Katherine university campus to house prison work camp in ‘major’ corrections overhaul
The Northern Territory government has signed an agreement to transform Katherine CDU Rural Campus into a 198-bed open-security work camp focused on prisoner rehabilitation and skills training.
The Northern Territory government has signed an agreement to transform Katherine CDU Rural Campus into a 198-bed open-security work camp focused on prisoner rehabilitation and skills training.
Katherine CDU Rural Campus was confirmed as the location on Monday after an agreement was signed.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who visited the site on Monday, said in a joint statement the project was part of the Government’s Corrections Infrastructure Masterplan.
She added the government was undertaking a “major expansion” of corrections infrastructure, aimed at “rehabilitation and skills training to reducing reoffending”.
“We committed to building two new prison work camps and in October 2024 announced Katherine and Darwin as the locations,” she said.
“This is about tackling the root causes of crime and giving prisoners a chance to start a new chapter in their lives, rather than a life of crime.”
Corrections workers have previously warned that spreading staff over multiple facilities could levy yet another burden on an already embattled system, of which corrections officers have consistently voiced concerns over “declining safety”.
Justice Reform Initiative NT co-ordinator Kirsten Wilson said in May she was concerned about the NT government’s ability to staff and operate the Katherine facility.
“Based on what we know of the NT corrections system, the idea that this facility will be genuinely rehabilitative and reduce reoffending is a fantasy,” she said.
More broadly, the Justice Reform Initiative have said the work camps were a misguided response to chronic overcrowding, and questioned if the Katherine facility was suitable to host rehabilitation programs.
Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said the investment built on “proven” results, citing the “success” of work camps, such as Barkly, “where offenders support public works, environmental and land management projects and community services.”
“The Katherine facility will deliver vocational training and rural industries programs, including supervised work activities aligned with local workforce needs across the NT and Big Rivers Region,” he said.
“This builds on the success of regional work camps such as Barkly, where offenders support public works, environmental and land management projects and community services.
“This facility will deliver opportunities for improved work skills and job readiness prior to release.”
Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said the KRC was a “critical enabler” of education across the Big Rivers region.
“The operations and training conducted at this campus support national and Territory priorities, including agriculture, livestock, defence and biosecurity,” he said.
The NT government said it has increased correctional capacity across the Territory by 746 since October 2024.
Community information sessions will be held in Katherine with work on the Katherine facility to begin in early 2026.
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Originally published as Katherine university campus to house prison work camp in ‘major’ corrections overhaul
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