Education Programs and Services

Research shows that participation in education while in custody can significantly increase employment opportunities and reduce the risk of re-offending following an inmate's release from custody.

Education programs and services provided by CSNSW aim to improve inmates’ language, literacy and numeracy skills as well as support their employment with Corrective Services Industries (CSI) and their participation in programs.

Inmates gain skills, qualifications and work experience which helps improve their post-release employment opportunities.
CSNSW also provides education-related services including, correctional centre libraries and access to legal information via the Inmate Legal Portal.

Approval to participate in education programs is subject to the inmate meeting the education program eligibility criteria which are set out in the Education Programs and Services Policy.

The Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute (AEVTI)

The Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute (AEVTI) is the registered training organisation (RTO) for the provision of education programs for inmates in NSW correctional centres. The full list of accredited courses and qualifications that AEVTI has approval to deliver is available at www.training.gov.au

All training and assessments delivered meets the requirements of the VET Quality Framework.

Further information about the courses delivered by AEVTI can be found in the Course Handbook.

Intensive Learning Centres

Intensive Learning Centres provide full-time education programs to inmates within a culture of learning to assist them in developing learning and social skills to participate in further education and work opportunities.

The aim of the Intensive Learning Centres is is to reduce an inmate’s risk of re-offending through educational achievement as measured by the attainment of nationally accredited certificates.

Intensive Learning Centres are located at Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, South Coast Correctional Centre, Wellington Correctional Centre and Lithgow Correctional Centre.

Inmate Traineeships

Inmates who are employed with Corrective Services Industries can participate in a traineeship program. Offender trainees receive qualification as well as a Certificate of Proficiency and support post release employment opportunities.

Upon completing a traineeship, trainees receive an Australian Qualification Framework qualification as well as a Certificate of Proficiency which supports their post-release employment opportunities.

Traineeships can be done in a range of industries including clothing production, construction, engineering, forests and forest products, Health Support Services (laundry support), hospitality (kitchen operations) and transport and logistics.

Vocational and Education Training

CSNSW works in partnership with Registered Training Organisations to support employment in Corrective Services Industries and to increase to attain post-release employment.

Courses delivered in correctional centres include Workplace Health and Safety, First Aid, Forklift, Welding, Chainsaw, Food Preparation, Engineering and Asset Maintenance.

Distance Education

Inmates may be eligible to participate in tertiary courses provided by external education institutions. A course enrolment must be supported in an inmate’s case plan. Inmates in NSW correctional centres do not have access to the internet which greatly restricts the delivery of distance education courses and the inmate’s ability to undertake research.  

Some courses and subjects are not available as they require special equipment or field work. Inmates are required to contribute towards the costs of their study.

Correctional Centre libraries

Each correctional centre has at least one library where offenders can access a range of fiction, non-fiction and reference books as well as newspapers and magazines.

Correctional centre libraries provide offenders access to:

• The latest edition of appropriate state and federal legislation;
• The latest edition of the Operations Procedures Manual;
• Reference books and computer legal resources to assist in legal defence and litigation;
• Recreational, educational and informational resources; and
• Access to a legal information research service.

Correctional centre libraries are run by Education staff and trained inmate clerks, and are generally open when education programs are running.

A mobile library service is available to inmates housed in an area where they cannot access the library.

Request for Aca​demic Transcripts

Inmates who have been released from NSW correctional centres can request for academic records.  Please complete and submit an Application for Re-issue of Qualifications form (PDF , 212.0 KB)​.