Domestic violence and sexual assault survivor Grace* knows first-hand the discrimination experienced by ex-prisoners while job hunting.
The 27-year-old floated between the criminal justice system and attempts to find work, having been locked up for theft and drug possession.
“I was living on the dole and struggling to live,” she told Guardian Australia. “With a criminal record I got to a point where I had nowhere to go because of my history.
“When I came out [of prison] it was pretty much was like a revolving door. I struggled because I didn’t have the qualifications and support networks … a lot of businesses don’t give people like me a second chance.”
During her last stint in prison for aggravated burglary, Grace made a vow to herself to never return to jail, having separated from her abusive partner and reconnecting with her family.
Within seven weeks of leaving prison, she was hired in a traffic control position for a major roads project and two years later remains in the role.
“It’s been the biggest life changer for me – that I actually have something that I’ve got to lose and I’m happy,” she told Guardian Australia.
“I’ve been given a second chance in life to strive to work and to not get in the wrong company. It’s something I never want to lose.”
Last month, a wide-ranging parliamentary inquiry into the state’s criminal justice system found the existing approaches to incarceration were not reducing crime. The final report said 44% of people who leave jail will return to prison within two years.
The report found unemployment was a key compounding factor, and recommended additional government funding to attempt to curb recidivism.
Grace participated in the Victorian government’s employment pathways program to receive mentoring and find employment.
The program provides specialist support such as resume and interview skills, and while in prison offenders are encouraged to participate in work or vocational education and training across sectors such as food processing, warehousing and agriculture. It also includes helping former prisoners improve their literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
Three specialist Jobs Victoria services work with former offenders and people in the justice system – a total investment of $6.7m.
The latest statistics show that of the 1,500 ex-offenders participating in the program, more than 640 have stayed in the jobs for at least six months.
The government will provide funding for another 1,000 ex-offenders to help them transition into the workforce over the next two years.
Natalie Hutchins, the corrections minister, said education, training and employment were vital to successful rehabilitation and reintegration into wider society.
“It helps ex-offenders change the way they think about themselves and discover ways to contribute to the community,” she said.
The employment minister, Jaala Pulford, said the program helped to change lives and reduce repeat offending by giving people the skills to get a job and keep it.
“Businesses also benefit from having access to workers who have been mentored about what’s needed to be successful in their new roles,” she said.
The Productivity Commission’s latest report on government services found that in the 2020-21 financial year the rate of prisoners returning to prison in Victoria was 43.6% – a slight decrease from 44.2% in 2019-20.
* Her name has been changed to protect her identity
