66AProbation officer may direct hours of work to be converted to training

1. This section applies to sentences of community work of at least 80 hours.

2. A probation officer may direct that a specified number of hours of work, not exceeding 20% of the total number of hours of work ordered by the court to be undertaken, be spent in training in basic work and living skills.

3. In determining whether to give a direction under this section, the probation officer must take account of—

4. the benefits of skill development to the offender for reducing the likelihood of reoffending; and
5. the need to hold the offender accountable to the community by making compensation to it.

6. A probation officer must not give a direction under this section unless—

7. it is reasonably practicable for the offender to undertake training in basic work and living skills (having regard to the availability of that training in the place where the offender lives); and
8. the offender consents to undertake that training.

9. Any hours spent by the offender training in basic work and living skills under a direction given under this section must, for all legal purposes, be treated as hours of authorised community work undertaken by the offender under his or her sentence.

10. Subsection (5) is subject to section 66C.