QCAL 2009 Annual State Conference 6 November 2009[Literacy & Numeracy in the Correctional Environment]Ron CoxRon Cox - AEVET Branch, Offender Interventions Services

HistoryThe Kennedy Report - 1988Byrne Review -1990Review of Prisoner Education in QueenslandWorking Party DETIR & QCSC 1992Commencement VET, Literacy Numeracy -1995ABS National Literacy Survey 1996Griffith University research Jean Searle and Chris Schluter

DisadvantageInability to access education1999 VET Review15.4%Had not completed primary school10.0%completed year 852.8%completed either year 9 or year 1019.3%completed either year 11 or 122.2%had undertaken tertiary studyNovember 20092.4%Had not completed primary school9.25%completed year 853.94%completed either year 9 or year 1022.27%completed either year 11 or 123.51%had undertaken tertiary study

Disadvantage (cont.)Not a lot of change since 1999Educational background of prisoners entering Queensland correctional centres similiar to that of 10 years ago, with improvement

BackgroundComponent of VET deliveryRole to Play Management and Rehabilitation & Reintegration of PrisonersSkills to:1. Undertake further Education, VET2. Undertake intervention programs3. Participate/function in the community post-release

QCS ProceduresLiteracy/numeracyScreening All sentenced prisonersAssessment Sentence length 12 months +Screen 30729QLDAssessment 39170QLD (VLA)39171QLD (VNA)Employment/VETEVNA

Delivery ProcessPartnership QCS and DET (since 1995)Consultation with Centres/stakeholdersVET Training PackagesLiteracy From Queensland accredited curriculumPublic & private providersHours allocated Prisoner type

Literacy Hours 2009/10

Total hours - 16600

Arthur Gorrie1400 hrs. Borallon1100 hrs.Brisbane600 hrs.Brisbane Womens1450 hrs.Capricornia1280 hrs.Lotus Glen1700 hrs.Maryborough1600 hrs.Numinbah630 hrs.Palen Creek1100 hrs.Townsville Mens1100 hrs.Townsville Womens600 hrs.Wolston2000 hrs.Woodford2300 hrs.

Literacy and Numeracy Curriculum

Literacy/numeracy Outcomes 2008/09Number of participants - 1686AHC generated 196 835Enrolments Correctional centres (Table)

Queensland Corrective Services (QCS)Prisoner enrolments* in Literacy/Numeracy - 2008-09Queensland Corrective Services (QCS)Prisoner enrolments* in Literacy/Numeracy - 2008-09

Program Locations

Review of VET, Literacy/numeracyConducted in 1999Demonstrate effectiveness of programSample 14% of 1998 populationBenefit to Prisoners:a positive learning experiencesatisfaction with completion of a programimprovement of self esteemencouragement further studies

How VET, Literacy/numeracy helpsContinue with education and traininguse computer skills at homeAdminister first aid if necessaryWrite letters and keep in touch by writingNow read books, papers and magazinesHelp children with homeworkShop more effectively

Insert L Glen Delivery Schedule

Evidence Program EffectNCVER Research Victor CallanRecidivism rates VET participationVET participation 23%Non participation 32%

2006 Evaluation Report Victor CallanParticipants Advance2Work 6.9%Participants VET 6.9%Participants VET + Advance2Work 13.8%

SummaryPositive influence on behaviourUndertake programs and VETThe challenge to build on the momentum and achievements, to ensure that offenders acquire skills and attitudes for learning.Gaining skills to participate effectively not only in the education and training system but also in the community when released from custody.The vehicle for the journey

Questions?

*Previously had many local program which differed wildly, access was poor, some run completely by staff others by community agencies with little monitoring. As noted by Ward, it was often the case that an individual responsible for getting it up and running and then the program dying after they left the centre. Survey questions piggy backed onto random sample for an Intellectual disability study- every offender in the sample who had previously been in jail asked questions about release preparation and problems experienced after release- overwhelmingly all offenders indicated no access to a formal program, and also that they experienced problems across the wide range of problems experienced. Transitions rather than pre-release seems to leave t until a few weeks or days before release, reintegration or resettlement issues with if this is appropriate given that some offenders have never really been integrated or settled in the first place, transitions being more about movement from one place to another.