Rural vocational training facility to support rehabilitation and education

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is supporting the rehabilitation and education of Northern Territory prisoners through the establishment of a vocational training facility in Katherine.

CDU and the Northern Territory Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create the Corrections Skills and Training Facility at the University’s Katherine Rural Campus.

Existing accommodation and campus buildings will be refurbished and expanded to create a 130-bed open-security facility, which will provide targeted vocational training, education and supervised work programs that support rehabilitation and local workforce needs.

Inmates will face strict selection criteria which includes demonstrating good behaviour and the completion of offence-related programs.

The facility builds on the success of similar efforts in Datjala (Nhulunbuy) and Barkly (Tennant Creek), where through skills development and training, inmates have supported public projects, environmental maintenance and community services.

CDU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman said access to education and training for all Territorians was a priority for the University. 

“The Charles Darwin University Katherine Rural Campus is a critical enabler of education, training and research across the Big Rivers region, and beyond,” Professor Bowman said. 

“The operations and training conducted at this campus support national and Territory priorities, including agriculture, livestock, defence and biosecurity.

“The lease is part of a partnership that includes delivering our proven job-ready training to inmates. The objective is to help reintegrate inmates into our communities and give them the best chance to avoid reoffending.

“It will be business as usual at Katherine Rural Campus with the delivery of high-quality VET programs, rural courses, and research programs including our Air-F commercial Drone testing facility to the Big Rivers community.” 

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the partnership would deliver productive outcomes for inmates and increase workforce participation across the NT and Big Rivers Region.

“The government is undertaking a major expansion of corrections infrastructure aimed at rehabilitation and skills training in order to reducing reoffending,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

“We committed to building two new prison work camps and in October 2024 announced Katherine and Darwin as the locations.

“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.”

Work on the Corrections Skills and Training Facility will commence in early 2026 and there are plans to extend the capacity to accommodate up to 198 inmates.