An agreement that became official this week will allow inmates to work on community projects in Oberon to improve the town.

The memorandum of understanding was signed-off by Oberon Council and Oberon Correctional Centre on Monday.

Correctional Services' Lithgow and Oberon Cluster Governor, Mick Dudley, said the two bodies entered into an MOU in 2012 that provided opportunities for the centre and council to work in partnership on certain projects.

"In 2015, the logistics of continuing this partnership became difficult for the Correctional Centre and as a result no projects were undertaken," he said.

"Recently we met with mayor Kathy Sajowitz and general manager Gary Wallace to re-establish an MOU given additional changes in the Corrective Services area." 

Community reparation is seen as an essential component of offender programs at the correctional centre. 

"The parties to this MOU wish to secure work that will provide community facilities that are of lasting benefit to the community, provide opportunities for inmates to be involved in work that is of mutual benefit to the community and the workers, not threaten the job opportunities of people employed in the town and maintain community support for the Oberon Correctional Centre,” Governor Dudley said.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

He said this is a unique program and the inmates will be supervised directly by custodial staff.

"Those participating in the program are classed minimum C3 security and this will add to the very successful Young Offenders Program we have running at the moment.”

Cr Sajowitz said the young men can interact and contribute to the community leading up to their release.

"Oberon Correctional Centre’s obligations will include inmate training, inmate and staff safety procedure training and refresher training as required. Inmates will be provided with safety gear and be provided tools and equipment to be maintained in good working order.

"Oberon Council's obligations will be to provide materials from time to time dependent upon the project.

"The process will be co-ordinated through Oberon Council so any community organisations who have a project that they need assistance with are encouraged to contact Oberon Council for more details.”