Serco delivers a decade of positive outcomes for Queensland prisoners

For almost 10 years Serco has been delivering innovative programs designed to reduce reoffending and improve post-release outcomes for prisoners at Southern Queensland Correctional Centre (SQCC).

By delivering more than 1.6 million hours of meaningful programs to more than 3,000 prisoners, Serco has made an important contribution to community safety over the last decade.

SQCC Prison Director Nick Rowe said Serco’s rehabilitation and reintegration programs are underpinned by a proven framework designed to promote self-agency and ensure prisoners’ successful reintegration back into society.

“Serco’s restorative justice framework and responsible prisoner model promote respect, encourage positive behaviours, and allow prisoners to learn and take responsibility for managing their own circumstances.”

“Through the delivery of specialist intervention, education and vocational training, and employment, supported by post-release programs, we help improve each prisoner’s chance of success when they are released from our care,” Mr Rowe said.

Serco has partnered with Prison Fellowship Australia to deliver the internationally recognised Sycamore Tree Project (STP) at SQCC since the centre was commissioned, with the program facilitating a safe environment for victims of crime and prisoners to meet for restoration, healing and to learn about the impact of crime.

Mr Rowe said SQCC had seen 256 prisoners take part in the STP since this time, giving them the unique opportunity to see crimes through the eyes of the victims and understand their perspective.

“This important program has provided a type of indirect restitution for prisoners, enabling them to give back to victims and the community and I feel has been an important part of our holistic program to create positive behavioural changes at SQCC.”

At a graduation ceremony this week, recognising SQCC’s first graduates since transitioning to a female facility, Prison Fellowship Australia Queensland State Manager, Graham Hembrow said the reason for the success of the program at SQCC was due to the long-standing partnership with Serco and our shared values of restorative justice, rehabilitation, and commitment to community safety.

“Under Serco’s management we have provided more than 3,650 pastoral care days, delivered more than 1,248 individual chapel services, and supported more than 700 prisoners through a range of rehabilitation and reintegration programs.”

Similarly, the Shakespeare Prison Project, operated in partnership with The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, is a just another example of some of the innovative programs offered at SQCC. This performing arts program enables prisoners to explore emotional concepts including anger and vulnerability along with communication skills to develop self-confidence and pro-social life skills.

“The Shakespeare Prison Project complements our many other educational and vocational training courses and programs at SQCC. Through offering these programs, we have seen participants involved in 37 per cent fewer incidents as a result, with their involvement in violence related incidents reduced by as much as 63 per cent.” Mr Rowe said.

“We are very proud of our service provided to the State of Queensland throughout our operation and management of SQCC, and of the number of innovations introduced to address and reduce issues of overcrowding and reoffending in the community.”

ENDS

Media contact: Tim Evans, +61 409 389 358
General media enquiries: Serco media line, +61 (0) 2 9409 8700 or [email protected]