Maryborough Correctional Centre’s general manager has been recognised for her impressive 22-year career in the King’s Birthday Honour’s list.
Chief Superintendent Kris Winter, along with two other corrections officers, have been named in the honours list for distinguished service by an operational member of an Australian state or territory corrections service for adults.
Ms Winter said it was a great honour to receive the medal.
She said she had joined the service straight out of university after completing a Bachelor of Justice Administration.
Ms Winter began her career with Queensland Corrective Services as an activities officer at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre in 1997.
Since then she “had not looked back,” she said and had enjoyed an “amazing career”.
“It’s been an exciting career and I can’t recommend it enough to others,” she said.
Maryborough Correctional Centre. The general manager of Maryborough Correctional Centre has been recognised for her 22 years of “distinguished service”, receiving the Australian Corrections Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2023. Pic John/Wilson buildings qld prisons prison
Ms Winter said it was an honour to be recognised alongside people who had devoted their careers to the cause of corrections.
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“But I also recognise that there are dozens of people who work for QCS that are equally deserving,” she said.
She said QCS was a critical frontline agency and was critical to the safety of both prisoners and the community.
When she was Deputy General Manager at Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre, she introduced numerous programs to improve outcomes for women in custody, including the Australian Red Cross Community Based Health and First Aid Program Sisters for Change, a midwifery program in partnership with Central Queensland University and Queensland Health, and Safe Women’s Workshop, a sexual assault prevention program.
She drove further cultural change within TWCC to introduce trauma informed de-escalation strategies for staff and prisoner engagement, resulting in reduced use of force incidents on women in custody.
In her role at Maryborough Correctional Centre, Ms Winter interacts with offenders regularly to facilitate positive engagement to improve outcomes for prisoners.
General Manager of Maryborough Correctional Centre, Chief Superintendent Kris Winter.
Police and Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan congratulated the officers for their commitment to keeping Queensland communities safe.
“I want to commend these three incredible, worthy recipients of the coveted Australian Corrections Medals,” Mr Ryan said.
“The work that they do every day to keep communities safe is extraordinary, and their contribution has led to positive changes and outcomes for people in QCS’ care.
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“Today we shine a spotlight on their outstanding efforts towards keeping public safety at the forefront and for going above and beyond the call of duty. I congratulate them on their remarkable achievement.”