New chair for Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee
Corrections Minister Andrew McIntosh today appointed Ms Andrea Coote MP as Chair of the Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee.
In welcoming Ms Coote to the role, Minister McIntosh said Ms Coote, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services, would bring a wealth of experience to the committee.
“Ms Coote has a strong background in women’s affairs, family and community services. In addition to her role as Parliamentary Secretary Ms Coote is also a member of the Joint Committee of Family and Community Services,” Mr McIntosh said.
“Ms Coote has a strong passion and interest in women’s affairs and her experience across the family and community services portfolios means she brings considerable knowledge and understanding of the key issues to the role,” Mr McIntosh said.
“I am confident that under the leadership of Ms Coote the committee will continue its commitment to gender responsive management for women offenders, recognising that women have distinctly different needs and life experiences.”
Mr McIntosh said the Committee had made a number of key achievements, with significant input into the development of the women’s correctional services framework and the Better Pathways Strategy.
“This committee has been a key driver of debate and change in the area of women’s correctional services and will continue to play an important role in the development of policies, programs and services tailored to female offenders.”
Formed in 2003 the Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee is a successor to the Consultative Council for Female Prison Reform established by Dame Phyllis Frost in the 1950s.
The Women’s Correctional Services Advisory Committee has been providing government with important strategic policy advice for the past eight years.
The committee comprises key stakeholders with diverse backgrounds who have considerable working knowledge and experience of the complexities and challenges faced by women offenders.
In accepting the role, Ms Coote expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the committee.
“The women’s correctional service is an area I have always been passionate about and I look forward to working with committee members to develop tailored, gender-responsive policy and programs that deliver real outcomes for women offenders,” Ms Coote said.
110325 McIntosh - New chair for women’s correctional services advisory committee (PDF 42KB)
