Alexander Maconochie Centre
ATCA Symposium
Presenter: Pete Townsend
Mission Statement
“Solaris is a modified Therapeutic
Community that provides a safe,
secure and supportive learning
environment; within a
correctional setting where
participants can explore and
establish change within a social
and personal context”
What is SOLARIS?

Custodial Therapeutic Community offering rehabilitative care for
sentenced male prisoners with offences linked to substance
dependency

Structured residential environment in the men’s neighbourhood

Collaboration of clinical, custodial and TC participants forming a
peer community that facilitates, Management, Healing and
Personal Growth using the therapeutic community approach to
treatment

Partnership between ACTCS and Alcohol and Drug Foundation ACT
(ADFACT) which commenced in June 2008

Holistic approach encouraged by the AMC operating philosophy
which includes active participation of NGO’s both within the prison
and through an integrated post release continuum
What is SOLARIS?
 Accommodation - men’s neighbourhood
consists of individual rooms in one of 4
stand--alone cottages
stand
 Each cottage houses 20 men in 4 fully
self--contained areas including, living,
self
dining, kitchen, bathroom and laundry
areas
Solaris Objectives
 To create a psychologically and physically
safe TC environment underpinned by the
healthy prisons concept
 To reduce the incidence of recidivism
related to substance misuse through the
provision of targeted interventions
 To deliver a comprehensive range of
programs including psychoeducational and
therapeutic interventions and culturally
appropriate support under pinned by
evidence based practice
Objectives
 Provide an integrated through care
system designed to encourage and
promote the reintegration and post
release support of participants
 To facilitate the provision of health
services, to provide a holistic
treatment approach
Eligibility Criteria
 Prisoners need to volunteer for the
program
 Serving a nonnon-parole period or fixed term
of 7 months or more with at least 6
months left to serve
 Medium or minimum security classification
 Have no appellant matters
Eligibility Criteria
 No history of sexual related offences
 Confirmation of a stable pharmacotherapy
and or psychiatric medication regime
 Support documentation of stability on
current treatment plan for prisoners
suffering from Epilepsy or Diabetes
Staffing Profile
 The partnership is a practical expression of the way in
which the AMC has been established as a “healthy prison”
with a strong focus on compliance with human rights,
rehabilitation and throughcare
 Staff include Therapeutic Correctional Officers, Alcohol and
Other Drug Case Managers and Front Line Managers from
ACT Corrections and Alcohol and Drug Foundation ACT
(ADFACT)
 Therapeutic Correctional Officers have an extended role
that includes correctional, therapeutic and social roles in
the performance of their duties
 Other services such as Chaplaincy and Psychology are
accessed on a needs basis
Solaris Treatment Continuum
Staged throughcare program that
incorporates




Assessment
Readiness 4 weeks
Treatment 20 weeks
Transition and Release
→The program seeks to support participants
to::
to
 learn and develop propro-social behaviours
 Effective communication skills
 Emotional and cognitive resilience skills
Readiness Phase
Underpinned by program strategies designed to enhance
participants motivation
Primary Objectives
 Orientation of the participant including basic concepts, house
rules, structure and procedures
 Development of short term goals
 Collection of additional information to assist treatment
planning
Modules
Readiness
 Condensed version of the PEP Program
 Identify short term goals (Envelope)
 Collage
Treatment Phase
Under pinned by 3 core program
mandates: Work, Education and
Therapy
Primary Objectives
 Maintain participants engagement with
treatment
 Build on the participants incorporation of
Basic Living principles
 Continue to provide a safe secure
environment
 Promote active participation as a member of
the therapeutic community
Treatment Phase Modules
Program Modules include:
include:
 Adapted Criminal Conduct and Substance
Abuse Treatment
 Debate
 Healthy Lifestyles Plan
 Parenting
 Managing Finances
 SMART Recovery
 12 Step Self Help Groups
 Creative therapy
 Horticulture
Throughcare and Exit Pathways
“Research has shown that
prisoners are most at risk of
reoffending when an integrated
through care post release
structure is not accessible”
Dr George De Leon
Preparation
6 week AOD
program
provided to all
prisoners prior
to entry to TC
READINESS
PHASE
First point of entry to
TC
Six week continual
assessment,
education and case
management
TREATMENT PHASE
Five month treatment program
comprising individual & group
counselling, CBT, parenting &
relationship skills, positive
lifestyles & family interventions.
Work skills training
There are a number of pathways from the AMC TC to the community, depending on the point of release
and the person’s stage of readiness to re-enter the community.
OTHER
HOUSING
OPTIONS
Family Home,
community
housing,
private rental
KARRALIKA
TC
Early release on the
basis of continuing
treatment within the
community or is
considered not yet
ready for transition.
Entry to Karralika at
Senior
Treatment/Commitm
ent Phase
NEXUS
HALFWAY
HOUSE
PROGRAM
Release to high
intensity
supported
accommodation.
supported by
ADFACT staff
and Transitional
Worker
MANAGED
ACCOMMODATI0N
PROGRAM
Release to high
intensity supported
accommodation.
Corrective Services
and supported by
Transitional Worker
TRANSITIONAL
RELEASE
CENTRE
Release to the TRC
outside the wall,
outside work or
education, return to
TRC in evening.
Supported within
TRC by case
management
Transitional Worker
ADFACT
 The transitional worker provides support
with:
 Family restorative practice
 Maintenance of previously established links
with community and other support
networks
 Support to create additional community
and social supports
 Fortnightly maintenance support groups
facilitated by ADFACT and ACTCS workers
Questions
Solaris Website
www.solaris.act.gov.au