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Day in the Life of Lorraine Van Dulken
Lorraine is awarded her QPSM for 10 years’ service.
‘When you get prisoners at the jail,
they’ve been settled, and you know
exactly what’s wrong with them in the
medical sense. You know exactly what
their needs will be, and they’ve been
sentenced, or remanded in custody:
they know what’s happening to them.
‘In the Watchhouse, they’re raw,’ she
says. ‘They are just off the street,
they’ve had alcohol, or they’ve
bought drugs, and you know nothing
about their history on the whole.
Some are repeat offenders, but most
of them you know nothing about. So
that’s the difference.’
Lorraine worked at the Brisbane
City Watchhouse until 2008, when
her husband was transferred to an
Army unit in Cairns. She applied for a
new position as a senior Watchouse
Officer at the Cairns Watchhouse, and
has worked there ever since.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE?
‘I believe my role is to process,
supervise, and care for prisoners
in a secure and safe environment,’
Lorraine says.
‘It can be difficult considering some of
the offenders can be highly suicidal,
mentally unstable, or extremely
violent. You can also have people
with numerous medical conditions
“Sometimes, a
prisoner will thank me
for listening to them,
and that makes
my day.”
and possible contagious diseases,
and a high proportion are drug and
alcohol affected or dependent.
‘Watchhouse officers need to have
good management skills, and need
to be very organised,’ Lorraine says.
‘You have to give prisoners showers,
breakfast, and medication, and
organise legal and other agency visits,
all before court has started for the day.
‘At the same time, you’re arranging
the movement of prisoners to the jail,
and you have to deal with any fresh
arrests and DNA ... it’s busy.’
‘You really have to be on the ball,’
Lorraine continues. ‘You have to be
aware of a prisoner’s demeanour, and
take note of any changes. They might
be sentenced, so depression may set
in, and that increases the risks.
‘You have to do something about
it, even just go up and talk to them,
ask them if they’re ok, ask them how
they’re feeling and what’s worrying
them, and put them on monitor
if there are any concerns. You’re
observing prisoners all the time,
consciously and unconsciously.’
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR
JOB?
As well as enjoying the constant
activity at the Watchhouse, Lorraine
likes the variety of her role. ‘You’re
not just doing one role, day after
day after day,’ she says. ‘You’re
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012 53