Recommendation 184

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That Corrective Services authorities ensure that all Aboriginal prisoners in all institutions have the opportunity to perform meaningful work and to undertake educational courses in self- development, skills acquisition, vocational DET including education in Aboriginal history and culture. Where appropriate special consideration should be given to appropriate teaching methods and learning dispositions of Aboriginal prisoners.

Context

The Royal Commission report identified that whilst there was improvement in availability of courses and greater acceptance by correctional Servies of the concept of education there were still some problems, recommendation 184 is directed at improving access for Aboriginal prisoners to work, education and opportunities for self-development including in relation to Aboriginal culture and history. 

Detail of implementation

CSNSW deliver foundational and vocational education to all inmates. Course allocation is dependent on educational need with inmates completing a core skills assessment on reception. Males with greater than 12 months to serve are eligible for a place in an Intensive Learning Centre. Intensive Learning Centres are located at Wellington, Lithgow. South Coast and Mid North Coast and each has an Aboriginal Identified teaching position. Some Aboriginal teachers include Aboriginal languages and linguistics in their literacy and numeracy programs. 

Self-development

Literacy for Life 

CSNSW is partnered with Literacy for Life, who provide adult literacy programs led by Aboriginal people to eligible participants. A study ‘Impact of a Community Controlled Adult Literacy Campaign on Crime and Justice Outcomes in Remote Australian Aboriginal Communities’ found that after participation in the Life Foundation adult literacy campaign, serious offences by students dropped by almost 50%.

CSNSW continues to implement initiatives to reduce reoffending which include specific initiatives to address the needs of Aboriginal offenders to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. 

CSNSW Strategy to Support Aboriginal Offenders to Desist from Reoffending

• CSNSW has developed the Strategy to Support Aboriginal Offenders to Desist from Reoffending.  The strategy maintains a focus on criminogenic, education and vocational training and employment programs.  The strategy also focuses on cultural strengthening and building positive relationships with Aboriginal stakeholders and the community.

Aboriginal-specific Programs

• St Heliers Correctional Centre at Muswellbrook has expanded the range of traineeships and education programs available to Aboriginal offenders and offers Aboriginal Cultural Programs.
• The Balund-a residential diversionary program at Tabulam for Aboriginal males provides criminogenic interventions, cultural connections, and employment-seeking assistance.
• The Aboriginal Birth Certificate Program provides assistance to eligible Aboriginal inmates to obtain a birth certificate free of charge to them. 
• The Gundi Program at St Heliers builds skills and provides experience in building and construction work for Aboriginal men through the fabrication and construction of relocatable homes. Participants have the opportunity to gain skills and participate in an initiative that assists Aboriginal communities.  
• The Girrawaa Program at Bathurst Correctional Centre include artistic and business skills development programs for Aboriginal men. Aboriginal inmates are involved in an Aboriginal culturally specific program, which is designed to assist in developing artistic skills, creating an artistic portfolio and learning how to sell artwork and build careers as successful artists on release.
• The Never Going Back Program at Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre is a community-based program for Aboriginal male inmates working with the community and local police for support in reintegrating to the Redfern area. 
• The Cultural Camp project sees male and female inmates working alongside staff for Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Participants camp, gain access to community Elders and are provided with opportunities to give back to the community while contributing to restoration and maintenance projects. 
• The Dubay Gunyah partnership with the Aboriginal Housing Office, Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation and Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation supports Aboriginal women exiting custody who are homeless by giving them medium-term housing and support.  
• The Aboriginal Community Mentors (ACM) is a strategy to assist correctional staff to support Aboriginal inmates to maintain their cultural connection. 
• Dreaming Inside is an Aboriginal inmate writing program at Junee which encourages inmates to express their thoughts in written form before compiling their work into a publication. 
• Yarning Circles have been built in 11 correctional centres across NSW in locations such as Cessnock, Broken Hill and Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centres. A further 24 Yarning Circles will be rolled out to several locations including the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, the Metropolitan Special Programs Centre and Goulburn Correctional Centre. Yarning Circles provide a culturally safe space for Aboriginal inmates and staff to use for cultural programs, education, and special events. The Aboriginal local community is involved in the planning process at each location, and inmates have the opportunity to obtain vocational training while constructing the circles. 
• State-wide Cultural Strengthening Programs -designed and implemented in correctional centres across the state to enhance knowledge about kinship systems, and promote connection to culture, land, family and community.
• High Intensity Program Units - Corrective Services established 10 High Intensity Program Units to provide intensive rehabilitative services and programs and enhanced release planning. There are two Aboriginal specific units at the Mid North Coast and Wellington Correctional Centres. Assistance focuses on housing, employment and strengthening family connections and support.
• The Second Chance for Change (SCFC) Blackrock project run out of St Heliers aims to provide Indigenous incarcerated men the opportunity to engage in long term, stable employment opportunities which in the long run will help with reducing recidivism rates. Eligible participants will be offered both pre- and post-employment servicing, training and mentoring.

Employment Initiatives for Aboriginal Offenders

Data regarding Aboriginal offender employment is tracked. The below tables display the June 2023 figures (excl. private centres)

* Commercial Industries: CSI has several business divisions with a diverse range of manufacturing and service activities which replicate commercial operating conditions. Examples include Facilities Maintenance, Food Services, Print, Engineering, Textiles, and Agriculture.

** Service Industries: Industries that are associated with self-sufficiency of the Correctional Centre. These industries include Ground Maintenance, Centre Hygiene, Recycling, Community Projects and other Domestic Services.

This data is also collected in the CSI Employment and Inmate Population data (excluding private) report (attached). This further breaks down Aboriginal offender employment percentages. 

CSNSW has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth to operate the Time to Work Employment Program to provide pre-release assistance on employment related matters. 

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet funded $3.6M in 2018 under the Commonwealth Indigenous Advancement Strategy for three pilot employment-related projects to be delivered by Corrective Services by October 2022.

Project 1: Gundanha Aboriginal Construction Facility

• Provides employment and vocational training for Aboriginal women in the building and construction industry at Wellington Correctional Centre. The project is temporarily on hold as the centre provides urgent assistance to flood impacted areas in the State’s north. 

Project 2: Caring and Working: Aboriginal Mothers 

• Supports and promotes a stronger family environment for Aboriginal mothers and their children.
• Build and enhance work readiness skills and build relationships with external agencies to secure safe, stable accommodation post release.

Project 3: Emu Plains Employment and Training Hub 

• The Employment and Training Hub provides Aboriginal women offenders with greater opportunities to participate in vocational training, work readiness skills and engagement with pre and post release services.
• The participants receive intensive case management services and have access to cultural strengthening programs and community engagement.
• This program has been transferred to Dillwynia Correctional Centre due to the temporary closure of Emu Plains Correctional Centre.

CSNSW partners with Aboriginal training organisations Yalagan and Walan-Miya, and Aboriginal employment agency Blackrock Industries, to provide training and employment to identified inmates. 

In addition, the training organisation Novaskill provides an Aboriginal trainer and an Aboriginal mentor to Aboriginal inmates undergoing traineeships and apprenticeships.

P2E – Pathways to Employment 

This program initiative aligns directly with the Premiers recidivism agenda and has significant priority. This program is intended to roll out across the Corrections network state-wide.

Inmates are made aware that the P2E program will, as far as possible, be identifying real employment opportunities that best match their skills, experience, and / or identify training requirements they might need to secure post-release employment.

An inmate is assigned to a P2E Reintegration Case Manager who conducts suitability assessments to identify the best candidates to participate. Prior to their release participants receive 3 one-on-one sessions specifically designed to assist the transition to employment.

A tailored plan is developed for them to identify the job opportunities that best match them. Participants then receive support in identifying and applying for those jobs, including developing their resumes and preparing them for interviews or connecting them with other support services they may need.

Upon release, participants receive on-going support via the Reintegration Case Manager, in collaboration with Community Corrections and links to Employment Service providers, other agencies and NGO’s. Participants are supported and monitored for up to 6 months after release.

The skills and education acquired by an offender in pre-release education and post-release employment combined does lead to desistance.

P2E eligibility criteria 

• 3 months to Earliest Possible Release Date (EPRD) (Desirable)

Subject to CSNSW Order min 2 months (Essential)

Motivated to seek and maintain employment (Essential)

Employment / Program participation history in custody (Essential)

Stable accommodation upon release (Desirable)

Sexual or Serious Offender (Case by case basis)

The Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute (AEVTI)

The Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute (AEVTI) is the registered training organisation (RTO) for the provision of education programs for inmates in NSW correctional centres. All training and assessments delivered meets the requirements of the VET quality framework.

Intensive Learning Centres

Intensive Learning Centres provide full-time education programs to inmates within a culture of learning to assist them in developing learning and social skills to participate in further education and work opportunities.

The aim of the Intensive Learning Centres is to reduce an inmate’s risk of re-offending through educational achievement as measured by the attainment of nationally accredited certificates.

Intensive Learning Centres are located at Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, South Coast Correctional Centre, Wellington Correctional Centre and Lithgow Correctional Centre.

Inmate Traineeships

Inmates who are employed with Corrective Services Industries can participate in a traineeship program. Offender trainees receive qualification as well as a Certificate of Proficiency and support post release employment opportunities.

Upon completing a traineeship, trainees receive an Australian Qualification Framework qualification as well as a Certificate of Proficiency which supports their post-release employment opportunities.

Traineeships can be done in a range of industries including clothing production, construction, engineering, forests and forest products, Health Support Services (laundry support), hospitality (kitchen operations) and transport and logistics.

Vocational and Education Training

CSNSW works in partnership with Registered Training Organisations to support employment in Corrective Services Industries and to increase to attain post-release employment.

Courses delivered in correctional centres include Workplace Health and Safety, First Aid, Forklift, Welding, Chainsaw, Food Preparation, Engineering and Asset Maintenance.

Distance Education

Inmates may be eligible to participate in tertiary courses provided by external education institutions. A course enrolment must be supported in an inmate’s case plan. Inmates in NSW correctional centres do not have access to the internet which greatly restricts the delivery of distance education courses and the inmate’s ability to undertake research.  

Some courses and subjects are not available as they require special equipment or field work. Inmates are required to contribute towards the costs of their study.

Inmates with shorter sentences can complete literacy and numeracy certificates in a 10-week block with BSI Learning.  In addition, a pilot commenced in 2023 at Geoffrey Pearce CC with Literacy for Life (L4L).  L4L are delivering a bespoke program designed to support Indigenous inmates with very low levels of literacy, based on recent success both internationally and in the Northern Territory.  This pilot will run for 3 years and includes an evaluation framework.

Inmates without an identified need for literacy and numeracy education can participate in work related vocational training, completing workplace licences, part qualification skill sets and full qualifications.  

Local Aboriginal Cultural Engagement (LACE) Strategy

Community Corrections is currently delivering a program of work to improve performance in Community Corrections for Aboriginal people and communities. Under this program of work, Community Corrections is trialling different approaches to improving the Aboriginal cultural competency and local understanding of Community Corrections staff. Specific projects include:

• Local Aboriginal Cultural Engagement (LACE) Strategy in North NSW District which is led by a Project Officer and a steering group that includes ACECOs to provide frontline staff with localised knowledge and expertise and an opportunity to learn and Connect to Country in their local areas. This training commenced in 2022. LACE focuses on localised information, events, protocols and putting the knowledge into practical application, whilst incorporating cultural immersion. The being, doing and knowing in action. 
• Western NSW District is currently recruiting an Aboriginal identified Project Officer to lead local work and are investigating local Cultural Awareness Programs for frontline staff
• Additionally, Community Corrections is currently delivering a program of work to improve performance in Community Corrections for Aboriginal people and communities. Under this program of work, Community Corrections is trialling different approaches to improving the Aboriginal cultural competency and local understanding of Community Corrections staff. Specific projects include:
  • Local Aboriginal Cultural Engagement (LACE) Strategy in North NSW District which is led by a Project Officer and a steering group that includes ACECOs to provide frontline staff with localised knowledge and expertise and an opportunity to learn and Connect to Country in their local areas.
  • Western NSW District is currently recruiting an Aboriginal identified Project Officer to lead local work and are investigating local Cultural Awareness Programs for frontline staff 

Smart and Skilled 

Smart and Skilled is an NSW Government program that helps people get qualifications in in-demand skills and industries and inmates are eligible to participate: 

It gives eligible students: 

• an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III 
• government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas. 

Students who are inmates in NSW correctional facilities do not have access to many of the documents required to allow the Provider to assess eligibility for Smart and Skilled. NSW Corrective Services records information in the Offender Integrated Management System (OIMS) which can verify: 

• Smart and skilled Eligibility: 
• Living or working in NSW 
• Citizenship: Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen and permanent Australian resident 
• Humanitarian visa holder (Refugee or asylum seeker) Providers must make arrangements with the correctional facility on how information to support eligibility will be accessed/sighted. The sighting of information recorded on OIMS is deemed as sufficient evidence

Tranby College 

CSNSW have met with Tranby College on several occasions (the last being 26 April 2023) regarding potential collaboration and course delivery, including the Diploma level qualification Diploma of Applied Aboriginal Studies. Tranby advised they have a potential funding source for this initiative and communicated an appetite for a pilot to run at Lithgow CC.  Tranby do not currently offer Traineeships but do run non-accredited courses including Burawa, which may be offered to aboriginal inmates as a part of their release planning and post-release support offerings.  CSNSW with Tranby College has also talked through the option of using mixed-mode delivery via MS Teams and Face-to-face for various Tranby courses.