COVID-19 impacts on Officer Skills Training

A positive COVID-19 story coming from the Corrective Services Training Academy is that efforts to address the risks associated with the highest risk category of skills training – competencies that require physical contact, such as restraints and defence and control – have been successful.

The Academy Director, Scott Lobb, has praised the Academy’s Custodial (CTS) and Specialised (STS) Training Staff for their “monumental efforts” in preparing the Academy and rewriting the course content and delivery to manage the risks to trainees and training staff alike.

The Director advised WAPOU the CTS and STS teams have been “nothing short of, and simply, amazing”.
 
A collaborative effort between our CTS and STS members and Academy management has meant all competencies have been and will continue to be delivered to ETP and ELTP participants.

This also applies to refresher training delivered to Officers in prisons. 
 
The fact that Officers will continue to be fully trained in these critical skills, in a manner that manages COVID-19 risks, is praise-worthy and our members involved in developing this response are to be congratulated.