JUNE 2006 DEWR NEW CONTRACT DEEWR JUNE 2009 MIW (MAKE IT WORK)2002 PSP 2000 The Ex-Offender Program

COMMON ISSUES EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE Criminal Record Limited Work Experience Limited Education Prejudice Limited Support Services and or coordinated servicing The Ex-Offender Program

COMMON ISSUES EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE Unstable accommodation The Ex-Offender Program  Emergency Housing  Transitional Housing  Reoccurring Homelessness  Couch surfing

COMMON ISSUES EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE Drug Addiction Alcohol Addiction The Ex-Offender Program  At high risk of relapse  Paranoia  Breaking Parole

COMMON ISSUES EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE Family Breakdown The Ex-Offender Program  Limited family support  Lack of friends  Loneliness  Boredom

COMMON ISSUES EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE Mental Illness Anger Management Issues The Ex-Offender Program  Lack of insight  Lack of communication skills

2 What does the Ex-Offender Program offer? How did we make it different to other Job Services?

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? EARLY ENGAGEMENT TAP (TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH CENTRELINK DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TRUST The Ex-Offender Program

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? Building a network of loyal employers who are willing to give Ex-offenders a chance. TOLL – Second Step Gardening supply company Cabinet making The Ex-Offender Program

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? Wage Subsidy – Up to $4000 to the employer for Full-Time work Post Placement Support (PPS) – Support for 6 months Ongoing advice and support Direct communication with the employer via WISE Employment Liaison Officers The Ex-Offender Program

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? Deliver a flexible Employment Pathway Plan (Centrelink obligation) Incorporate parole obligations ICO (Intensive court order) D&A counselling Anger Management CBO (Community Base Order) Supervision Appointments Always work with the clients needs The Ex-Offender Program

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? Deliver a flexible Activity Agreement - continued Drive Job Seeker To job interviews Work together with other stakeholders Parole Officer Psychologist GP Counsellor etc Make every effort possible within DEEWR contract restraints not to PR (participation report) this client group The Ex-Offender Program

WHAT DOES THE EX-OFFENDER PROGRAM OFFER? Regular visits to the prisons Present at TAP (Transitional Assistance Program) and other programs offered at various prisons H M Prison Loddon Port Phillip Prison Margoneet Correctional Centre MRC (Melbourne Remand Centre) H M Prison Barwon H M Prison Langi Kal Kal Fulham Correctional Centre

4 Referrals & Outcomes

Case Managers Approximately – active participants each Placements – Approximately 20% participants 13/26 Weeks Outcomes – 10% Participants Education Placements – 5% Non measured outcomes are social outcomes – a decrease in recidivism Case management involves dealing with issues that arise The Ex-Offenders Program

Placements Placements The jobs are generally: Factory Hand Kitchen Hand Storeman Labourers Warehousing/Forklift Picker/Packing Apprenticeships MR/HR Drivers Call centre The Ex-Offenders Program

Type of Referrals to Training Organisation Pre-Apprenticeship course Hairdressing Business Retail Hospitality Warehousing Transport & Logistics Asset Management Horticulture Accredited literacy/numeracy courses Fitness/Personal Training The Ex-Offenders Program

5 Examples of Ex-Offender Clients

Client 1 CL  5 year Prison sentence  Drug addiction (savoxane)  Parole Obligations  Anxiety  No recent work history  Limited job searching skills The Ex-Offenders Program

 Examples of Ex-Offender Clients Client 2 JayC  6 year Prison history  Past Drug addiction  Parole Obligations  Anxiety  No outside work history  Limited job searching skills  Limited social/family support  Presented only knowing a life of crime

Examples of Ex-Offender Clients Client 3 MJ  Prison history/Recidivism  Parole Obligations/ICO  Long term drug abuse  Limited work history  Limited education The Ex-Offenders Program

Examples of Ex-Offender Clients Client 3 JC  23 years in prison for serious crimes  Homelessness, lives in emergency housing  No work history outside of jail  Not enough ID, difficulty in gaining sufficient ID  Severe anxiety, lack of social skills  Mature Age The Ex-Offenders Program

6 Summary

Summary WISE Employment’s Richmond Specialist Service treats each Ex-Offender with respect and helps each individual to overcome their existing barriers. Enhancing the Ex-Offender’s abilities to prepare for the workforce. The Ex-Offenders program is designed to break the cycle of recidivism. The Ex-Offenders Program