This includes four men who graduated the voluntary recovery program on its fifth anniversary.
Operated in partnership with Palmerston Association and Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, the Mallee Unit’s trauma-informed model of practice aims to treat the root causes of addiction and drug-related offending.
Casuarina Prison Deputy Superintendent Jason Barnett said 313 men had graduated the Mallee program in five years, 256 had been discharged from custody and just 34 returned.
“The program is very unique, and its success is resounding,” Deputy Supt. Barnett said.
“To see the way Mallee participants change their mindset about what it means to belong to community, what it means to be a pro-social member of society, is amazing.”
Experienced service providers Palmerston Association and the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation deliver the nine-month Solid Steps alcohol and other drug recovery program.
It is built upon a culturally safe, modified therapeutic community model, similar to that run successfully for seven years at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison for women.
Adult Community Corrections staff also contribute to the success of the program by identifying and assessing the participants, supporting them in their lead up to release and assisting with their reintegration into the community.
Palmerston CEO Emma Jarvis said the outcomes being delivered were incredible.
“When it opened in 2020, Mallee Rehabilitation Centre became the first therapeutic community operating in a male maximum security prison in Australia,” Ms Jarvis said.
“Over the last five years, we’ve celebrated 313 graduates. To have only around 12% of those men return to prison is a magnificent achievement, that we are deeply proud of.”
Wungening Aboriginal Corporation CEO Daniel Morrison said, “Our vision has always been that if we get it right for Aboriginal people, we get it right for everyone in our community.”
“We work intensely with every individual to identify triggers and any gaps we can address, whether that’s employment, housing, it might be family violence.”
To celebrate Mallee’s five-year anniversary, one graduate returned to Casuarina Prison to share his recovery story and said he was grateful for his Mallee experience.
Travis told current participants he remained in recovery 20 months on, and had renewed connections with his family and found accommodation and employment since release.
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