Impact & Outreach
Why this matters
Women are the fastest growing group of prisoners - there are four times more women in prison in Australia compared to 1994.
35% of these are First Nations women, despite being only 3% of the population.
Incarcerated women often have histories of poverty, domestic violence and childhood trauma. Most struggle with mental health and substance abuse.
Almost 40% of women in prisons are on remand, which means they are in custody awaiting sentencing.
Half of all women prisoners in have been in prison at least once before.
What you can do
Volunteer your time or make a donation to groups that support those in prison and after their release (see links below)
Learn more about the impacts of incarceration and proposed alternatives (see resource links below)
Spark discussion or advocate for change by hosting a screening of Songs Inside in your community, workplace or school (comes with a discussion guide). Click here for more information.
Support and Advocacy Groups (Links)
NSW
Community Restorative Centre (CRC)
Keeping Women out of Prison (KWOOP) - Sydney Community Foundation
WA
ReSet Reintegration Program - Waalitj Foundation
Wandoo Rehabilitation Therapeutic Community - Cyrenian House
SA
Seeds of Affinity - Pathways for women
Tirrapendi Wodli - Justice Reinvestment Network
Work Ready Release Ready - Workskil Australia
QLD
The Mara Project - Women’s Reentry Connect
Throughcare Program - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld)
Resources and Articles (Links)
Australia’s Prison Dilemma - Productivity Commission research paper
Adult Imprisonment in Australia - the over-incarceration of adults in Australia and alternative models in other countries
The Health and Welfare of Women in Australia’s Prisons - women’s health and wellbeing needs when they enter prison, during custody and at release
Double jeopardy: The economic and social costs of keeping women behind bars - the need for criminal justice reform in Australia
The Conversation - pathways to imprisonment and cycles of harm
ABC News - the challenges facing women post-release and need for gender-based support
The Guardian - the over-representation of First Nations people on remand
Law Society Journal - the changes needed to Australia’s laws and criminal justice system
JRI Reforming Bail and Remand - the changes needed to address remand-related issues
ABC News - the relationship between more restrictive bail laws and growth in remand numbers
Justice Reform Initiative alternatives to incarceration reports
Open letter by Eddie Ellis - changing the language around people and incarceration
Human Rights and Prisoners information sheet
Statistics about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and Girls
Music in Prisons Program - UK-based program to teach music-making and recording to incarcerated people
Music in Prisons - a Griffith University report on music programs in criminal justice settings around the world
Rolling Stone Australia - how music is used as therapy in NSW prison
ABC News - how Nancy Bates uses music to support women in prison.
InDaily - addressing illicit drug use and incarceration
The Sydney Conservatorium - Nancy Bates work with First Nations students