Former Mobilong Prison inmate finds new path post-release
An inmate at the Murray Bridge prison has been doing great things thanks to a Corrections employment program.
Just one week after release, a former Mobilong Prison inmate has successfully secured a job in construction.
Ansialey, a 38-year-old former tuna boat fisherman, has been working as a qualified scaffolder for four months now.
He said he wanted to change his life for the better, permanently.
"It started with showing up," he said.
"I’m working with a great bunch of people who support each other, and they’ve definitely helped me get through some times when it’s been hard."
Ansialey currently works on building sites for Indigenous contracts and construction business Intract Australia.
While incarcerated, he underwent education and training to help his chances of finding a job post-release.
"There are other people in prison who don’t think they can change their lives, but they can," he said.
"They don’t know there are people out there who will believe in you and give you a chance.
"Hopefully, through me, they can see that."
He secured his new role following a job interview lined up through the Work Ready, Release Ready Plus program.
The program aims to increase employment to reduce offending and build better futures for prisoners released in the community.
The voluntary program has had more than 1500 enrolments since it started in 2018, with more than 50 percent of graduates going on to secure stable employment.
Department for Correctional Services CEO David Brown said it had been a key contributor to South Australia achieving the lowest reoffending rate in the country.
The program was effective in creating positive outcomes for participants, their families, local employers and businesses, he said.
Extra funding from the state government, announced this week, means it will now be able to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are on remand or short-term sentences, too.
"We look forward to seeing the meaningful contribution the program can make to the lives of participants," Mr Brown said.
The state government will spend an additional $6.3 million increasing access to the program, expanding it from 500 participants to 800 amid high demand.
Mobilong Prison is among eight other facilities in South Australia which run the program.
By 2026, the program aims to exceed or meet the government's target of a 20 per cent reduction in reoffending.
- More information: www.corrections.sa.gov.au.
