The Charles Darwin University Council has agreed in principle to a prisoner training centre and remand facility being built on land attached to the Katherine Rural Campus.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, Professor Charles Webb, said the university welcomed the Northern Territory Government announcement this morning (Wednesday) that it planned to establish the Katherine Prisoner Rural Training Centre and Remand Facility on university land near Katherine.
Professor Webb said that a full proposal would be developed and presented to the CDU Council’s December meeting.
The facility would provide work, education and vocational training opportunities for low security prisoners, with the aims of reintegrating the inmates into the community and reducing re-offending.
“As the leading provider of VET in the NT, CDU is in a unique position to collaborate with the Department of Justice on this initiative,” he said.
“The university recognises the need in the community for improved outcomes for offenders and the role that education and training have in this.”
The facility would provide work, education and vocational training opportunities based on horticulture, agriculture, community maintenance and pastoral industry activities and community reparation programs.
If it proceeds, the facility would be a phased development over three years.
Professor Webb said the process in the run-up to the December meeting of the CDU Council would include consulting with staff and students.