Share your knowledge
Instructors (Kaiwhakaako) use their trade knowledge and skills to positively shape people’s futures.
They support and mentor people in prison to gain new qualifications and skills, to improve their chances of finding employment on release from prison.
The role
Bring your experience and skills
Our instructors come from a range of trade industries, including carpentry and construction, painting, agriculture, catering, engineering and more.
Guide and mentor
Instructors mentor and oversee people's work to gain qualifications, providing guidance and assessing their skills in a professional manner.
Through helping to people to gain skills for employment, their work can make a positive difference.
Manage industry activities
Instructors undergo the same training as Corrections Officers, to help equip them to supervise industry activities and manage people in a custodial environment. They may also be asked to work as a Corrections Officer from time to time.
What you need to know
Salary
» Salary range of $62,014 to $77,341 before progressing into senior roles
Career progression and training
» Initial learning pathway – One week Ara Tika, then 10 weeks Corrections Officer Development Pathway (which includes some time away in Upper Hutt)
» Career progression to Principal Instructor roles ($81,175 - $88,397) or management
Skills and experience
» Experience working in trades
» Good communication skills, with the ability to motivate and nurture people's talents
» Team player, dependable, honest and observant
» Full New Zealand Driver Licence
Hours of work
» Rostered rotating shifts including nights, weekends & public holidays
Time off
» Four weeks holiday annually
Environment
» Based at one of our 18 prison sites
Still thinking it over?
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Recent stories
Read stories from our instructors.
What does it take to run a kitchen inside a prison?
Gareth, a catering instructor from Invercargill Prison, shares some insights into his role preparing meals for the site, and passing his skills on to people in prison.