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Download the Phase 2 Report: |
Download the screen- reader version: |
Download the Phase 1 Report: |
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What is this?
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What is this?
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What is this?
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Purpose
There are many existing programs designed to support the financial stability of people in prison across Australia. Financial Counselling Australia and Thriving Communities Partnership (TCP) recognised the need to build a holistic understanding of the national corrections landscape to avoid duplication and build on existing learnings. In response, this project was born.
The Fostering Financial Stability for People in Prison reports aim to understand the various challenges, risks and success factors for existing prison programs across Australia that are designed to support the financial stability of people in prison. Phase 2 of the research seeks to understand the experience of people in prison in addressing money matters, debts and financial stability and how this experience is influenced by the different stakeholders in the corrections ecosystem, identifying opportunities for stakeholders to better support people in prison.
This report has been enabled by a grant from the Financial Counselling Foundation and we thank them for their support.
Research with Lived Experience
TCP worked with purpose driven research, design and technology company Portable, to interview people with lived experience in the corrections system. We would also like to acknowledge RMIT and the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program for their assistance in providing access to lived experience advocates.
We have joined 3 focus groups and conducted 6 interviews with people who are currently at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Tarrengower and Kareenga prisons, and people with past experience in the corrections system in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales, as well as 8 interviews with 10 corrections staff from 6 prisons across Victoria and New South Wales. These interviews and focus groups have helped to build an in-depth understanding of the issue from the perspective of people in prison, highlighting specific needs, feelings, thoughts and requirements that may be beneficial for fostering financial stability for people in prison.
Phase One - Emerging insights and opportunities
Research insights were generated from 22 deep-dive interviews with financial counsellors, corrections staff, community sector and essential services sector representatives from across Australia. A focus group with Victorian financial counsellors working in prisons and a national cross-sector workshop further matured these findings. Key insights and emerging opportunities identified were:
- There are diverse cohorts of people in prison with specific needs in relation to financial stability
- There is a spectrum of debt-related needs
- Low priority of financial matters is a barrier to accessing support
- Targeted support for people on remand and short sentences is a current challenge and key opportunity
- Continuity of support improves outcomes, but there are many barriers to achieving this across the journey
- Barriers for essential service providers supporting customers in prison
Download: Fostering Financial Stability for People in Prison - Phase 1 Report
Download: Accessible Screen Reader version
Download: Accessible Easy English version
