EDUCATION PROVIDED BY TAFE NSW WESTERN INSTITUTE TO THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE CORRECTIONAL CENTRES

Transcription

1 AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY EDUCATION PROVIDED BY TAFE NSW WESTERN INSTITUTE TO THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN THE CORRECTIONAL CENTRES Janice Navin TAFE NSW, Western Institute, Institute Correctional Centre and Ian Kennedy TAFE NSW, Western Institute, Aboriginal Prisons Programs Paper presented at the Best Practice Interventions in Corrections for Indigenous People Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology and held in Sydney, 8-9 October 2001

2 Aims of the Paper This paper has two aims, firstly to highlight the co-operation between TAFE NSW, Western Institute and the Department of Corrective Services, Education Division, AEVTI, to facilitate Best Practice to Indigenous Students, in the Correctional Centres within the Western Institute boundaries. Secondly to provide an overview of TAFE NSW, Western Institute s involvement in education within these Correctional Centres. This paper considers the coal face of meeting the expectations, and fulfilling the needs of the inmates. The Correctional Centres situated within the Western Institute are: Lithgow Correctional Centre, Maximum Security. Bathurst Correctional Centre, Medium Security Bathurst Correctional Centre - X Wing, Minimum Security Kirkconnell Correctional Centre, Minimum Security Forestry Camp Oberon, Shooters Hill Correctional Centre, Young Offenders, Forestry Camp Yetta Dhinnakkal at Brewarrina, Minimum Security Ivanhoe Correctional Centre, Minimum Security Broken Hill Correctional Centre, Medium Security that also houses women inmates. Institute Correctional Centre Liaison Officer ( ICCLO ) TAFE NSW Western Institute is the largest institute, in area, in NSW, the Western Institute contains 24 campuses servicing nearly half the State, including some of Australia s most remote and isolated communities. This Institute was named as the NSW Training Provider of the Year in September 1999 for its commitment to and excellence in vocational education and training. Each TAFE NSW Institute has an appointed ICCLO. The main responsibility of the ICCLO is to oversee arrangements for the establishment of courses in correctional centres under guidelines outlined in the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between TAFE NSW and the Department of Corrective Services (DCS). The main duty of the ICCLO is to liaise with the Senior Education Officer ( SEO ) and /or the Program Manager from DCS together with TAFE NSW staff. In particular, the Aboriginal Development Manager / Aboriginal Co-ordinators and Equity Units are consulted to plan and ensure implementation and evaluation of provision of TAFE courses in each of the Correctional Centres. Other duties include: Monitor and co-ordinate this provision. Drawing up the Course Approval Documents for each proposed delivery of a TAFE NSW program. Provide on-going reports and briefings on course provision to the Access Education Services Division (ESD) SEO for Correctional Centre Programs and TAFE NSW Managers as required. Ongoing support, guidance and advice to supervisors and teachers from the delivering sections of TAFE NSW. 2

3 Aboriginal Prisons Programs Officer The Aboriginal Prisons Programs Officer is part of the TAFE NSW Western Institutes Aboriginal Development Unit. The duties of this position are to liaise with the ICCLO, Education Officers and the Aboriginal Coordinator, after talking to the inmates, to provide courses specific to the needs of the indigenous inmates. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) TAFE NSW has been providing Vocational Education and Training courses in NSW Correctional Centres for more than twenty years. This training offers a second chance for educationally disadvantaged inmates to access training not previously available to them. One of these groups is Aboriginal Inmates. By securing these skills the inmates are provided with the tools to lead a more productive life. TAFE NSW can provide Vocational Training and Education that can be, continued after release, has credibility and can lead to employment (1996 Report of the Inquiry into Education & Training in Correctional Facilities by the Senate Employment, Education and Training). In 1993 TAFE NSW and NSW DCS formalised its commitment to correctional education through an arrangement outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Under this arrangement TAFE NSW has the responsibility to provide vocational education and training for inmates in correctional centres. The MOU outlines the arrangements for the provision of TAFE teaching hours. An agreed percentage of the negotiated TAFE teaching hours is targeted for Aboriginal Inmates. The level of funding is re-negotiated every financial year via the MOU Financial Addendum, the MOU for 2001/2002 was signed in early July 2001 by Mr Leo Keliher, Commissioner, NSW Department of Corrective Services and Mr Ken Boston, Director General, Department of Education And Training, Managing Director, TAFE NSW. Included in this financial Addendum are nine (9) Principles of the Funding Arrangement. Those relevant to the Aboriginal Inmates are: 1.4 As a cooperative partnership, The Department and TAFE NSW have chosen to give particular priority to courses for inmates who are Aboriginal, women or who have been identified as having special needs (including an intellectual disability), in the 2001/2002 period 1.5 There will be provision for 24,603 TAFE hours in the 2001/2002 financial year. This total number of hours includes 3,968 hours funded by the Aboriginal Programs Unit, DET. 1.6 This total number of hours will include a target for Aboriginal Programs of 7,000 teaching hours and a minimum of 3,968 teaching hours for Aboriginal Programs which is provided by the Aboriginal Programs Unit DET, in the 2001/2002 financial year. These last two principles relate directly to provision for Aboriginal Inmates. Under the MOU, TAFE NSW Western Institute will provide a minimum of 3,750 hours of Vocational Education & Training to the general inmate population and 2,260 hours to the Aboriginal inmate population in the Correctional Centres within the TAFE NSW Western Institute boundaries. It should be noted that Aboriginal Student / inmates regularly make up fifty percent of the General Course students. 3

4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Inmates / Profile With variations according to location, Aboriginal people are imprisoned times higher than non- Aboriginal people. A recent survey showed that Aboriginal people are 14 times more likely to go to prison than a non-aboriginal for committing the same crime. The Aboriginal people are over represented in the NSW Correctional Centres per head of population Strategic Plan for Tafe NSW Provision for Aboriginal Inmates This strategic plan was put together by the Department of Corrective Services and TAFE NSW. It outlines the steps required when deciding on the provision of a course for Aboriginal Inmates and contains ten objectives: 1. To ensure that the educational needs of Aboriginal inmates are individually and appropriately assessed and are recorded. 2. To provide information to Aboriginal inmates about the range of courses available and possible education pathways and employment opportunities so that they can make informed decisions about their education. 3. To ensure Aboriginal inmates are involved in the decision making process about their course provision. 4. To improve the vocational education and training outcomes for Aboriginal inmates by integrating literacy and numeracy into TAFE provision 5. To increase access by Aboriginal inmates to financial and educational assistance. 6. To improve access to vocational and education training pathways for Aboriginal inmates. 7. To improve the vocational education and training outcomes for Aboriginal inmates through improved communication mechanisms. 8. To ensure the delivery of the curriculum is appropriate for Aboriginal inmates. 9. To increase the participation of Aboriginal inmates in vocational education and training through improved structural arrangements. 10. To implement a range of evaluation strategies. I propose to show that TAFE NSW Western Institute strives to work under the conditions of these 10 Strategic Plan Objectives and those of the MOU. The Number of Inmates Being Provided with Vocational Education and Training by TAFE NSW Western Institute this Calender Year Across all Correctional Centres within TAFE NSW Western Institute, so far this year, there are approximately 1,600 general inmates enrolled in vocational education and training with the various TAFE NSW Campuses, where Aboriginal inmates regularly make up fifty percent of the general course numbers. In addition more than 300 aboriginal inmates are enrolled in Aboriginal specific courses. 4

5 Student Support Services in TAFE NSW Western Institute TAFE NSW Western Institute s Strategic Plan has as its Mission Statement: to provide lifelong learning opportunities for individuals, industry and the community which enhance the skills and productivity of the workforce. It also includes the Institute Values of: Access to lifelong learning, high quality, Cost effective, vocational education and training opportunities, Our customers and their requirement, Commitment, trust and ethical practice. As TAFE NSW students, inmates can access student support services such as career advisers and councillors. Support is also available from the TAFE DET Equity Unit, which includes the Aboriginal Programs Unit and Disabilities & Learning Difficulties Unit. TAFE NSW Western Institute has provided a laptop computer to disabled students to assist them in their studies. The Disabilities Unit has also assessed classes and provided funds out from its TAFE budget to finance extra hours for the courses to run. For one course the Disabilities Unit provided funds for 39 of the 100 hours. This provided students with the extra tutorial support they required. Education Provided in Lithgow Correctional Centre Lithgow Correctional Centre was opened in December It is a Maximum Security Prison housing up to three hundred and thirty five inmates of approximately thirty five differing ethnic groups. It also provides Segregation and Protection Units for inmates. This provides the AEVTI SEO with a real challenge when considering the provision of education to all inmates. Aboriginal specific courses running / have run this year include: Communication/ Dealing with Conflict Aboriginal Community Education / Health, Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practices/ Traditional Music, Aboriginal Community Education / Bush Foods, Painting & Decorating Trade which is an ongoing course enjoyed by all inmates, as is the Fitness Instructors course. Included in the course Aboriginal Community Education / Health Course is the module, Learning to Learn, which was the first module to run, this gave the students a kick-start to the year. Other General courses that include Aboriginal Students are: Painting and Decorating Trade / Paint Finishes, Hygiene For Food Handlers, Two Stroke Engine Service and Repair, Horticultural Skills and Occupational Health and Safety 5

6 TAFE NSW Western Institutes Involvement in Education and Training at Bathurst Correctional Centre Bathurst Correctional Centre opened in 1888 as a maximum security facility. Today Bathurst houses 260 medium security inmates and 125 minimum security inmates in X Wing. Aboriginal specific courses being facilitated at Bathurst Correctional comprise courses that run in the Girrawaa Creative Works Centre This centre was purpose planned and built to provide a place of learning for lower classification Aboriginal inmates and includes: Aboriginal Arts & Cultural Practices / Traditional Carving / Traditional Painting Aboriginal Cultural Values / History These Courses run all year at Girrawaa and in the main gaol. Other TAFE NSW, Aboriginal specific courses are: Group Performance Leatherwork, Fitness Instruction Small Motor Maintenance Certificate III Furnishing / Upholstery. General courses that contain substantial Aboriginal participation are: Painting and Decorating First Aid and Safe Food Handling Community Services Welfare Occupational Health and Safety Responsible Service of Alcohol Information Technology. The Corrective Services Industries (CSI) at Bathurst include Textiles, Upholstery and Electronics. TAFE NSW Western Institute is providing courses to those inmates involved in these industries. Courses have been designed to be suited to the duties of these inmates and includes mixed mode delivery. Aboriginal Inmates figure well in all these courses. A traineeship in Hospitality /Certificate II in Commercial Cookery, being facilitated by TAFE NSW Western Institute, contains two Aboriginal Trainees who are progressing at an accelerated rate. They love the course and a comment from one of them was I look forward to Mondays (class day), it s the best day of the week. These men have even provided meals for the NSW Deputy Commissioner of Corrective Services. Kirkconnell Correctional Centre 6

7 Kirkconnell Correctional Centre is situated approximately half way between Bathurst and Lithgow within the Sunny Corner State Forest. The centre was previously a farming and grazing property and the original homestead is classified by the National Trust. The centre took in its first inmates in Kirkconnell can house 210 minimum security inmates and has plans to greatly increase this capacity. TAFE NSW Western Institute is providing the Aboriginal specific courses, at this centre and includes: Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practices / Traditional Painting and Traditional Music Aboriginal Cultural Values. Aboriginal inmates are also involved in general courses such as First Aid, Small Motor Maintenance and Fitness Instruction. Broken Hill Correctional Centre Broken Hill Correctional Centre, a medium security prison for both males and females is situated about 2klms from the town centre. The centre was opened in During the Second World War the inmates were replaced by Australia s gold reserves for safekeeping. Broken Hill prison was reopened in 1946 after the war. The centre holds 50 inmates, 45 men and 5 females. A large proportion of these inmates are Aboriginal people. The TAFE NSW Western Institute courses running in Broken Hill Correctional Centre include: Three Information Technology Courses Three Senior First Aid Courses One Catering Operations Course The two Aboriginal specific courses current at this centre are Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practices/ Painting. Ivanhoe Correctional Centre Ivanhoe Correctional Centre is situated 2 klms from the town centre and is actually a Work Camp housing fifty, mostly Aboriginal, inmates. Ivanhoe has two mobile camps that work out of the Correctional Centre Monday to Friday. These Camps operate in Mutawintji and Kinchega National Parks. The inmates housed there are not confined to their cells and there is respect and positive interaction between both the staff and the inmates. This Correctional Centre is also involved in many community projects at the town s schools, cemetery, swimming pool and ovals and are just a few examples of its involvement. TAFE NSW Western Institute has provided Welding Courses, facilitated out of Broken Hill for the inmates. At the moment inmates from Ivanhoe are transported to Yetta Dhinnakkal in order to access the TAFE provision there. Yetta Dhinnakkal The name means Right Pathway and comes from the Ngemba language group. It is an initiative of the Department of Corrective Services Indigenous Offenders Action Plan and addresses recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Yetta Dhinnakkal is a working property of 10,553 hectares, principally utilised for grazing purposes and is located approximately 70 klms from Brewarrina on the Bogan River. The property contains significant Aboriginal cultural sites of archaeological interest. A local elder resides on the property. 7

8 TAFE NSW Western Institute has been involved with the education of the inmates at Yetta Dhinnakkal since September The education and training of indigenous people is an important part of the Strategic Plan and TAFE NSW Western Institute has worked closely with the Governor to provide the vocational education and training envisaged by the Department of Corrective Services Indigenous Offenders Action Plan. Most of the education and training that has been supplied to the Centre has been financed from TAFE NSW Western Institute s own funds. Courses include: Senior First Aid, Family Kinship, Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Industry, Chainsaw Operations, Literacy Assessments, Welding, a short course for short term inmates, where the trainees travel to Brewarrina TAFE Campus to attend this course, 4 Conservation Earthworks, Training Programs which provide the training and Workcover Licence Assessments for Back Hoe Operations, Skidsteer Loader Operations, Fork Lift Safety and Operations and Loader Operations. TAFE also finances the Four Workcover licences for the participants. Each licence costs $100 Aboriginal Cultural Site Conservation ( TAFE employs local Elders to deliver the Cultural Components of these courses ) Agricultural course, Jack and Jill. The Aboriginal Cultural Site Conservation and Jack and Jill courses run alternate fortnights, both courses are 40 hours per week and will run until the end of November. TAFE NSW Western Institute has funded all of these courses. Under the MOU another Conservation Earthworks and two Chainsaw Courses have also been run. The trainees at Yetta Dhinnakal feel that this is the best correctional Centre in the state. Comments such as it s great, calm and we have learnt a lot about our culture indicate their feelings. Oberon / Shooters Hill Correctional Centre Oberon Correctional Centre is a minimum security institution for young male inmates. The centre was established as a prison camp in In 1993 the Young Offenders Program, which caters mainly for selected inmates between the ages of 18 and 22, was transferred to Oberon. Presently there are 100 inmates housed at this correctional centre. TAFE NSW Western Institute provides vocational education and training to these inmates who are only there for 16 weeks. The ongoing courses include, Bricklaying Trade, Business Services, Small Motor Maintenance, Carpentry and Joinery, a number of Aboriginal inmates are participating in these courses. 8

9 Aboriginal Specific courses are: Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practices / Traditional Painting and Carving Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practices / Traditional Musical Instruments, Dance. This has been a really successful course, the inmates requested it and have been really enthusiastic about the dance component. A dance troupe was formed and although the course has only been running since May 2001, they have performed at many venues including but not limited to: TAFE NSW Bathurst Campus, during the Reconciliation Ceremony, Forbes NSW during the NAIDOC celebrations Orange NSW for the Job Expo On NAIDOC Day for the Bathurst Land Council. Gala NAIDOC celebrations raising of the flag for inmates at Shooters Hill Good News Stories There may be many inmates that have achieved as a result of the Education provided in the correctional centres and some are Three of the Yetta Dhinnakkal Trainees have procured full time work with their Workcover Licences since being released. A previous inmate at Bathurst Correctional Centre, Geoff Naden, won an Achievement Award at the 2000 TAFE NSW Student and Staff Awards, for his results in Certificate III in Bricklaying Trade Course. He has now put his skills to work in his home town of Wellington. Albert Ryan has spent only 6 of the last 21 years on the outside. During his time in prison Albert accepted a position on an Aboriginal Mentor Committee. To assist him with his responsibilities he completed the Aboriginal Mentor Training and Aboriginal Committee Training, gaining distinction results. He believes that you have to put in something in order to get something out of it. To this end he has earned many distinctions in the 17 courses in which he has been involved. Albert has 4 years of his sentence yet to be served and is in constant demand to help inmates settle in to the correctional centre environment. Albert believes, as does TAFE NSW Western Institute, that education is very important to inmates in the correctional system and hopes that funding will continue and expand with the rate of incarceration. Education is very beneficial to inmates, especially courses that prepare them for work on the outside he has stated. After TAFE NSW Western Institute was awarded QETO, the Lead Auditor in his report back to the Institute in support of their decision stated The whole panel was impressed that the Institute practices its Vision and Values statements and commented on the outstanding enthusiasm of all staff visited. Things we take for granted were commented on for being part of our basic operations. They mentioned our programs for inmates and Aboriginal students and commented that unlike other Institutes we did not think of these programs as sources of funding, but rather as sources of students and had seen this as proof of our committment to students. 9

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11 Acknowledgments Mr Patrick Forman, Lecturer in Information Technology, at Charles Sturt University Bathurst and TAFE NSW, Western Institute. Ms Alison Benton, Head Teacher, North West Cluster, TAFE NSW, Western Institute Correctional Centre Senior Education Officers: Ms Jeanette Cupitt, Lithgow Mr Raj Sanggaran, Bathurst Ms Carol Crennan, Kirkconnell Mr Noel Sibly, Oberon Mr Clarrie Dries, Governor, Yetta Dhinnakkal ( Brewarrina ) and Programs Manager for Broken Hill, Ivanhoe and Yetta Dhinnakkal Correctional Centres References Doing Time, Access Educational Services Division, TAFE NSW (1998) Memorandum Of Understanding 2001/2002, NSW Department of Corrective Services & The Department of Education and Training TAFE NSW. Strategic Plan for TAFE NSW Provision for Aboriginal Inmates (May 1996) Yetta Dhinnakkal Program, Brewarrina NSW ( 7th March 2000) Correctional Centres Website, New South Wales Department of Correctional Services. TAFE NSW Handbook, Department of Education & Training (2001) 11