Serving the community with safety first

5 MAY 2026

Darpan Bhatt’s career shifted from customer service to community service when he left a retail management role for a position as a First Class Correctional Officer, but he says the values behind both roles haven’t changed: respect, communication and helping people.

“My job is about maintaining safety with respect,” Darpan said.

“For staff, for inmates, for the community. When you communicate well and stay calm, you can make a real difference, even on the toughest days.”

He says the role is not only about enforcing rules, but about contributing to positive change and supporting people as they work towards better choices. That responsibility, he says, brings challenges but also rewards.

“Being a correctional officer has helped me grow both personally and professionally. The role teaches me patience, resilience, and emotional intelligence. I love that it’s a career with purpose.”

Darpan says the heart of the job comes down to balance. It is about keeping people safe while working as one team inside a fast‑paced environment.

“I take real pride in maintaining safety and security for both staff and inmates. It’s a demanding role that requires discipline, teamwork and quick decision‑making. No two days are ever the same.”

He says that variety, and the need to respond calmly to whatever unfolds inside the centre, keeps him grounded and focused on supporting positive change.

It’s that mix of purpose, unpredictability and shared responsibility that makes the work rewarding. Darpan and his colleagues at CSNSW walk through the gate every day committed to everyone going home safely.

Darpan is a 2026 National Corrections Day ambassador, proudly representing the CSNSW workforce of around 5,300 custodial officers working in prisons, 2,100 Community Corrections staff, and more than 3,000 psychologists, programs, education, industries, and corporate professionals.