FUNDING TO HELP ABORIGINAL PRISONERS RECONNECT
Friday 18 September 2009
The Hon Brendan O’Connor
Minister for Home Affairs
The Hon Duncan Kerr
Member for Denison
Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor and Member for Denison Duncan Kerr today announced funding of $441,392 for Colony 47 to work with Aboriginal prisoners in Tasmania to help them settle back into the community after release.
“Colony 47’s Healing Our Way project will provide programs to help Indigenous men in prisons across Tasmania and young people at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre to make a difference to their communities following their release from prison,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Programs aimed at Indigenous offenders need to be culturally specific to be effective.
“That’s why this rehabilitation project uses cultural identity and practices in its programs, giving it every chance of success to break the cycle of re-offending.”
Mr Kerr said this project will offer leadership and mentoring for Aboriginal men following their release.
“This program will make it possible for these people and their families to visit areas of cultural significance and undertake rehabilitation workshops, which will help them settle back into their communities after their release,” Mr Kerr said.
“Colony 47 is well known for its excellent work with Tasmania’s Aboriginal community – through its Aboriginal Gathering Group – so I am hopeful excellent outcomes will be reached through the Healing Our Way project.
“The programs available in the local community will be reinforced with extra training for Indigenous and non-Indigenous service providers to help meet the needs of these people on return.
The grant is one of a number to be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) which enables money from assets confiscated under Commonwealth law to be returned to the community. More than $6 million of funding under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) will be distributed to community groups for crime prevention and Indigenous prisoner projects.
Duncan Kerr and Colony 47 CEO Therese Taylor will be available for public comment on the project at 12noon today, outside Colony 47 – 47 Davey St, Hobart.
Media Contact:
Minister O’Connor’s office - Christian Taubenschlag 0438 595 567
Mr Kerr’s office - Ben McKay 0400 101 847
