Recommendation 174

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That all Corrective Services authorities employ Aboriginal Welfare Officers to assist Aboriginal prisoners, not only with respect to any problems they might be experiencing inside the institution but also in respect of welfare matters extending outside the institution, and that such an officer be located at or frequently visit each institution with a significant Aboriginal population.

Context

The Royal Commission report concluded that based on the evidence presented, that the welfare needs of Aboriginal inmates are best met by Aboriginal people. Recommendation 174 is directed at ensuring correctional agencies provide sufficient access to Aboriginal staff to address the welfare needs of Aboriginal prisoners.

Detail of implementation

Aboriginal Service and Program Officers

CSNSW have 30 Aboriginal SAPOs, they have the same role description as non-Aboriginal SAPOs (attached). They are responsible for the provision of Services and Programs to people in custody and delivery of community programs.

Locations where our Aboriginal SAPOs are located include:

• Long Bay Hospital
• MRRC
• MSPC
• Emu Plains
• Silverwater Womens
• Dillwynia
• St Heliers
• Tamworth
• Mid North Coast
• Cessnock
• Shortland
• Goulburn
• South Coast
• Hunter
• Wellington
• Bathurst
• Broken Hill
• Balunda Reintegration Program
• Personality and Behaviour Disorders Unit

Aboriginal Community Engagement and Culture Officers

Community Corrections also employs 32 Aboriginal Community Engagement and Culture Officers (ACECOs) over 25 locations.  The role of the ACECO is to lobby on behalf of an inmate for parole and to assist that person with their community connections. The ACECO also helps to communicate the individual’s needs to community corrections.

There are 33 Correctional Centres across NSW, the RAPOs, Aboriginal SAPOs and ACECOs are able to move across different centres to ensure that all offenders have accesses to these services. In addition, if the staff are unable to attend face-to-face, offenders can have access through Audio Visual Link (AVL) and through the implementation of the offender tablets.

In 2021 the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney published “Exploratory Research into Post-Release Community Integration and Supervision: The Experiences of Aboriginal People with Post-Release Parole Supervision and Reintegration in NSW.” CSNSW has reviewed the research in conjunction with the Community Corrections Aboriginal Advisory Group, all Community Corrections Aboriginal staff, the Community Corrections Executive and other relevant CSNSW staff. Several recommendations are being progressed and CSNSW continues to examine findings from the research to improve the experience of Aboriginal people on supervised orders.

Regional Aboriginal Programs Officers

CSNSW employs Regional Aboriginal Programs Officers (RAPOs) in Correctional Centres. Their key accountabilities are:

• Establish and maintain local Aboriginal community relationships with correctional centres within the allocated region.
• Make recommendations on, and consult key stakeholders in relation to, the welfare of Aboriginal inmates, including the placement of Aboriginal inmates in programs/services and/or appropriate custodial locations or on segregation.
• Provide relevant support in accordance with CSNSW policy and practice to the families and communities of Aboriginal people who died in custody.
• Participate in, and coordinate proceedings of, Aboriginal cultural events and forums including NAIDOC and Aboriginal Inmate Delegate Committees.
• Engage with and motivate Aboriginal inmates, if required as part of their case plan, to participate in programs and services.
• Complete relevant case management notes on all interactions in with Aboriginal inmates on the CSNSW’s Offender Integrated Management System (OIMS).
• Provide advice regarding Aboriginal offenders that fall within scope of the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 and additional transitional support to these offenders reintegrating to the community.

The RAPOs are regional roles, so they cover all custodial centres within their region. There are 5 RAPO roles assigned to a region each:

• Metro East
• Metro West
• South
• West
• North (including Hunter)

Evidence

• Exploratory Research into Post-Release Community Integration and Supervision: The Experiences of Aboriginal People with Post-Release Parole Supervision and Reintegration in NSW