South Australian corrections officers deployed to Alice Springs Correctional Centre

Staffing has been bolstered at the Red Centre’s main prison, with the extra help coming from down south. Find out more.

Alice Springs Correctional Centre reintegration facility. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Additional corrections officers from down south “will make a difference on the ground” in Alice Springs, according to the second in charge of the Territory, who says the initiative is part of the government’s “overall plan”.

On Saturday, six corrections officers from South Australia landed in Alice Springs, where they will now undertake a eight-week secondment at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.

Deputy Chief Minister and corrections minister Gerald Maley said the secondment is part of “our overall plan to boost staffing, modernise operations, and ensure we have the right people in the right places”.

The SA officers were inducted to the Alice Springs facility on Saturday, are now undertaking one week training, and will be sworn in as special corrections officers.

The secondment was made possible by a legislative change, Mr Maley said, and is a first for corrections in the Territory.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The plan also included the recent awarded tender to G4S – a private security firm – to perform prisoner transfers to and from the courts in Darwin.

The private security firm is only operating in Darwin at the moment, and is yet to make the move down to Alice Springs.

“We promised 2025 would be a year of action, certainty and security, and this secondment highlights what can be achieved when government takes decisive steps to strengthen frontline corrections capacity,” Mr Maley said.

“Since July 2024, 163 new correctional officers have been recruited, and further intakes are planned in Darwin and Alice Springs this year.

“We’re on track to deliver a record 202 new correctional officers this financial year, marking the largest single workforce expansion in the Territory’s corrections history.”

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early and unionised NT corrections officers descended on NT Treasurer Bill Yan’s office in Alice Springs on Friday, February 21 2025, with a letter demanding NT Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley stand down. Picture: Gera Kazakov

United Workers Union NT secretary Erina Early said the union welcomed the additional officers, which would “provide slight relief but not reduce the current workload that our NT Correctional Officers are currently expected to work”.

“Even with these six officers (for 8 weeks), Alice Springs Corrections will be short 130 Officers once the female facility opens,” she said.

“There are is bigger picture or long term strategies in place by Corrections to attract and retain Correctional Officers in the NT. This is a priority and our officers are only seeing band aid solutions.”

Originally published as South Australian corrections officers deployed to Alice Springs Correctional Centre