Adult community service

Community service is unpaid work that you are ordered to perform by a court. You can also apply to do community service instead of paying an overdue fine by applying through the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

Through helping others, community service allows you to:

• gain social contacts
• re-establish positive work attitudes
• regain self-worth
• develop a sense of belonging within local community organisations.

Community service orders

The courts may sentence you to a reparation order if they believe you are suitable to perform community service. To be sentenced to an order with a community service component, you must agree in court to accept the conditions of community service.

The types of orders that require offenders to perform community service are:

• community service order—including orders under the alcohol fuelled violence strategy
• graffiti removal order
• intensive corrections order
• commonwealth community service order.

Alternatively, you can apply for a fine option order (through the courts), or for a work and development order (from SPER), which allows you to convert your unpaid fine or penalty to community work.

Performing community service

Community service work includes many different activities, including:

• cleaning up public spaces
• nature conservation
• garden and lawn work
• assisting volunteer organisations to prepare food
• sorting second-hand goods for charity
• delivering services to the wider community.

Failure to follow rules

If you experience challenges with attending community services, you need to communicate with the Probation and Parole Service (PPS). If you fail to do this, your order can be returned to court for alternative sentencing.

At times, this may include re-sentencing for your original offence(s). We look into all options to ensure that you have every opportunity to engage in community service supervision before we return your order to court.

Queensland Corrective Services responsibilities

We are responsible for the assessment, placement and suitability of offenders to approved community service project sites. We thoroughly assess the activities proposed and the level of supervision available.

We work with community service project supervisors to maintain relationships with our stakeholders and offer assistance where necessary.