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Department for Correctional Services

VOLUNTEER UNIT

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Background Started in 1975

In response to Government initiative to involve the community in the rehabilitation of offenders

Based in Port Adelaide Community Correctional Centre

Covers statewide area

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Scope Currently 104 volunteers Through mandate, DCS volunteers

are able to support:all departmental Directorates

including central office & staff undertaking rehab

prisoners in all SA prisonsoffenders in every community

correctional centre

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General Information Departmental volunteers are:

governed by DCS Policies and Procedures

required to use government vehicles

assigned to tasks closest to home where possible (subject to skills matching task request)

reimbursed for incurred expenses as per staff (Commissioners Standard 3.2) e.g.:

Meal Allowances Mileage Reimbursement

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Statistics – 2011/2012 FY

Number of requests3997

Hours 18187

Value of volunteer work in DCS$426,000

“without volunteers the

Adelaide Pre-Release

Centre would not

function as well as it

does”

Bob Bolton, Programs

Coordinator, Adelaide

Pre-Release Centre

(APC)

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Reasons why people volunteer Work experience

Retirees – ‘Grey Army’

Give back to the community

Support study

Centrelink commitments Voluntary Work Initiative

Newstart

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Transport: The provision of transport remains the busiest area of support provided to offenders. Volunteers provide a transport service to assist prisoners with pre-release needs. This service also provides for the movement of offenders in the community to attend appointments and departmental programs.

Prisoner Family Visits: Volunteers support prisoner family members to maintain contact during a prisoner’s sentence by transporting parents/children to prisons, escorting unattended children in for visits and supporting family members from interstate to undertake visits to their kin.

Prisoner Visiting Program: Volunteers visit socially isolated prisoners to assist with resocialisation and developing communication skills.

Prisoner Release Program: Volunteers provided practical support for prisoners attending court, or newly released from prison, to assist with the transition to supervision in the community.

Volunteer Programs

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Volunteer Programs

Community Mentor Program: Volunteers support socially isolated offenders to develop pro‑social supports in the community. The support provided is adapted to meet the individual needs of each offender and volunteers work closely with case managers ensure goals are established.

Education: Volunteers support Education Coordinators in primarily metropolitan prisons currently to provide basic literacy/numeracy to prisoners.

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Prison Library Program

2009 As part of wider Prisoner Education Review, meeting with

former Corrections Minister Tom Koutsantonis

Recognition of link between education and recreational reading

2010 Library Review Project established

Project Officer recruited (DCS Volunteer Abigail Day)

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Project Goals Review existing library functions around all prisons

Create formal link between Education & Library Programs

Increase prisoner utilisation of libraries

Create ‘reading room’ style libraries (where possible)

Develop recommendations for upgrading library services

Develop better connections with community based libraries

Improve quality of resources available

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Recommendations official recognition of existing library services

all libraries to be under supervision of Education Coordinators

combining all Education & Libraries in Education Centres

standardise majority of management processes

develop partnerships with community based resources

more strategic management of resources computerised library system resources catalogued, barcoded and covered prisoner librarians recruited and paid in ALL prison libraries borrowers registered and accountable for items they borrow development of quality standards in relation to donations and library

resources provision of funding for higher quality new resources

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Where are we right now? Mobilong/Cadell/Port Lincoln

access for all prisoners – able to visit library, sit down and read a book or borrow to take back to cell

Pt Lincoln - computer to be set up when they figure it out

YLP currently 2 independent libraries within YLP. One within Education, one run by

volunteers from visits area @24,000 donated resources used to run both areas education library currently only accessible by prisoners assigned to education

through assessment process strip searches discourage engagement with education volunteer library provides ‘outreach’ service to all units

Note: YLP to be next prison upgraded. Education library to be culled & catalogued. Volunteer library to run alongside & gradually be combined to become one library within Education Centre.

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Where are we right now- cont… Port Augusta – similar to YLP

Adelaide Remand Centre

Complete outreach service provided by DCS volunteers using donated resources

Upgrade to be started shortly after completion of construction work

Adelaide Womens Prison

2 libraries (within ‘Mainstream’ (high security area) & within Living Skills Unit)

both physically independent of Education Unit but now managed by

Education Coordinator

all resources covered, catalogued, barcoded

computer system operational in both libraries

prisoner librarians running libraries, supported by DCS volunteers

protectees unable to access at same time as mainstream prisoners,

opening hours waiting to be approved by management

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Project Goals

Review existing library functions around all prisons - achieved

Create formal link between Education & Library Programs -

achieved

Increase prisoner utilisation of libraries – partially achieved

Create ‘reading room’ style libraries (where possible) – partially

achieved

Develop recommendations for upgrading library services -

achieved

Develop better connections with community based libraries –

partially achieved

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Where to from here…

Team Leader, Prison Library Services to continue to play a significant role alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Education Coordinators in implementing the new computer systems and ensuring resources are catalogued and managed appropriately.

existing volunteers to continue to support the ongoing provision of library services whilst the review and upgrades occur

additional volunteers will continue to be recruited to support the libraries as they are enhanced throughout the coming year.

existing volunteers to continue to provide valuable training and support to new volunteers

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Process of Entry Written Application & resume Interview National Police Certificate Local Induction to assigned work

location Departmental Induction Program Team Leaders & buddies Reviews, ongoing training & support

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HOW TO CONTACT US

If you would like more information on volunteer support from Departmental Volunteers please contact:

Julie Woodhall, Coordinator, DCS Volunteer UnitTel: 8440 3608

or

email: DCS:Volunteer Unit