Prisoner and offender rehabilitation

A range of rehabilitation services are available to offenders in prison. These include:

• educational services
• employment skills training
• housing assistance
• chaplaincy services
• offender rehabilitation programs.

Nationally accredited courses and training packages are run in numeracy, literacy and vocational studies. A variety of subjects and courses are offered up to a Certificate 4 level.

Prisoners who attend approved education or training courses are paid an allowance.

Prisoners can also apply to study a range of courses by distance education, including university study. Computer resources may be available but internet access is not available at any of the prisons.

VTEC-SA and external training providers deliver vocational qualifications in prisons.

Short training courses that deliver valuable job-ready skills are also available. Sites such as Cadell Training Centre deliver skill set and high risk licence qualifications.

All South Australian prisons offer employment opportunities. The aim is to improve prisoners’ work skills and to help them find paid work on release. There is a large range of jobs that prisoners can access. Prisoners get paid a small allowance for each day they work, which is added to their prisoner account.

Where possible, work environments are operated like any private industry business. This helps to match prison based jobs as closely as possible to industry needs.

Work areas

There are various areas prisoners may work which include:

• unit based activities
• prison industries
• supervised work parities
• Cadell Country Fire Service
• release to work.

Prison work areas - Department for Correctional Services

Types of prison industries

• Woodwork workshops - there are woodworking industries at Port Augusta Prison, Yatala Labour Prison, Mount Gambier Prison and Port Lincoln Prison. They produce a range of high quality goods such as dining room sets, wooden toys and kitchen chopping blocks.
• Farming and horticulture - prison farms are located at Cadell Training Centre, Port Lincoln Prison and Northfield.
• Metal workshops - these exist at Port Augusta Prison, Yatala Labour Prison, Port Lincoln Prison, Mobilong and Mount Gambier Prison. Goods produced include pizza ovens, lobster pots and beds for refurbished prison accommodation.
• Concrete products and recycling workshops - Mobilong Prison produces concrete sleepers used in retaining walls. They also operate a television recycling service.
• Prison-based industries - prisoners are able to work in the kitchen, laundry and education centres, or as a maintenance worker. Mobilong Prison has a bakery and Adelaide Women's Prison has a busy textiles workshop.
• Pre-release work activities - these are opportunities for prisoners nearing the end of their sentence.

Prison industries

These programs address specific risk factors related to reoffending and are designed to assist offenders to live in the community without reoffending.

Offenders are assessed for program involvement after they have been sentenced.

There are also programs specifically for Aboriginal prisoners and offenders.

Programs for violent offenders

• The Violence Prevention Program (VPP) – a high intensity 10 month program for offenders assessed as a high risk of violent re-offending.
• Violence Prevention Program-me (VPP-me) – a high intensity 12 month program for offenders assessed as moderate to high risk of violent re-offending, who have been assessed as having an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury.
• Violence Prevention Program – Aboriginal Men – a 10 month program for offenders assessed as high risk of violent re-offending, and who are recognised as Aboriginal and prefer to engage in a culturally adapted program. Aboriginal offenders are also considered eligible for the VPP.
• The Living Without Violence Program – a moderate intensity four month program for offenders assessed as being moderate risk of violent reoffending.

Domestic and family violence intervention program

A program designed for male offenders with an identified history of violence and abuse against female intimate partners. The program helps offenders take responsibility for their behaviours, and understand the impact of their violent or abusive behaviour on their partners, former partners and children

A partnership is in place with the Women’s Safety Services SA to offer support to both current and former partners of offenders who participate in this program.

Programs for sexual offenders

• Sexual Behaviour Clinic (SBC) – A program for offenders assessed as moderate-to-high and high risk of sexual reoffending. This is a high-intensity program of approximately 10 months duration.
• Sexual Behaviour Clinic moderate (SBC-mod) – A program for offenders assessed as moderate-to-low risk of sexual reoffending. This is a moderate-intensity program of approximately four months duration.
• Sexual Behaviour Clinic me (SBC-me) – A program for offenders assessed as moderate-to-low, moderate-to-high and high risk of sexual re-offending, and who have been assessed as having a cognitive impairment or acquired brain injury. It runs for approximately 15 months.

Making changes program

A program designed specifically for offenders with a moderate to high risk of general reoffending and who’s offending is linked with substance use issues. It runs for approximately 12 weeks.

Stepping stones program

A program designed specifically for female offenders with a moderate to high risk of general reoffending and who’s offending is linked with substance use issues. It runs for approximately 16 weeks.

Related information

Other websites

Rehabilitation, education & work - Department for Correctional Services