1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: Well, a new program for prisoners is set to see 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: them gain skills, qualifications and practical experience to gain jobs 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: and re enter the community. The Northern Territory Government, in 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: partnership with charles Dale University, is going to be delivering 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: vocational education and training to more than one thousand inmates 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: a year through one point seven million dollar. Well it's 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: one thousand inmates a year, and that is through that 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: one point seven million dollar contract. Now, the initiative is 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: also pitched to support prison operators and reduce repeat offending, 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: something that I think we would all like to see. Now, 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: take CEO Mike Hamilton joins me on the line right 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: now to tell us a little bit more. Good morning 13 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: to you, Mike. 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. How are you today? 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good, Thank you so much for your time. Now, 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit more about this program. 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: All right, Well, Cityu's gone into a service level agreement 18 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: with the Questions and it's to provide training to prisoners 19 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 2: at both al Springs and holds the abilities and there's 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 2: two elements to it, I guess really is around one 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: is around their internal self efficiency. So prisoners work in 22 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: the kitchens, they work on the grounds, maintenance, they work 23 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 2: in the laundry, all that sort of thing. So we'll 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: provide training in those industries and we'll give them nationally 25 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 2: accredited qualifications around that. And the other element is around 26 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: preparing prisoners to reintegrate into society. And so that could 27 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: be like in a vocational sense, so that's around some 28 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: training to get employment. It could be in a social way, 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: behavior management that sort of thing, and also personal development 30 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: around independent living and that sort of those sorts of 31 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: qualifications and training. 32 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: And so how does it kind of work in that 33 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: prison setting. 34 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, the prisons have a lot of infrastructure 35 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 2: just to support their internal population. So we utilize that 36 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: infrastructure in there. So they've got commercial kitchens, they've got 37 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: all of their equipment that they use to do the 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: parks and gardens, so we'll not only teach them around 39 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: the parks and gardens, but also around the maintenance of 40 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 2: that equipment. And then they have other areas where they 41 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 2: do welding. They put together flat packs that bunnings and 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: like that. So we utilize the infrastructure. 43 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: That's there and tell me, I mean, what kind of 44 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 1: qualifications can they gain? And then I'm assuming that they're 45 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: qualifications that they're obviously able to use hopefully when they 46 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: leave prison and enter the workforce. 47 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. So look, CDU has got a 48 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 2: very broad scope of registration. So we've got over one 49 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty qualifications, and then in addition to that, 50 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 2: we've got one hundred and fifty short courses that very 51 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: short and sharp and easy to implement very quickly. Now 52 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: many of those are not suitable to the prison environment, 53 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 2: but at a heap of them art and so we 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: offer a whole suite of things. It could be in construction, 55 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: could be in health. We've got community services just starting 56 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 2: this week in our Springs Princeton. We've got we've got 57 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: so many different industries that we can service. But generally, 58 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: what we try and focus on, and we do this 59 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 2: in collaboration with the Corrections, is we work on those 60 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: that are of most values either internally or if someone's 61 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: return to the community or if they've got work. You know, 62 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 2: there's industries in town that need to need employ people, 63 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 2: and many do. Then we'll focus on those industries. 64 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: I mean, we hear a lot about the prison population 65 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: being over capacity, and we also hear a lot about 66 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: you know, the need for more for more staff at 67 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: the prison as well. So is it a situation here 68 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: with some of that work that the prisoners are doing 69 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: as well is actually helpful when it comes to the 70 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: operating of the of the prison. 71 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: One hundred percent it is. 72 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: Yes. 73 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: So as I mentioned earlier, you know those kitchens, and 74 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: I've been on site at both our springs and holts 75 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: many times now, so that the kitchens, for instance, it's 76 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: an absolute hive of activity and they at Hope they 77 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: do over three thousand meals a day, So the volumes there, 78 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: the infrastructures there, and you know, we provide that training 79 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: just to really back it up and not just well 80 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: we do it for everyday operations, but we also do 81 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: it for when people leave that they can pick up 82 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: employment and hospitality is one of those ones that we're 83 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: always looking for more people. 84 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: My people will be listening this morning thinking why haven't 85 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: we been doing this already? 86 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 2: Well they have, it's just look there. Previous rtos have 87 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: run operations in there. Yeah, and my understanding is that 88 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 2: they've been relatively successful. But I guess the benefit of 89 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: Charles Dalen University being involved this time is it's the 90 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: huge scope of training that we can provide so much, 91 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 2: much greater than other rtos can just because we've got 92 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: the volume. 93 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: Now, tell me what happens if an inmate you know, 94 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: is due to be released or they are released and 95 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: they're sort of halfway through their training. 96 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so the good thing about having someone like 97 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: ourselves involved in this program is that where you know, 98 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: we offer training across the NT. So we treat the 99 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: prison as any other student, and so the location may change, Yeah, 100 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: the training doesn't. So if someone's working in the kitchen 101 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 2: in corrections and then is released, they can pick up 102 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 2: training at one of our campuses, either at Parmeerston or 103 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: in our springs in commercial cookery if they if they 104 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 2: want to continue in their studies. 105 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: Look, I think it's a good thing. You know, what 106 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: we all want is when someone does leave prison is 107 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: that they're able to enter the workforce and able to 108 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: you know, to be part of the community. And gaining 109 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: those qualifications is definitely a really constructive way I would 110 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: think to spend your. 111 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 3: Time when you are in prison, Like the is it 112 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 3: free for them? 113 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: I guess you know when they do leave as well, 114 00:05:58,240 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: I'm assuming that it is. 115 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, we've got provisions in place that that that 116 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: the fees are not a barrier when they when they 117 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: exit prison. And look, just I just want to pick 118 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: up one other thing that you said there, Katie, is 119 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: that the prisoners really enjoy the training. They really engaged, 120 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: They look forward to it. They asked. You know, I 121 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: was speaking to a prisoner just the other day, a 122 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: Holts that had done a cert one an engineering and 123 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: he says, oh, what's the chance of the don assert 124 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 2: too and possibly assert three? I did pretty good. 125 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, that's good. 126 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: Team for it. And they fully engage. Yeah. 127 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: Look, I think that's a really really good thing. And 128 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: and you know, when people go to prison, we don't 129 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: want them to come out better prisoners or better criminals. 130 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: Who want them to come out better people. And I 131 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: think that, you know, gaining education and doing that training 132 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: is a massive step. Tell me, are those courses they 133 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: there are some of them, by the sounds of it, 134 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: are already operating. But is everything ready to go now? 135 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're well underway, but we're phasing it in so 136 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 2: we'll be recruiting staff that will be permanently located on site, 137 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 2: particularly in that foundation skills space. So I mean it's 138 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: all well and good to offer training, but we've got 139 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: to offer those supports as well, and correction have supports 140 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: of their own, but in an academic sense, we want 141 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: to make sure that we've got permits located behind the 142 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: wire that can provide that English literacy and numeracy support 143 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: for resons and all of the administrative support that happens 144 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: in the background that will also be located on site. 145 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: So we'll be employing people to service this contract. 146 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 1: Mike, while I've got you, I know, the fee free 147 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: tape initiative has also been expanded to twenty two hundred places. 148 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: That's in a bid to address the skill shortages. What 149 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: areas does that include? 150 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: Look, look, there's several areas. The main three is going 151 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: to be the care sector including early childhood, community services, 152 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: all those things that support our health sector. The other 153 00:07:54,440 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: one is the main ones construction and events. Sorry are tourism, 154 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: hospitality and tourism. And that's because these are the major 155 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: industries that are in the Northern Territory that suffer from 156 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: high turnover. We want to make sure that we can 157 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: remove as many barriers as we can and if PAAN 158 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: favors one of them, anti government and the Commonwealth of 159 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 2: saw fit to put this program together to remove that 160 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 2: barrier so that we can establish a pipeline and a 161 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 2: pool of graduates that can jump straight into those those 162 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: industry sectors. 163 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 3: Well, that is good to hear. 164 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: Hey, just stepping back again to the prisons for a moment, 165 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: if I may. I've had a listener question which says 166 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: forty one percent of people in jail are in remand, 167 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: which is bad enough. But do they get any training 168 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: to address their issues? 169 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 3: Is that something? 170 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: Are you aware if somebody is in remand in the prison, 171 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: are they able to take part in training? 172 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? So with ROMAND, it will with all participate prison 173 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: of participation, it's at the discretion of corrections. 174 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Right. 175 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: But what we have got and what we've been actively 176 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 2: discussing with Corrections, and they're highly supportive of it, is 177 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: a suite of very short programs, short and sharp, but 178 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: nationally accredited so that people that are on ROMAND can 179 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 2: undertake training. So I can tell you straight away that 180 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 2: people on remand will be engaged in training under the 181 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: service level of grammar. 182 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,119 Speaker 3: Look good to hear. I think it's a really good initiative. 183 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: I think that, as I said earlier, you want to 184 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: see people when they are in prison and you know, 185 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: have made bad choices, able to then make some good 186 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: choices to hopefully get their lives back on track and 187 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: re enter the community and gaining their education, gaining those 188 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: skills is a really big step in the right. 189 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: Direction, it is, and we're really proud to be a 190 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: part of that. 191 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 3: Well, thank you so much for your time this morning. 192 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: It's been really good to find out a little bit 193 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: more about this program, and Mike Hamilton, we really appreciate 194 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: you having. 195 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 3: A chat with us. 196 00:09:59,280 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 2: Thanks so much. 197 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 3: You have a great day you too. Thank you