Dozens of casual workers are being hired as part of the State Government's latest bid to reduce staff overtime costs in local jails.

The Department of Corrective Services has launched a recruitment drive in Bathurst, hoping to attract fifty new officers.

Last year the Department of Corrective Services was told to cut overtime costs or risk prisoner transport being sold-off to private companies.

Now the government has a more simple solution.

"I mean our costs have been exceptional of many many years and by bringing in casual staff, we'll be able to provide a lot more services at a cheaper cost," Assistant commissioner, John Dunthorne, said.

Hiring dozens of casuals will instantly save the government twenty million dollars in staff overtime each year.

Twenty new recruits are already trained up and on the job at Bathurst jail, including mother of two, Belinda Ostini.

She's completely changed her career path in just over three months.

"I was in retail, I sold jeans and also worked at a local mine site," Correctional Services Officer, Belinda Ostini, said.

Authorities are searching for another fifty workers to service jails in Bathurst, Oberon, Lithgow and Kirkconnell.

"They'll carry out a full range of correctional officer duties form guarding to just turning the keys in the jail, moving inmates in the jail and just general supervision duties," General Manager, Bathurst Correctional Centre, Bill Fittler, said.

While the corrective services department is making it clear it's hiring the casual staff to cut costs, it's also dangling the prospect the new recruits will become permanent employees, however the government's refusing to say how long that could take.

"They'll work their way through the system and then they'll work their way through to permanency," Mr Dunthorne, said.

A recruitment drive is being held this week in Bathurst's Stockland Mall in the hope to generate local interest in the justice system.

"It's a very stimulating job, which is exactly why I joined, definitely a challenge for sure," Ms Ostini, said.