A purpose-built Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education Campus has opened today inside the Darwin Correctional Centre (DCC) at Holtze.

DCC General Manager Bill Carroll said the facility was a self-contained complex occupying a separate area of the Correctional Centre precinct that was an integral part of the design of the DCC which opened in September 2014.

“The campus comprises classrooms, computers labs, a music studio, an art room, a pottery workshop, a library, and other teaching facilities,” Mr Carroll said.

“Education programmes at the campus are delivered by the Batchelor Institute and taught by Batchelor staff, under a partnership agreement between the Department of Correctional Services and the Batchelor Institute.

“At present prisoners can enrol in five different certificate-level courses: Access to Vocational Pathways, Visuals Arts, Construction, Cleaning Operations and Indigenous Environmental Health.”

Mr Carroll said the Access to Vocational Pathways course is a foundations skills programme focusing on literacy and numeracy.

“This is an important and welcome development in our efforts to have prisoners gain the skills necessary to find meaningful employment on their release,” he said.

At today’s opening,  49 DCC prisoners will receive Certificates 1, 2 and 3 in various courses at a graduation ceremony at the new campus.

 Media contact: David Harris 0400 342 389