief Superintendent Richard Butcher who was appointed as the general manager at the centre in March 2021.

Mr Thomas said these complaints were not based on Mr Butcher’s management.

“It was clear a review was needed to make sure there is clear transparency and allow the centre to move back to functioning properly,” Mr Thomas said.

The concerns are not believed to be against one sole person.

“There are allegations being made across the board and it just needs to put out in the open,” Mr Thomas said.

Queensland Corrective Services announced on July 9 it planned to commission an independent external review.

At this stage, an expression of interest is open for companies to tender on a review and a timeframe cannot be confirmed.

Mr Thomas welcomes the responses the review will expose.

“The proof will be in the outcomes,” he said.

“We have concerns about some of the reported behaviors, that is the purpose of the review.”

Capricornia Correctional Centre employs about 449 workers, including custodial correctional officers as well as other corrective services officers.

All employees will be invited to meet with an independent external consultant to discuss the workplace culture in a confidential setting.

It will not be compulsory for the prison employees to take part however Mr Thomas expects a high number of participants.

Mr Thomas said the review had been praised by the employees.

“I think they will seize the opportunity to have their say,” he said.

“They have confidence in an external review.”

Together Union represents prison employees across Queensland and in comparing Capricornia Correctional Centre with other prisons across the state, Mr Thomas said it was necessary to get the review underway.

“I think corrections is a difficult environment and some of the sorts of things we have seen at Capricornia crop up elsewhere, the number of issues being raised at Capricornia makes it a priority to get something happening there,” Mr Thomas said.

Member for Keppel and Assistant Education Manager Brittany Lauga said she “supports any steps that will lead to a safer correctional facilities”.

“I know the Queensland Corrective Services staff at the Capricornia Correctional Centre do an incredible job managing some of the most challenging and complex people in Queensland and play an integral role in community safety,” she said.