Hunter’s new pilot program supports women leaving prison

THE NSW Government has launched an intensive pilot program for women leaving prison, which provides accommodation and employment in the Hunter.

Funded with a donation from the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation, the new residential facility will provide wrap-around support for women leaving custody.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington MP said, “This is an important pilot program which will give women in the Hunter a second chance to build a better future.

“Our government is proudly partnering and investing to break the cycle of recidivism, improve outcomes and create stronger, safer communities.”

The program will provide six months of pre-release support to eligible women with a focus on identifying and addressing their post-release needs and providing practical support.

This includes securing stable housing, navigating full-time employment, as well as obtaining identity documents and accessing vital services such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Following release, the program offers support for up to two years with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

The service will be delivered through a partnership between Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and not-for-profit Embrace People & Place (Embrace).

Embrace People and Place Chief Executive Officer Coralie Nichols said, “The Women in Community program is about giving women leaving prison the support they need to return to community life with dignity and confidence.

“By providing safe accommodation, employment pathways and wraparound support, we’re helping women make positive choices and build the lives they want for themselves.”

Work has already begun to prepare eligible women for the program, with the first cohort to be housed at the facility this year.

The site was a former Periodic Detention Centre aimed at re-skilling minimum-security inmates before being refurbished by Corrective Services NSW.