Ex-inmate hired to guard kids in detention in Townsville

A former inmate at the Townsville Correctional Centre, who later managed to secure a job as a guard at the same jail, was also allowed to work with kids in Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

A former inmate was shockingly hired as a guard at Townsville jail and allowed to work with children in detention, prompting Corrections Minister Nikki Boyd and Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer to defend the vetting processes and commit to reviewing employment checks amid growing concerns.

A former inmate at the Townsville Correctional Centre, who later managed to secure a job as a guard at the same jail, was also allowed to work with kids in Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.

The shocking revelations have triggered an internal investigation at Queensland Correctional Services, raising serious concerns about the vetting processes in place.

The scandal erupted after the Townsville Bulletin revealed that the ex-inmate had somehow slipped through the cracks in the system.

Corrections Minister Nikki Boyd was grilled in parliament over the issue, saying that criminal history checks were carried out “as a matter of course.”

It has now come to light that before his employment at the adult prison, the same ex-inmate had been hired to work with children in Townsville’s youth detention centre.

This has drawn further scrutiny to the screening processes across Queensland’s correctional and youth justice systems.

Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer confirmed that the man had been employed in 2015 but is no longer with the Department of Youth Justice.

Inside the Townsville Correctional Centre. Picture: Zak Simmonds

She defended the hiring process, stating, “Checks on the staff member’s history and suitability were carried out prior to his employment at that time.”

She assured the public that criminal history checks involving external agencies are part of the standard procedure for hiring youth detention workers.

However, insiders at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre claim this is not an isolated case.

According to sources, the department has a history of overlooking questionable hires due to ongoing staff shortages.

This has led to concerns about the suitability of certain employees working with vulnerable children.

In response to the revelations, the Department of Youth Justice has pledged to work with stakeholders to review its employment suitability processes.

Minister Farmer acknowledged the challenges faced by detention centre staff, saying, “Staff in detention centres do valuable work in difficult circumstances.”

Originally published as Ex-inmate hired to guard kids in detention in Townsville