Page 3892 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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response to the incident in April 2019. Improvements have also been made to remove the line of sight for men into the women’s compound.
I note that Corrective Services have taken steps to improve the availability of services and support women with the creation of a women and children coordinator position. The women and children coordinator works closely with families of all detainees to mitigate the negative impacts on children of incarcerated parents. The women’s care team, comprising a women’s case manager and two program facilitators, develops programs and services targeted to the specific needs of the female detainee cohort. I know from the women that I have spoken to out at the AMC about the engagement of the women’s case manager that it has made a significant difference to their lives and improved the support that they get within the AMC.
In addition, Corrective Services are currently developing a female offender framework, which Mr Rattenbury has referred to, to further address the needs of female detainees. The development of this framework will require consultation and active engagement with non-government organisations and key stakeholders in the coming months. The framework aims to meet the specific needs of female offenders and to address their issues in order to optimise the chance of successful rehabilitation and reintegration into the community post release.
I had the chance to visit the AMC earlier this year and speak with some of the women who live at the AMC about the different sorts of things that have been going on over the last 18 months to two years to support them better and to meet their specific needs, in particular their employment in the bakery. When you talk to some of the women who have been engaged in that work, you come to understand the difference that it has made to their lives, the pride that they have in their work, the dignity that they feel they have because they have learned a new skill. I found it quite a moving experience to talk to them and to hear how they were getting some hope back into their lives through that engagement.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Women’s Centre for Health Matters and other community organisations to ensure that there is improved support for women at the AMC. The AMC women have access to and the opportunity to participate in pathways from prison, the Toora coming home program, drug and alcohol counselling, west Belconnen family services, as well as the circle of security program, individual counselling, Alcoholics Anonymous and other programs specifically targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female detainees, including Worldview, Winnunga health services and the yarning circle. In addition, the mental health of female detainees is supported through the SMART recovery program, the anger management program and the cognitive self-change program.
Mr Assistant Speaker, there is no doubt that there is more work to do. The minister has made a very good start to better meet the needs of women in the AMC. I will continue to work with the minister to ensure that their needs are met and that their lives can be improved during the time that they are in the AMC so that when they are released they can have a good crack at having a decent life when they are outside again.
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