Key Discussion Take-away: Insights from the 2020 Advisory Board
On the 12th of
November 2019, The Future Justice and
Corrections Summit’s 2020 Advisory Board members met with each other to
discuss the correctional industry, as we know it today, and the direction they
want the industry to go in, in the future. A congregation of industry leaders
from a mix of private and public operations, government, architecture and
construction, and health, our Advisory Board members exposed the industries
flaws, highlighted the strengths, and emphasised a need for continuous
improvement and engagement by all stakeholders.
The first topic that was
addressed on the night was focused on the need for further collaboration and
engagement between the public and private sectors. Agreed upon by the members,
lack of public sector and government engagement with the private sector is
acting as an inhibitor for progressive conversation and innovation amongst
Australia’s publicly operated correctional facilities. Due to the influence of
unions, government bodies and government-operated facilities are feeling
restricted from engaging in conversation and collaboration with the private
sector.
Following on from this was a
discussion about training and education for the incarcerated cohort and the
staff within the facilities. In order to enhance opportunity for incarcerated
individuals post release, providing them with practical skills and training
whilst they are imprisoned will give them much better outcomes. The same said
for providing staff with upskilling and education as it can accommodate for new
rehabilitative, disciplinary practices proven to create safer environments and
support the development of relationships between the cohort and the staff.
Addressing Australia’s
overpopulation of Indigenous Australians within the justice system, our Board
members identified a need to establish middle ground, asking our Indigenous
Australians what they need and want, as opposed to just assuming we know what
they need or want. The same said for incarcerated people who practice religion
in our prisons. Ensuring we provide people with safe and welcoming areas that
accommodate religious freedom and practice, and engaging the religious
community to ask them similar questions, what do they need and want in order to
practice their religion freely.
With all this in mind, the
Advisory Board dinner was a great success for Australia’s Correctional
Industry, as well as the 2020 Future Justice and Corrections Summit, as it
instigated necessary conversation amongst leaders, with a key focus being to
innovate rehabilitative practices that provide better outcomes and support for
Australia’s incarcerated cohort, whilst reducing overall recidivism.
Izaac Chong
Program Director,
Future Justice and Corrections Summit 2020
17-19 February 2020 | Doltone House, Pyrmont Sydney
