Delivering Better Outcomes for People in Custody Through Reform, Rehabilitation and Facilities
24 - 25 March 2026 | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Main Conference Day Two: Wednesday, 25th March 2026
Morning Session
8:50 am - 9:00 am
Conference Day 2 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
8:30 am - 8:50 am
Registration and Morning Coffee
9:00 am - 9:40 am
CORRECTION BEYOND BORDERS | Global Perspectives on Corrections Reform: Lessons for Australia and Beyond
• Examining innovative correctional reforms and emerging trends from leading international jurisdictions.
• Identifying best practices and adaptable strategies to inform Australia’s justice system evolution.
• Discussing challenges, successes, and cross-border collaborations that drive effective, humane corrections.
9:40 am - 10:15 am
FIRESIDE JUSTICE DIALOGUE Inside International Prisons: A Fireside Conversation
10:15 am - 10:45 am
Co-designing a National Framework for the provision of Palliative Care in Australian Prisons
Jane Phillips -
Professor Palliative Care and Head School of Nursing,
QUT School of Nursing
• Challenge: Delivering palliative care in Australian prisons is complex due to intersecting health, justice, and human rights issues, and the growing number of older prisoners with chronic illnesses.
• Approach: A six-year national co-design project engaged correctional staff, health providers, policymakers, First Nations representatives, and people with lived experience to create an equitable, culturally safe palliative care framework.
• Outcome: The resulting National Framework emphasizes trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, continuity of services, and compassionate release, aiming to make palliative care a core part of prison health across Australia
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Insight Exchange Forum
Engage in quick, focused conversations around key summit themes using prompt cards to connect with diverse peers and share insights in a structured, low-key setting.
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Morning Break
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Managing Complex Mental Health in Custody: From Containment to Clinical Care Cathy Cooper - Forensic Clinical Specialist, Eastern Health• Exploring the complexities and prevalence of mental health issues within correctional environments and their impact on care and security.
• Reviewing progressive care models that prioritize trauma-informed, clinical interventions over traditional containment approaches.
• Highlighting successful multidisciplinary collaborations and strategies that improve health outcomes and custodial safety
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm Designing for Dignity: Supporting Inmates with Disability and Mobility Needs Daniel Pollock - Statewide Manager Disability Services, Queensland Corrective Services• Understanding the unique challenges faced by inmates with disabilities and mobility impairments within correctional facilities.
• Exploring design principles and infrastructure adaptations that promote accessibility, safety, and independence.
• Highlighting successful case studies and collaborative approaches to creating inclusive, dignified custodial environments.
Supporting Wellbeing in Correctional Environments
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm PANEL DISCUSSION | Health Equity Behind Bars: Embedding Preventative and Culturally Safe Care in Prison Health Systems Jackie Ashmore - Clinical Director - Adult Health Services, Justice Health, Department of Justice and Community Safety, VictoriaAndrew Wiley - Prison Health Service Director for SA, Central Adelaide
• Addressing health disparities in prison populations through culturally safe and trauma-informed care models.
• Implementing preventative health strategies tailored to the unique needs of diverse incarcerated individuals.
• Showcasing collaborative initiatives that embed equity and respect into correctional health services and outcomes.
Jackie Ashmore
Clinical Director - Adult Health Services, Justice HealthDepartment of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Rebuilding Youth Justice Through Therapeutic, Trauma-Informed Models of Care Anthony M Jamieson - PhD Candidate & Manager Youth Justice Training, Queensland, Griffith University & Department of Children Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs• Unpacking the impact of trauma on justice-involved young people and the limitations of punitive approaches.
• Exploring therapeutic, culturally responsive care models that prioritise healing, development, and long-term wellbeing.
• Highlighting cross-agency collaboration and best-practice programs transforming youth justice outcomes across Australia.
Anthony M Jamieson
PhD Candidate & Manager Youth Justice Training, QueenslandGriffith University & Department of Children Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm JUSTICE SPOTLIGHT | Designing for Youth Justice: Environments That Heal, Not Harden• Exploring architectural approaches that prioritise safety, dignity, and personal development for young people in custody.
• Case examples of purpose-built spaces that encourage education, family connection, and therapeutic engagement.
• Discussing how physical design can reduce trauma and support diversion-focused outcomes.
Reimagining Youth Justice: From Detention to Diversion
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Across the States: The Best of Youth Justice Innovation in AustraliaShowcasing leading youth justice programs and policy reforms from different Australian jurisdictions.
Afternoon Sessions
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Lunch Break
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Sentences with Purpose: Aligning Correctional Goals with Justice Outcomes
• Exploring how sentences can be designed to balance punishment, rehabilitation, and community safety.
• Aligning correctional programs and sentence conditions to reduce recidivism and support reintegration.
• Using data and evidence to evaluate whether sentences achieve intended justice and social impact
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
From Lived Experience to Leadership: Designing Employment Pathways That Break the Cycle
• Exploring how involving people with justice system backgrounds in program design leads to more effective employment pathways.
• Creating tailored, sustainable job opportunities that address barriers faced by justice-involved individuals.
• Demonstrating how meaningful work and leadership roles contribute to long-term rehabilitation and community integration.
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Breaking the Cycle — Justice Reform Through Lived Experience Leadership
• Highlighting the impact of people with lived experience in shaping effective justice reform policies and programs.
• Exploring strategies for empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to take on leadership roles within the justice system.
• Demonstrating how lived experience leadership drives systemic change that reduces recidivism and promotes equity.
