Delivering Better Outcomes for People in Custody Through Reform, Rehabilitation and Facilities
24 - 25 March 2026 | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Main Conference Day One: Tuesday, 24th March 2026
Morning Sessions
8:15 am - 8:50 am
Registration and Morning Coffee
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Welcome to the Country Speech
9:05 am - 9:15 am
Conference Day 1 Opening and Chair Remarks
Joseph Tonu -
Associate Director, Work Health Safety, Wellbeing & Security,
NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
Joseph Tonu
Associate Director, Work Health Safety, Wellbeing & SecurityNSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
9:15 am - 9:45 am
KEYNOTE PANEL | Modernising Critical Justice Technology Without Compromising Safety
Bob Hampe -
President & CEO,
Actall
Michael Humphris - Director, MGA Electronic Security
Darren Cockcroft - Principal - IPP Security Consultants Owner's Representative, Corrections Victoria
Adam Wakeling - Operations Manager - Security Requirements, Department of Justice and Community Safety
- How justice agencies can manage end-of-life technology without disrupting safety-critical operations
- What a cooperative, software-first approach looks like in practice and why it reduces risk
- Lessons on governance, decision-making, and cross-partner coordination in secure environments
- Practical takeaways for agencies facing aging systems, limited replacements, and tight procurement cycles
Sponsored by: Actall
Darren Cockcroft
Principal - IPP Security Consultants Owner's RepresentativeCorrections Victoria
Adam Wakeling
Operations Manager - Security RequirementsDepartment of Justice and Community Safety
9:45 am - 10:15 am
The Future of Australian Corrections – Harnessing Technology and Smarter Rehabilitation to Transform Outcomes
Allan Bridges -
Resettlement and Reintegration Manager of Mount Gambier Prison,
G4S
Janay Clark - Acting Resettlement & Reintegration Manager, Mount Gambier Prison
Shaun Horseman - Deputy Superintendent Acacia Prison, Corrective Services WA
Vanessa Hollis - Project Director, Queensland Corrective Services
• Rehabilitation is evolving through an evidence-based lens, with technology playing a direct role in connecting people to education, skills training, and support services at scale.
• Realising the benefits of innovation requires honest attention to the cultural and workforce shifts needed to make new tools stick on the ground.
10:15 am - 10:45 am
From Incident to Outcome: Scotland’s Digital Evidence Sharing Case Study—Accelerating Justice and Building Trust
Fiona Cameron -
Axon Consultant – Justice,
Axon
- Scotland’s national case study in transforming how digital evidence moves from incident capture through police, prosecution and court.
- How earlier, secure evidence sharing is reducing delay, improving case progression and building trust across the justice system.
- Lessons from a major multi-agency reform programme combining digital infrastructure, procedural change and legislative reform.
- Why a more connected evidence journey improves the experience of justice for victims, witnesses and accused people.
Sponsored by: Axon
10:45 am - 11:00 am
Future Justice & Corrections Speed Networking
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Morning Break & Future Justice Community Networking
Interactive Discussion Groups
IDG A
11:30 am - 1:00 pm IDG A | Workforce Development Challenges: Building, Training and Retaining a Skilled Corrections TeamStrategies for recruiting, upskilling, and retaining corrections staff in a demanding and evolving environment.
IDG B
11:30 am - 1:00 pm IDG B | Delivering Integrated Healthcare in Custody: Innovations and Operational Barriers Cathy Cooper - Coordinator, Forensic Clinical Specialist Program, ForensicareExploring innovations and practical barriers to delivering coordinated physical and mental health services behind bars.
IDG C
11:00 am - 12:30 pm IDG C | Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management in Correctional FacilitiesHow facilities plan, train, and respond to emergencies ranging from riots to natural disasters.
IDG D
11:00 am - 12:30 pm IDG D | Sustainable Materials and Fixtures: Balancing Durability, Cost, and Safety in Facility Design Kavan Applegate - Director, Guymer BaileyBalancing long-term durability, budget constraints, and safety requirements in modern facility design decisions.
IDG E
11:00 am - 12:30 pm IDG E | Re-Regulating the System: Trauma-Informed Pathways to Safer Corrections Kyle Van de Bittner - Founder - Aotearoa Branch, Compassion Prison ProjectApplying trauma-informed principles to reshape correctional culture and build safer outcomes for staff and incarcerated people alike.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch Break & Future Justice & Corrections Community Corrections
Afternoon Sessions
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION | Designing for Impact: Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure in Modern Corrections
Sarah Paddick -
Senior Associate,
Grieve Gillett Architects
Shaun Horseman - Deputy Suprintendent, Acacia Prison (Serco)
Joanna Pays - Global Partnerships Manager, Watermist
Joseph Tonu - Associate Director, NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
Shaun Horseman - Deputy Suprintendent, Acacia Prison (Serco)
Joanna Pays - Global Partnerships Manager, Watermist
Joseph Tonu - Associate Director, NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
•Optimising life safety and sustainability with fire protection design
• Showcasing how sustainable design principles can reduce environmental footprint while improving long-term operational efficiency.
• Examining material selection, energy use, and spatial planning tailored to correctional environments.
• Highlighting lessons learned from recent green facility builds and upgrades across Australia.
Sponsored by: Hydramist
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
ARCHITECTURE TOWNHALL | Designing Secure Facilities: Trauma-Informed & Neurodiverse Considerations
Zac Lovell -
Associate,
Grieve Gillett Architects
Raquel Dean - Interior Architect, Grieve Gillett Architects
Raquel Dean - Interior Architect, Grieve Gillett Architects
Lessons from: Tasmanian Youth Justice Facility, Pontville, TAS (project commencement – 2026) and Rehabilitation & Training Centre, Yatala Labour Prison, SA (project commencement – 2025)
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Designing for Dignity: How Biophilic Architecture Transforms Correctional Environments
Craig Blewitt -
Associate Director,
Guymer Bailey Architects
Kavan Applegate - Director, Guymer Bailey
Kavan Applegate - Director, Guymer Bailey
- Queensland's first new prison in over a decade, featuring 1536 beds with a strong focus on rehabilitation rather than purely custodial objectives.
- Applies biophilic design principles including natural light, improved acoustics, views to nature, and natural materials to reduce the institutional atmosphere and support wellbeing.
- Designed to encourage family visitation and connection, recognizing the critical role of social bonds in successful rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Walkthrough the Future: Demonstration Drive for Justice Reform
Explore an interactive showcase of emerging technologies and practical solutions powering the future of corrections. From AI-driven monitoring and digital health tools to education platforms and reintegration tech, this is where innovation meets operational reality.
Engage directly with solution providers transforming how we design, secure, and support correctional environments — from custody to community.
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Afternoon Break & Future Justice Community Networking
4:15 pm - 4:50 pm
Digital Rehabilitation in Practice: Building Human-Centred Smart Prison Ecosystems
Pia Puolakka -
Independent Strategic >> Advisor on Justice Reform and Digital Transformation,
Psyjuridica Finland
- Examine Finland's Smart Prison model (2018-2023) and European initiatives where secure digital platforms, online education, and telehealth services have reduced reoffending and improved rehabilitation outcomes through controlled technology access.
- Introduces the Council of Europe's 2024 Recommendation on ethical AI use in corrections, providing principles to guide responsible deployment of artificial intelligence while maintaining human rights protections and security standards.
- Practical frameworks and discussion scenarios for integrating technology into correctional systems that preserve human-centred rehabilitation and prepare individuals for meaningful participation in digital society post-release.
Pia Puolakka
Independent Strategic >> Advisor on Justice Reform and Digital TransformationPsyjuridica Finland
4:50 pm - 5:00 pm
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Joseph Tonu -
Associate Director,
NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
REAL WORLD REFORM | Innovative Approaches to Addressing Family Violence Among the Remand Population in Tasmania
Lis Nosworthy -
Specialist Clinician – Family Violence,
Tasmania Prison Service
Through funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Innovative Perpetrator Responses initiative, the Tasmania Prison Service has implemented a pioneering programme tailored for individuals on remand for family violence-related offences. This non-criminogenic intervention focuses on promoting safe, healthy, and respectful relationships while addressing the underlying behaviours associated with family violence. The presentation will explore the programme's development, objectives, and early insights from its implementation.
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Restoring Voices: Arts, Narrative, and Community in Carceral Spaces
Sara Kirby -
Creative Learning Officer,
Tasmania Prison Service
At Risdon Prison, creative learning initiatives integrate visual arts, narrative therapy, and collaborative projects to normalise prosocial interactions and foster dignity. Central to this approach is the Bars Behind Bars program, which brings local Tasmanian hip hop artists inside prison walls to co-create music with prisoners, bridging cultural divides and amplifying authentic voices. Equally transformative is Great Balls of Fibre, a men’s knitting group that teaches mindfulness and challenges toxic masculinity by reframing care and creativity as strengths. These encounters model healthy relationships, challenge stigma, and cultivate skills for reintegration. Through exhibitions like Artists with Conviction and community-engaged workshops, art becomes a medium for dialogue, empathy, and transformation.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Prisoner Rehabilitation, a working model
Allan Bridges -
Resettlement and Reintegration Manager of Mount Gambier Prison,
G4S
An overview about Mount Gambier Prison, how it rehabilitates prisoners, and prepare them for release for successful reintegration into the community.
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Walkthrough the Future: Demonstration Drive for Justice Reform
Explore an interactive showcase of emerging technologies and practical solutions powering the future of corrections. From AI-driven monitoring and digital health tools to education platforms and reintegration tech, this is where innovation meets operational reality.
Engage directly with solution providers transforming how we design, secure, and support correctional environments — from custody to community.
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Afternoon Break & Future Justice Community Networking
4:15 pm - 4:50 pm
From Trauma to Transformation: Lessons from the Compassion Prison Project in Aotearoa
Kyle Van de Bittner -
Founder - Aotearoa Branch,
Compassion Prison Project
Provides an overview of the Compassion Prison Project, sharing lessons from the first international Trauma Talks pilots in New Zealand prisons, including programmes delivered in high-security remand and segregation units.
Explores how trauma awareness, peer support, and culturally grounded approaches can strengthen safety, engagement, and rehabilitation outcomes for both staff and people in custody, and highlights opportunities for collaboration across Australia and Aotearoa
4:50 pm - 5:00 pm
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Joseph Tonu -
Associate Director,
NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
