HIGHLIGHTS
- Indigenous women are incarcerated disproportionately, with poor results.
- Abt is co-designing a model of pre- and post-release rehabilitation and reintegration services.
- We’ll help implement the new model and measure its effectiveness.
The Challenge
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 16 times more likely to be incarcerated than non- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and recidivism rates are high, too. While in prison, women do not receive the support they need—such as education and training for employment—and they often return to violent households after release. To address these issues, Abt Australia started an initiative on behalf of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that will develop a model of support designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and women.
The Approach
Abt’s Adult and Youth Through-Care Programs are co-designing with service providers an improved model of pre- and post-release rehabilitation and reintegration services in prisons for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The model will draw on domestic and international best practices, and seeks to ensure girls and women are able to navigate complex and fragmented social services, find secure living arrangements and stay with their children and provide for their families.
The Results
Abt will work with a range of Through-Care service providers to help them implement this new, culturally appropriate model of support for women. Additionally, Abt will develop a monitoring and evaluation strategy for the new model of support to enable the Government to measure the initiative’s success.