Former tennis coach now serves community

For 29-year-old Ashan Ponniah, life has served up a new and exciting career with the NSW Department of Corrective Services (NSWDCS).

"The work here is really interesting and it will keep you stimulated," Ashan says. "For someone coming out of uni this is a high-paying job."

As an identified elite athlete in high school, Ashan had aspirations of one day becoming a professional athlete. "Initially I wanted to be a professional tennis player, but in year 11 I realised it wasn’t a realistic career choice," Ashan says.

Not wanting to give up on a career in the sporting arena, Ashan tried some associated studies, travelled and coached tennis professionally. "I studied Recreational Management but found it utterly boring," he says.

Frustrated with this choice, Ashan looked for commonality but diversity in his career. His interest in working with people led him to take up study in a Bachelor of Criminology at the Griffith University in Brisbane. Here Ashan found his niche but he wasn’t quite sure where this degree would take his career.

"With a degree like Criminology you really don’t know where to get that first step in the door," he says. After completing his studies and working in some associated fields, Ashan moved with his partner to NSW seeking a life together in Sydney.

Ashan’s previous work with Community Corrections sparked an interest that led him to apply for a position as a Probation and Parole Officer with NSWDCS.

After being offered employment with NSWDCS, Ashan took up training at the ‘Brush Farm’ Corrective Services Academy (BFCSA) where he commenced his Certificate IV in Correctional Practice.

"The Academy and the training available in this Department are excellent," he says. "There is every opportunity to further improve on your professional skills. Also, the fact that it is paid training is fantastic - you’re getting paid to learn!" Following his nine weeks at the BFCSA, Ashan was placed at Blacktown District Community Offender Services Office, where he completed his training modules while working on site.

"The work you do in the District Office is actually presented as assessment for the Certificate IV," he says. "It’s very practically linked."

Ashan’s transition into this new working environment at Blacktown was supported by both his colleagues and management. "The District Offices are very supportive in relation to the Certificate IV," he says.

Now as a fully qualified Probation and Parole Officer, Ashan has experienced numerous areas within NSWDCS where he has expanded his skill set and, in doing so,benefited the community.

"In the District Office I have supervised all types of offenders such as ex-inmates and people serving community-based sentences," Ashan says. "I have also been provided with additional training at the academy to cater for their different needs."

Working with Corrective Services has already afforded Ashan many opportunities to expand on his skill set and, as a result, he plans to stay and to further pursue management roles and experience as much as he can in the meantime.

"I would love to work my way into the management side of things," he says. "I’ll take every opportunity but I’d also like to try as many things as possible."

Furthermore, both Ashan’s professional and family life have benefited from his career with NSWDCS because, as a NSW Government Agency, we are committed to affording flexible work practices to our workforce. This allows our employees to maintain the important balance between their personal and professional lives.

"At the moment I’m very happy where I am," Ashan says. 

"This job has given my family all kinds of stability. The Department is flexible and there is opportunity to work and manage a great family life really well."

So if a community-based career is for you, don’t forget about the many opportunities that await you in a career as a Probation and Parole Officer with the NSW Department of Corrective Services.

"The Department is massive," Ashan says. "There are heaps of opportunities and the work of a Probation and Parole Officer is really beneficial to the community. There are two main priorities to manage: supporting the offender in their rehabilitation, while still maintaining a high level of commitment to community safety."