The Ex-Offender Program
•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
 Emergency Housing
 Transitional Housing
 Reoccurring Homelessness
Couch surfing
The Ex-Offender Program
COMMON ISSUES
EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE
• Drug Addiction
• Alcohol Addiction
 At high risk of relapse
 Paranoia
 Breaking Parole
The Ex-Offender Program
COMMON ISSUES
EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE
• Family Breakdown
 Limited family support
 Lack of friends
 Loneliness
 Boredom
The Ex-Offender Program
COMMON ISSUES
EX-OFFENDERS FACE POST RELEASE
• Mental
Illness
• Anger Management Issues
 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?
The Ex-Offender Program
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
The Ex-Offenders Program
Case Managers
Approximately – 50 -60 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
The jobs are generally:
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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
5
Examples of Ex-Offender Clients
The Ex-Offenders Program
Examples of Ex-Offender Clients
• Client 1 CL
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5 year Prison sentence
Drug addiction (savoxane)
Parole Obligations
Anxiety
No recent work history
Limited job searching skills
Examples of Ex-Offender Clients
• Client 2 JayC
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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
The Ex-Offenders Program
Examples of Ex-Offender Clients
• Client 3 MJ
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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
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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
6
Summary
The Ex-Offenders Program
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.