Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Amanda McDonough

Longlands,Hastings

Summary

I currently hold the position of Retention and Pastoral Support Coordinator at Silver Fern Farms, Takapau. This role includes community resource navigation, employee advocacy, the ability to facilitate and access support services, and ensuring confidentiality while assisting diverse populations in adapting to new environments and integrating migrant workers and their families into schools, housing, and healthcare.

I have enjoyed working as part of a small team, settling migrant employees from the Philipinnes, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, South Africa and Samoa, and helping them work through the various challanges of moving to another country, away from their family and friends.

Prior to my current role, I worked at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison as a Corrections Officer and Senior Corrections Officer for 17 years. During this time, I became confident and proficient in PPS policy and procedure, working with staff and support services accross a broad range of security rated and special focus units.

My time at both Corrections and Silver Fern Farms has given me a range of people and organisational skills, including working with various cultures with specific needs, communicating effectively through barriers such as language, and learning coping skills to work effectively through adversity.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience

Work History

Retention and Pastoral Support Co-ordinator

Silver Fern Farms
Takapau, Waipukurau
09.2022 - Current
  • Coordinated client support services and resources for diverse needs, including settling migrant workers into their community in New Zealand, assisting in sourcing accommodation, and navigating the differences in living in New Zealand houses, opening bank accounts, gaining IRD numbers, grocery shopping, enrolling them with General Practitioners, supporting them through hospital appointments, assisting and accompanying them with access to after-hours medical and dental needs, and assisting with enrolling children in local schools.
  • Assisted with facilitating visa changes, coordinating visa medicals, documents, travel arrangements, transportation, and support for the applicants for the duration of their work visa and resulting visa applications.
  • Developed and facilitated a mock IELTS (International English Language Testing Standard) test folder and desk file and administered IELTS mock tests to those with IELTS visa requirements.
  • Provided information on community resources and support programs available, including creating information spaces with direct links to Dr. Enrollment and other community support services through QR scanning.
  • Supported New Zealand employees in navigating healthcare systems and accessing services such as community mental health, GP services, urgent care services, EAP, and AOD.
  • Participated in staff meetings, trainings, and conferences related to job duties and expectations, including traveling to various regions for training and support.
  • Assisted clients in accessing and utilizing community resources to meet their needs.
  • Provided crisis intervention services, as needed.
  • Scheduled meetings with managers, health and safety, and rehabilitation providers, with employees on long-term illness or injury.
  • Supported the onboarding process for new employees, including connecting them with support services, the workplace social media platform, and available counseling.
  • Documented spreadsheet information on visa entry and expiration dates, type and length of visa, visa changes, contact information, and intention to reapply for changing visas.
  • Documented staff recruitment to monitor new starter trends, resignations, and terminations.
  • Trained Good Yarn facilitator.
  • Reported monthly to the Regional People Manager.

Senior Corrections Officer

Corrections
Hastings, Hastings
01.JUN-2 - 20.SEP-2
  • Supervised the daily activities of prisoners to ensure safety and security, including searching prisoners and their belongings when returning from work or escorting, moving to different units, and entering the unit as a new prisoner.
  • Conducted regular inspections of facilities to maintain compliance with regulations, including cell and building searches, security checks, and PCLC (Prisoner Cell Location Check).
  • Monitored prisoner behavior and reported any concerns to management or SERT.
  • Trained new corrections staff on policies, procedures, and safety protocols, including being involved with the CODP (Corrections Officer Development Programme) and being assigned as a buddy to new corrections officers.
  • Maintained accurate records of prisoner activities and facility operations through offender notes, incident reports, and misconduct reports.
  • Implemented emergency response protocols during incidents to ensure staff safety.
  • Conducted regular security checks to ensure safety of staff, inmates, and visitors.
  • Monitored prisoner visits with family members, health providers, probation officers, and lawyers to ensure proper visitation guidelines were adhered to.
  • Monitored the PTS (Prison Telephone System), accurately transcribing information for disclosures, and preventing contraband introduction into the prison.
  • Enforced security protocols such as musters, lockdowns, and filling in security books.
  • Intervened during conflicts between prisoners to de-escalate situations.
  • Assessed and managed at-risk prisoners both prior to moving to the ISU and afterwards.
  • Worked with takatāpui (transgender) prisoners, becoming familiar with the Department's transgender policy, and how that operates on a day-to-day basis within the prison environment.
  • Understands and supports the cultural needs of prisoners and their whānau, while ensuring it aligns with the department's safety and security protocols.
  • Conducted daily briefings to pass on pertinent info to oncoming shifts.
  • Briefed superiors of incidents and misconduct and recommended disciplinary actions.
  • Implemented defensive tactics and physical restraints to maintain the safety and security of staff and prisoners.
  • Worked in special focus units: Drug Treatment Unit 4A, Young Offender Unit, CSU (Custodial Support Unit prior to it becoming Security and Movements), MCR (Master Control Room, Low Security Unit 6), becoming proficient in the units' requirements.
  • Gained Level 4 Offender Management Qualification.
  • I can navigate the IOMS (Integrated Offender Management System) well.
  • I worked in a seconded role as a prison prosecutor for approximately three years, including during COVID restrictions, which required filling in at short-staffed units and organizing remote VJ hearings while managing the workload of prosecutions.
  • Conducted NARA (New Arrival Risk Assessment) for prisoners requiring or experiencing a change in circumstance, such as family bereavement, return from court, separate placement, or prison transfer.
  • Participated in planned search operations.

Education

High School Diploma -

Karamu High School
Hastings, NZ
12-2002

Skills

  • Team leadership
  • Staff training
  • Security procedures
  • Integrity and honesty
  • Incident prevention
  • De-escalation techniques
  • Crime prevention
  • Verbal communication
  • Ethical standards of conduct
  • Search and seize procedures
  • Correctional facility procedures
  • Safety and security
  • Mental health awareness
  • Cultural awareness

Affiliations

  • I volunteer at Keirunga Park Railway

Accomplishments

  • I was awarded with a Bronze Award at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison for preventing further hard to a prisoner who was badly injured during an attack by fellow prisoners.

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Retention and Pastoral Support Co-ordinator

Silver Fern Farms
09.2022 - Current

Senior Corrections Officer

Corrections
01.JUN-2 - 20.SEP-2

High School Diploma -

Karamu High School

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Amanda McDonough