Aprogram teaching prisoners job-ready skills and helping them find work post-release is expanding to more regional prisons, including in Mount Gambier, with a stronger focus on Aboriginal employment.
The Work Ready, Release Ready program delivers education and hands-on training to participants, paving the way for them to enter the workforce after they exit custody – and reduce their risk of reoffending.
The program will be rolled out at Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln prisons and increase from 500 participants to 800 under the expansion.
Prisons already running the program – delivered in partnership with employment services provider, Workskil Australia – include Mobilong Prison, Cadell Training Centre, Port Augusta Prison, Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide Women’s Prison and the Adelaide Pre-release Centre.
Launched in 2018, nearly 1800 participants have enrolled in the voluntary program with more than half of graduates going on to find meaningful employment.
The State Government has committed an additional $6.3m to build on the program’s success and provide more support for Aboriginal participants, including increasing the proportion of this group to 40% of total participants by broadening eligibility criteria to the program for Aboriginal people and increasing intensity and duration of the program when required.
It will also aim to boost the number of Aboriginal staff working in the program, improve engagement with Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations and develop specific, targeted training strategy for Aboriginal participants.
A Five Stream Industrial Model has also been developed to help participants secure a career in highly sought-after roles – covering construction and mining, manufacturing, customer service, transport facilities, and logistics.
Since being established Work Ready, Release Ready has played a key role in the government achieving its target of reducing reoffending by 10% by 2020 – and this expansion will help meet the new reduction target of 20% by 2026.
Correctional Services Minister Dan Cregan said the program has a track record of increasing employment and reducing reoffending for those who want to be involved.
“From job interview training to helping participants obtain licences, it’s about providing a clear pathway to meaningful work beyond the prison gates,” he said.
“Expanding the initiative to more regions will lead to better outcomes for hundreds of additional participants across the state.”
Workskil Australia Ltd chief executive Nicole Dwyer said stable employment was crucial for reducing the likelihood of reoffending, and ongoing success post-prison.
“Throughout our delivery of Work Ready, Release Ready we have seen real examples of the positive impact on participants, their families and the businesses that employ them,” she said.
“We’re proud of the success of the program so far and looking forward to enabling meaningful change for more participants in new regions under the expansion.”
