Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Corrections jobs program delivering post-release success

A rehabilitation and employment program that aims to increase employment to reduce offending is building better futures for prisoners who are released into the community in South Australia.

Work Ready, Release Ready PLUS supports participants with education and training while incarcerated and post-release, helping them to find a job after exiting custody.

The voluntary program, delivered by Workskil Australia, has attracted more than 1,500 enrolments since it was established in 2018 – with more than half of graduates going on to secure stable employment.

Department for Correctional Services CEO, David Brown says it has been a key contributor to South Australia achieving the lowest reoffending rate in the country and meeting its target of reducing reoffending by 10% by 2020.

“Work Ready, Release Ready PLUS is an incredibly effective program translating to positive outcomes for participants, their families, local employers and businesses and is now available across eight facilities in South Australia,” said Mr Brown.

“Thanks to this additional investment by the Government, the program is now able to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are on remand or short-term sentences.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Workskil Australia and look forward to seeing the meaningful contribution the program can make to the lives of participants,” he said.

Participant, Ansialey, is one example of the program’s success – now working as a qualified scaffolder on building sites for Indigenous contracts and construction business, Intract Australia.

The 38-year-old former tuna boat fisherman has been employed for four months and secured his new role following a job interview lined up through the program – one week after his release from Mobilong Prison.

“I wanted a better life. I wanted to change my life not just for a while but for good. It started with showing up,” said Ansialey.

“I’m working with a great bunch of people who support each other, and they’ve definitely helped me get through some times when it’s been hard.

“There are other people in prison who don’t think they can change their lives but they can.

“They don’t know there are people out there who will believe in you and give you a chance. Hopefully, through me, they can see that.”

The State Government has committed an additional $6.3 million to increase access to the program, expanding it from 500 participants to 800 amid high demand.

The expansion also includes more regional prisons (Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln) and extra support for Aboriginal participants, with a target to boost the proportion of this group to 40% of total participants.

“This program paves the way for meaningful employment and has a proven track record of success,” said Correctional Services Minister, Dan Cregan.

“Giving participants an opportunity to enter the workforce and build their futures helps keep prisoners from reoffending upon their release.

“Hands-on training and ongoing support to find and secure a job are important factors in South Australia having the lowest recidivism rate in the nation.”

Prisons already running the program comprise Mobilong Prison, Cadell Training Centre, Port Augusta Prison, Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide Women’s Prison and the Adelaide Pre-release Centre.

Work Ready, Release Ready PLUS aims to meet or even exceed the Government’s new target of a 20% reduction in reoffending by 2026.

“Over the last six years, more than 55% of participants of Work Ready, Release Ready have gone on to secure paid employment,” said Workskil Australia CEO, Nicole Dwyer.

“Importantly, evaluation also shows the program is effective in reducing re-offending including among those at high risk of recidivism.

“By supporting participants to gain skills, this increases their motivation, capacity and capability to gain and sustain work after they are released,” she said.

The program’s effectiveness was recently recognised at the SA Training Awards, which also acknowledged Road to Redemption – a pre-employment program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander former offenders, developed in partnership with Workskil Australia, Carey Training and the Department for Correctional Services.

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