“Real Skills, Real Change”: How Sherie Lucke is opening pathways to learning and rehabilitation at the Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) in Milton
For Sherie Lucke, Practice Manager for Education and Training across South Island prisons, learning is not just about gaining the qualifications, it is about transformation. Through the Department of Corrections partnership with Careerforce (Careerforce supports work-based learning across the broader health & wellbeing sectors, supporting thousands of employers and learners across Aotearoa.), and with the support of Dunedin-based Workplace Advisor Loi Lam and Apprenticeship Advisor Jess Hannah, they are helping staff and people in prison find purpose, confidence, and new pathways for the future.
When Sherie Lucke talks about the power of education, her passion is unmistakable.
After nearly two decades with the Department of Corrections, she has seen firsthand how training and learning can completely transform lives, for staff, and for men in their care.
“I’ve been with Corrections for about 18 years now,” Sherie says. “I started off in community corrections as a probation officer, and then I had an opportunity to work on a project developing education and training programmes for people on sentence. The transformation I saw in people through those programmes was incredible. It built their confidence and improved their prospects; it changed their pathways.”
That project sparked a new direction for Sherie herself, setting her on a path that would lead to her current role as Practice Manager for Education and Training, supporting all South Island prison sites.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” she says. “Challenging, yes — but incredibly rewarding.”
Believing in the power of education
Sherie’s conviction in the value of training comes from years of witnessing the life-changing impact of education for people who have often never experienced success in learning before.
“Many of the men and women we work with haven’t had great experiences with education,” she explains. “Often, there’s trauma or chaotic backgrounds involved. So, when they complete a certificate or a qualification, sometimes for the very first time in their lives, it gives them confidence and hope. You can see their sense of achievement and pride.”
Pictured left to right: Sally Scott (Corrections), Jess Hannah (Careerforce), Sherie Lucke (Corrections), Louise Dale (Corrections)
Partnering with Careerforce to build pathways
Sherie has been instrumental in establishing and supporting Careerforce training programmes within the South Island prisons, creating opportunities for both staff and the men to develop skills, gain qualifications, and build brighter futures.
“One of the first programmes we introduced was the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) with Careerforce,” she says. “It started at the Otago Corrections Facility and has since been rolled out across all South Island sites. It has been a real success.”
What made the cleaning qualification unique, Sherie explains, was the hands-on, collaborative approach.
“Careerforce trained our staff to become observers, so we had people on-site supporting and assessing the learners’ work. It is a fantastic model, it gives integrity to the training and ensures it is real, relevant, and achievable.”
Following its success, new Careerforce partnerships have grown, including health and wellbeing unit standards now being piloted with men at Rolleston Prison.
“It’s exciting,” Sherie says. “We are working with Careerforce on modular training for men in peer support and mentoring roles. If it goes well, we hope to expand it further. It is all about giving people skills and purpose, whether they are in custody or preparing to reintegrate into the community.”
Supporting staff to succeed
Sherie also plays a key role in enabling staff to access training and apprenticeships through Careerforce.
When she saw the opportunity for staff like Louise Dale (Corrections Officer) and Sally Scott (Kitchen and Laundry Instructor / Corrections Officer), she didn’t hesitate.
“I saw the Whānau, Community and Social Services programme in the Careerforce newsletter and thought it would be relevant for staff,” she says. “Lou and Sally were both really motivated, and we worked closely with Careerforce to make it happen.”
Sherie coordinated site visits, created study time within operational schedules, and supported the staff as they balanced learning with demanding roles.
“Both have really embraced it, they’ve grown in confidence and developed such a strong values-based approach to their work. It is wonderful to see,” she says.
Creating a culture of care and growth
For Sherie, fostering this culture of growth and respect among the team is a key part of leadership.
“It’s about balance, making sure staff are supported through the tough times and encouraged to keep developing,” she says. “When people feel supported and valued, they give that same care back to the people they work with.”
“It’s the ripple effect,” she says. “When a person succeeds in here, whether it is a staff member finishing a qualification or a person completing his first certificate, it does not just change their life. It changes their whānau, their community, and the people who come after them.”
Looking ahead
Sherie says the partnership between Corrections and Careerforce has gone from strength to strength, built on mutual trust and shared values.
“I have to give a huge shout-out to the Careerforce team” she says. “They have been incredibly supportive, responsive, and genuinely invested in making these programmes work. It has been a true partnership.”
Her advice for other managers thinking about supporting training in custodial settings?
“Just reach out,” she says. “Careerforce are fantastic to work with, and it is not as big as it first seems. Once you start, you realise how achievable it is, and how worthwhile.”
“This partnership works because it’s built on shared values — respect, trust, and a genuine desire to help people reach their potential,” she says. “I’m really excited to see where we can take it next.”
For all media enquiries please contact Paul Williams, Senior Manager Marketing, Communications & Insights on 027 600 7395, or at [email protected].
Careerforce supports employers across New Zealand’s health and wellbeing sectors to run workplace training programmes, allowing staff to achieve nationally recognised qualifications on the job. For more information, please see: www.careerforce.org.nz
Daisy Hemmingson-White