This is the third symposium GCI has run in collaboration with Queensland Corrective Services. It was attended by around 180 delegates including QCS staff from operational and support roles as well as academics from around Australia and internationally.

The symposium builds upon growing industry partnership through research to examine safer, ethical, humane and effective corrections, centered around the launch of Corrections 2030, the QCS 10 year strategic road map.

The symposium was opened by QCS Commissioner Peter Martin. Presentations examined the cost and opportunities in incarceration, effective correctional supervision and rehabilitation, and mature ethical corrections. Todd Clear (Rutgers University), James Ogloff (Swinburne University of Technology) and GCI’s Susan Dennison were keynote speakers. Members John Rynne (with PhD candidate Yolanda Adams), Lacey Schaefer, Kirsten Besemer and Julie Barkworth all gave well-received papers.

A/Prof John Rynne, Prof Susan Dennison, Commissioner Peter Martin, keynote Jim Ogloff and Prof Janet Ransley
GCI researcher Kristen Besemer presenting on “Prison Journeys” – The Unequal Cost of Families’ Distance from Prison
GCI researcher Lacey Schaefer presenting on How social networks contribute to crime and desistance: Lessons for corrections practitioners
GCI researcher Susan Dennison delivering the second keynote on Doing family work in corrections – what we know, what we don’t know, and what we should know by 2030
GCI researcher John Rynne presenting on Prison quality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Keynote presentation from Prof Todd Clear on Tackling the dual problems of high incarceration and racial disparity in imprisonment
Q and A Panel on Taskforce Flaxton featuring Dr Peter Martin APM and Alan MacSporran QC, Crime and Corruption Commission